Decline of the Combat Air Force

Shower Patrol: A Postcard From the Waning Days of the Combat Air Force

For a long time, combat aviation culture dominated the Air Force, for better or worse. Today, it has been all but extinguished.

The Air Force became a historically and globally formidable organization not chiefly by the power of technology, as the conventional wisdom holds, but by the greatness of its squadrons. The squadron was traditionally the domain where airpower practitioners of one stripe or another cohered into tightly-knit, mutually supportive teams. They didn’t just wear the same uniforms and practice the same specialties, they shared a common identity.

That identity revolved around making the enemy suffer by making optimum use of time, energy, and technological advantage. Everything else was relegated to secondary status, and special contempt was reserved for administrative nonsense and its champions. They were held in check with a determined air choke. There was an unspoken understanding that if the service’s long-suffering, aircrew-hating support cabal ever got its hands on the controls, it would steer the service into the ground … or perhaps just back into the Department of the Army.

Check out this article about a disturbing change in the attitude and priorities in today's Air Force:

Shower Patrol: a Postcard From the Waning Days of the Combat Air Force

 [Thanks to USAFA '75 classmate, Ben Bosma, for forwarding this]

Memorial Day Thoughts 2015

On Monday, once again, we celebrate Memorial Day.  On this federal holiday we pause to remember the men and women of our armed forces who died while serving our country.  Please take some time to honor the thousands of men and women who gave their lives over the past 239 years to defend our country and our way of life.  We owe them so much!

The world continues to be a very dangerous place.  Although the old Soviet Union is gone, Vladimir Putin of Russia has annexed portions of Ukraine, has his eye on further annexation in Europe and has resumed aggressive military actions throughout the world.  Korea and China are encouraged toward aggressive action due to a weakened US presence in the world.  The Islamic State and Islamic extremists are engulfing the world and threaten terrorism within our own boarders.  As a result, our military men and women continue to put themselves harms way throughout the world, defending our freedom, our Constitution and our way of life.

It is befitting, therefore, on Memorial Day that we also remember the thousands of men and women who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces.  Many have returned with injuries, and thousands more are returning to civilian life after serving their country.

This Memorial Day take a moment to remember those that gave their lives, and thank the current members of our military and our veterans.  Attend a Memorial Day celebration in your community.  Then, do something to help.  Offer a job to a vet, volunteer your time or donate to one of the many organizations that help our military and our veterans.  The Disabled American Veterans and Wounded Warrior Project are just two organizations that make a difference.

Once again, this year, I am including my most popular YouTube video, the Warrior Song Tribute for your Memorial Day entertainment.  It has been viewed over 180,000 times in 179 countries worldwide.

Wishing all my viewers a great Memorial Day weekend.  God Bless America and our Veterans!

Ralph's YouTube Surpasses Half a Million Views!

Seven years ago I created a YouTube site in which I intended to post videos of interest to me.  Many of them reflect my military service and devotion to my country.  I expected it to be a small, humble site that would occasionally be viewed by friends and family.  I posted 42 videos during this time, from personal interest and humor to politics and more.  To my great surprise my videos spread far beyond my initial intended audience, with VIEWINGS IN 132 COUNTRIES SPANNING THE ENTIRE GLOBE.  Recently my site reached HALF A MILLION VIEWS, surpassing my wildest expectations!

I would like to extend my thanks to all who viewed and supported my YouTube site and invite my readers to check it out.  I believe you will find my videos both entertaining and stimulating.

I have included, below, for your entertainment, my three top viewed videos.  In addition, you can click on the following link to view the entire site:  Ralph's YouTube

Remembering this Memorial Day

On Monday, once again, we celebrate Memorial Day.  On this federal holiday we pause to remember the men and women of our armed forces who died while serving our country.  As the wars in the Middle East wind down and our troops return, please take some time to honor the thousands of men and women who gave their lives over the past 238 years to defend our country and our way of life.  We owe them so much!

Memorial Day is also an appropriate time to remember the thousands of men and women who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces.  Many have returned with injuries, and thousands more are returning to civilian life after serving their country.

This Memorial Day take a moment to remember those that gave their lives, and thank the members of our military and our veterans.  Attend a Memorial Day celebration in your community.  Then, do something to help.  Offer a job to a vet, volunteer your time or donate to one of the many organizations that help our military and our veterans.  The Disabled American Veterans and Wounded Warrior Project are just two organizations that make a difference.

Once again, this year, I am including the Warrior Song Tribute for your Memorial Day entertainment.

Above & Beyond: Birth of the Israeli Air Force

At the end of World War II a handful of Army Air Corps pilots were secretly recruited to help defend a soon-to-be brand new Jewish state from massive attacks from the Arab world in Israel's War of Independence.  Check out the video of this little known amazing story.

[My thanks to Lynn Hill for forwarding this video]