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by: John Waters
Edited by: Sidney McAlear
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“Stab” Holmes — father, loving husband, and F-16 fighter pilot in the D.C. Guard. — In August, he was diagnosed with an incurable tumor that grows in the brain stem, making surgery almost impossible. An attempt to remove the cancer was made but was unsuccessful. As you might imagine, there is a long list of expenses that rack up, from treatment to everyday needs, such as childcare. Please consider supporting “Stab” and his family with a GoFundMe setup by fellow squadron mates.
Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr. stands as one of the most celebrated fighter pilots in U.S. military history, renowned for his exceptional skill and bravery during World War II. Born on August 1, 1920, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, McGuire pursued his passion for aviation by leaving Georgia Tech to join the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1941. His journey from a promising engineering student to a legendary ace is a testament to his dedication and prowess.
Combat Achievements
McGuire's combat career took off in the Southwest Pacific Theater, where he flew the P-38 Lightning, a twin-engine fighter aircraft. His first major success came in August 1943 when he became an "ace in two days" by shooting down five Japanese aircraft over New Guinea. This feat marked the beginning of a distinguished combat record that would see him achieve 38 confirmed aerial victories, making him the second-highest-scoring American ace of World War II, just behind Richard Bong.
Race of Aces: WWII's Elite Airmen and the Epic Battle to Become the Master of the Sky
Thomas McGuire
Tragically, McGuire's life was cut short on January 7, 1945, during a mission over the Philippines. In a daring attempt to aid fellow pilots, his P-38 stalled during a low-altitude maneuver and crashed, resulting in his death at just 24 years old. For his extraordinary heroism, McGuire was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, along with numerous other decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star.
J-10
Name: Chengdu J-10C “Vigorous Dragon”
Country of Origin: China
NATO Designation: Firebird
Initial Operating Capability (IOC): 2018
Proliferation Countries: China, Pakistan, *Egypt
Speed: Mach 1.8
Range: 1,850 kilometers (1,000 nautical miles)
Combat Range: 1,240 kilometers (670 nautical miles)
Radar and Targeting: Equipped with an advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the J-10C can track up to 10 targets simultaneously and engage four of them. It also features a forward-looking infrared and laser target designator pod.
Armament:
🔺PL-8 and PL-10 short-range infrared-guided missiles
🔺PL-12 and PL-15 medium-range radar-guided missiles
🔺Laser Guided bombs, anti-ship missiles, and unguided rockets
🔺23mm twin-barrel cannon with 200 rounds of ammunition
“Fun” Facts: The J-10C is a 4.5+ generation fighter equipped with advanced avionics, fly-by-wire controls, and a canard design for high maneuverability. It features beyond-visual-range engagement and precision air-to-ground strike capabilities, making it a versatile asset in modern aerial combat.
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🎯 Egypt to Replace F-16s with China's Fighter Jets | Egypt plans to replace its fleet of F-16s with Chinese-made fighter jets. The Egyptians have turned down an offer to upgrade their F-16s to the F-16V as well as an offer from Russia for the MiG-29. They inked a deal in August for the Chinese J-10C multi-role fighter.
🎯 Venezuela Seizes Rifles and Arrests Foreigners | Venezuela has announced the seizure of 400 U.S. rifles and the arrest of several foreigners, including a U.S. Navy SEAL, as part of an alleged plot to destabilize the country. The detainees also include two Spaniards and a Czech citizen, amid claims that the group was involved in a conspiracy against the Venezuelan government.
✈️ Flight Diverted Due to Medical Emergency | A Southwest Airlines flight from Albuquerque to Dallas was diverted to Lubbock after a crew member suffered a seizure mid-flight. *Unverified - The pilot’s episode occurred as the other pilot was about to leave the cockpit to go to the restroom and noticed the issue …don’t forget to write your congressman about single pilot ops…*
🚀 Polaris Dawn's Record-Setting Spaceflight | The Polaris Dawn crew, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, is preparing for a pre-dawn splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico after completing a record-setting commercial spaceflight. The mission achieved the highest Earth orbit since 1972 and conducted the first non-government spacewalk, testing SpaceX-designed pressure suits and laser communication technology with the Starlink satellite network.
Recovery of Polaris Dawn Crew - SpaceX
🎯 Navy Chiefs in Hot Water for Surfing the Web | An internal investigation revealed that Navy chiefs aboard the USS Manchester conspired to install and use an unauthorized Wi-Fi network during deployment, compromising operational security. The Navy chiefs installed a Starlink system.
⚖️ Congo Court Sentences Americans to Death | A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced 37 individuals, including three Americans, to death for their involvement in a coup attempt. The Americans, identified as Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and terrorism.
🎯 Whiteman AFB Selected for B-21 Raider | Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri has been chosen as one of the three main operating bases for the Air Force’s newest bomber, the B-21 Raider. Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota and Dyess AFB in Texas are also slated to become additional bases for the B-21 Raider.
🎯 Delta A-350 Takes Tail off CRJ at Atlanta | A Delta Airbus A350 en route to Tokyo clipped the tail of an Endeavor CRJ-900…knocking the tail completely off the CRJ. My humble takeaway… 99.9% of the time, if you are on the centerline, your taxi clearance is safe BUT never take it for granted. It can happen to any of us. I stole this quote from Jeff Goin: “Two votes to go, one vote to stop. Make that clear then BACK IT UP.”
Listen here: ATC Comms
🎯 F-35 Fielding Plan | The U.S. Air Force plans to field only 25 F-35 fighters in fiscal 2026 as part of a broader strategy to manage acquisition and deployment amid budgetary and production challenges.
🎯 Air Force's New Air Task Force | The U.S. Air Force has launched its first Air Task Force at Scott Air Force Base, aiming to improve deployment efficiency and readiness.
✈️ Runway Incursion at Nashville Airport | The NTSB and FAA are investigating a runway incursion at Nashville International Airport, where an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX aborted its takeoff at about 130 knots to avoid a Southwest 737-700 that was cleared to cross at the end of the runway.
🎯 U.S. Navy Acquires Retired F-16s | The U.S. Navy has acquired 30 retired F-16 fighter jets to replace its aging F/A-18 Hornets, enhancing its adversary training capabilities.
🎯 U.S.-China Military Communication | The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and China's PLA Southern Theater Command held a teleconference to discuss military communication and reduce risks of misperception following agreements between Presidents Biden and Xi.
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J-20
Su-57
🎯 F-35 Noise Concerns in Vermont | Residents near Burlington International Airport are expressing concerns about noise levels from F-35 fighter jets, which are reportedly louder than the previous F-16s. The Vermont Air National Guard is addressing these issues by exploring noise mitigation strategies and engaging with the local community.
🎯 Exercise Formosa 2024 | U.S. Marine Corps and Chinese Navy troops are participating in Exercise Formosa 2024 in Brazil, marking a significant step in military cooperation between the two nations.
🎯 Navy SEAL and Astronaut Jonny Kim's Upcoming Space Mission | Jonny Kim, a decorated Navy SEAL, Harvard-trained doctor, and NASA astronaut, is set to embark on his first space mission to the International Space Station in March 2025. Kim will serve as a flight engineer on Expedition 72/73.
Lt Cmdr Jonny Kim
🎯 C-17 Parts Land in School Parking Lot | A piece of a military cargo plane unexpectedly fell and landed in a school parking lot in South Carolina. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
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Trivia Answer:
B) Chengdu J-20
