So that’s what it’s like to eject from a burning aircraft…

  A fascinating video clip has emerged of a Russian pilot (who was wearing a personal video recorder on his chest) ejecting from his damaged Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft, after it was hit by Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire.  A tip o’ the hat to The Aviationist for publishing the video.  All the action happens in… Continue reading So that’s what it’s like to eject from a burning aircraft…

The Russians are modernizing hundreds of 1960’s-era T-62 tanks, for multiple reasons

  The War Zone reports: The Russian military is reportedly set to receive some 800 refurbished and possibly upgraded T-62 tanks in the next three years to try to help make up for severe losses it has already sustained in its ongoing all-out invasion of Ukraine. Many of the nearly antique T-62s have already been… Continue reading The Russians are modernizing hundreds of 1960’s-era T-62 tanks, for multiple reasons

Picking up the pieces of our daily routine

  There’s no Memes That Made Me Laugh post this week, as my travels precluded gathering them from here and there as I normally do.  The regular Memes post will return next Monday. Let’s start out the week with a smile.  Task & Purpose is a military-oriented Web site that often has useful, interesting articles. … Continue reading Picking up the pieces of our daily routine

Saturday Snippet: Nelson evacuates Corsica in the face of revolutionaries

  Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson is perhaps the most famous of Britain’s “seadog Admirals”, earning a brilliant military reputation at battles such as Cape St. Vincent, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Nile and Copenhagen, before his final victory – and death – at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. One of his accomplishments was as a Captain in… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: Nelson evacuates Corsica in the face of revolutionaries

“Confessions of a Marine Corps sensitivity trainer”

  Courtesy of Martin van Creveld’s blog, I discovered an article with that title published in 2000.  It made me laugh out loud, both for the incongruity of its title (after all, the Marines are known for breaking things and killing people, neither of which requires exceptional sensitivity!) and for its humor.  Here’s an excerpt.… Continue reading “Confessions of a Marine Corps sensitivity trainer”

Whackadoodle, much? Florida Man strikes again!

  I had to laugh at this report. A Florida man has been arrested after he was accused of stealing a pickup truck and driving to a Space Force base to warn the government about extraterrestrial and mythical creatures. Corey Johnson, 29, was arrested Friday at Patrick Space Force Base by local deputies after he… Continue reading Whackadoodle, much? Florida Man strikes again!

From “Why We Fight” to “Nothing Is Worth Fighting For”

  During World War II, the United States sponsored and produced a series of seven movies titled “Why We Fight“.  Originally intended for US soldiers, President Roosevelt ordered their release to the general public as well.  They were propaganda, yes, but they tried hard to be objective in presenting reasons why the USA was in… Continue reading From “Why We Fight” to “Nothing Is Worth Fighting For”

More about that missile-versus-C-47 encounter

  Readers may remember that ten years ago, I published an article about a South African Air Force C-47 transport that was hit by a SA-7 missile over what was then South West Africa (today Namibia) during the Border War.  Despite severe damage to the aircraft, the pilot managed to land it safely, and all… Continue reading More about that missile-versus-C-47 encounter

Own goal

  This must be embarrassing for the Russian armed forces . . . if not career-ending for some of them. Russia took delivery on a handful of advanced Su-34M fighter bombers late last month, and one has already been shot down over Ukraine. It wasn’t Ukrainian forces who managed to down the twin-seat jet, however…… Continue reading Own goal

Doofus Of The Day #1,094

  Today’s award goes to the Russian military commander(s) in Ukraine who decided to test anti-air-raid smokescreens defending the bridge over the Kerch Strait to Crimea . . . without, it seems, thinking of possible consequences.  The War Zone reports: Russia has deployed a number of countermeasures to the Kerch Strait Bridge connecting Russia and… Continue reading Doofus Of The Day #1,094