Amid the rapid technological maelstrom of World War 2, cutting-edge aircraft in 1939 found themselves obsolete by 1942, as the aviation industry churned out ever more fearsome and sophisticated warbirds.
This afternoon we are leaving for a weekend away. We will be back on Monday.
Ray
Preserve ANZAC Day in South Australia: A Call to Action.
By Ray Payne OAM
In a distressing turn of events, there are ominous signs that ANZAC Day may cease to exist in South Australia. ANZAC Day, a day sacred to remembering and honouring the sacrifices of those who served and paid the ultimate price for our freedom, is now under threat. It is imperative that we unite as a community and exert collective pressure on both the South Australian state government and the federal government to preserve this significant day in our nation’s history.
The call for help is not an overstatement; it is a plea for action. ANZAC Day holds profound meaning for Australians, serving as a solemn reminder of the courage and sacrifice displayed by our servicemen and women throughout history. Without a united front advocating for the preservation of this day, the risk of its disappearance looms large.
To effect change, we must recognize the power that lies in numbers. It is the collective voice of a community that can sway decisions and steer the course of policy. Now, more than ever, we need to stand together and demonstrate that ANZAC Day is not just a date on the calendar; it is a symbol of our shared history and the sacrifices made for our freedom.
Allowing ANZAC Day to fade away in South Australia could set a dangerous precedent with far-reaching consequences. The ripple effect of this decision could extend beyond the immediate loss of a day of remembrance. It may diminish the value we place on our veterans and their contributions, eroding the very fabric of our national identity. As custodians of the legacy left by those who served, it is our responsibility to prevent such a detrimental outcome.
As veterans, the burden of ensuring the preservation of ANZAC Day falls squarely on our shoulders. We have a unique perspective on the significance of this day and a duty to honour the memory of our mates. Let us stand united in our commitment to preserving this important tradition, drawing upon our collective experiences to convey the gravity of the situation to decision-makers.
In conclusion, the threat to ANZAC Day in South Australia demands our immediate attention and concerted effort. We must galvanise our community, mobilise support, and engage with both the state and federal governments to safeguard this crucial day of remembrance. Let us not allow the sacrifices of our servicemen and women to be overshadowed by the passage of time. This is not a small issue; it is an urgent call to action, and together, we can ensure that ANZAC Day endures for generations to come.
Voice your opinion to the Premier of South Australia
The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (08) 8429 3232
(Office hours are 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday)
Postal address
GPO Box 2343
Adelaide SA 5001
Anyone wanting to know the definition of the term “un-Australian” should look no further than a state Labor government that just legislated to delete the words “Anzac Day” from its official public holiday bill, writes Nicolle Flint.
Nicolle Flint SkyNews.com.au Contributor and Political Commentator
Want the definition of the term “un-Australian”?
Look no further than the South Australian Labor government which has just legislated to delete Anzac Day from the official Holidays Act 1910.
Yes, that’s right.
The Malinauskas Labor government has repealed the Holidays Act 1910, replaced it with the Public Holidays Bill 2023, removed the name Anzac Day and replaced it with ‘25 April’ a day “fixed as a public holiday”.
We did not send Australian men and women to fight for our freedom and make the ultimate sacrifice in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and peace-keeping operations to have virtue-signalling Labor MPs erase one of our most nationally significant days of commemoration.
We did not put families through the trauma of losing loved ones and coping with the life-long injuries of those who returned home, to have the day when we remember them reduced to a mere date on the calendar.
According to the Australian War Memorial, the first Anzac Day commemorations were held in 1916, by 1927 Anzac Day was an official public holiday in all states, and over time became not just the commemoration of World War I, but the day Australians commemorate all those who gave their lives, and for many their subsequent quality of life, in military operations for our freedom and the freedom and safety of our international friends and neighbours.
This is the history the South Australian Labor Party is deleting.
Astoundingly, it is not just this most solemn and significant of national days Labor is erasing.
On top of erasing Anzac Day, the South Australia Labor Party has deleted all traces of Christmas Day from the Holidays Act 1910, but somehow Easter has survived unscathed.
Not even the governments formerly known as the most left-wing state Labor administrations in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia have erased centuries of tradition from their public holiday acts.
All of them still explicitly recognise ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, Australia Day and the Sovereign’s Birthday.
You really have to wonder if South Australia is trying to outdo their interstate Labor mates in the battle to see who can destroy western civilization most quickly.
Do not for a second think that this is no big deal.
Contrary to popular belief, the United States did not stand alone in its efforts to support South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Traditional American allies, including Taiwan, South Korea, and notably, Australia, played crucial roles in containing the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia. While each ally contributed significantly, it was the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) that left an indelible mark on the conflict, striking fear into the hearts of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC).
The Australians’ involvement in Vietnam dates back to 1962, but it was in April 1966 that the SASR first set foot in Vietnam. Tasked with conducting long-range reconnaissance patrols in the dense Vietnamese jungles, they swiftly earned a reputation as the “Ghosts of the Jungle” among the NVA. Even the North Vietnamese, accustomed to facing formidable adversaries, regarded the Australians with a mixture of awe and trepidation.
Operating in small, stealthy fire teams of four to six men, the Australians moved deliberately through the jungles, employing slow and quiet tactics that belied the devastating firepower they could unleash upon contact with the enemy. The NVA soon learned that the presence of Australians in the area meant sudden and overwhelming chaos, as their well-coordinated assaults left adversaries disoriented and overmatched.
The Australians’ reputation for instilling fear lay in their ability to create the illusion of larger forces through intense and concentrated firepower. This strategic approach, coupled with their silent and methodical movements, made them the most feared enemy unit in the regions of South Vietnam they operated in. Even the most cautious VC infiltrators risked walking into a relentless Aussie ambush.
The Australian SASR seamlessly integrated with other allied forces, including American Special Forces and Navy SEALs, conducting joint operations throughout Vietnam. Each SASR unit operated alongside a New Zealand SAS trooper, fostering a strong ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) alliance on the battlefield.
Spread across provinces like Phuoc Tuy, Bien Hoa, Long Khanh, and Binh Tuy, the SASR conducted approximately 1,200 combat patrols during their time in Vietnam. Their one-year tours, marked by exceptional discipline and strategic prowess, resulted in one killed in action, one dead from wounds, three accidental deaths, one missing, and one death from illness. An additional 28 men were wounded in action, highlighting the intensity and challenges of their missions.
Before their departure in 1971, the Australian SASR achieved a remarkable milestone by eliminating 600 enemy troops, establishing the highest kill ratio of the entire war. The “Ghosts of the Jungle” had not only haunted the enemy but had decisively shaped the course of the conflict, leaving an enduring legacy of bravery, skill, and unwavering dedication to their mission.
As we reflect on the annals of the Vietnam War, it is imperative to recognize the pivotal role played by Australian special operators in the fight against Communism. Their stealth, precision, and unyielding commitment to their mission solidified their place as one of the most formidable forces in the dense jungles of Vietnam, earning them the enduring moniker of the “Ghosts of the Jungle.”
Recent research indicates a significant increase in the number of senior officers within the Australian Defence Force (ADF) over the past two decades, despite an ongoing decline in overall enlisted personnel figures. An analysis conducted by the Parliamentary Library reveals that the count of star-ranked officers in the ADF has risen from 119 in 2003 to a current total of 219.
The findings, commissioned by the Greens Party, highlight a ratio of one senior ADF officer to 260 lower-ranked officers or regular personnel serving beneath them. Star-ranked officers, also known as ‘flag officers,’ occupy positions at the Commodore, Brigadier, or Air Commodore levels and higher in the Navy, Army, and Air Force, respectively.
In comparison, the United States boasts 863 star-ranked officers, with a ratio of one senior officer for every 1526 personnel, while the United Kingdom has a proportion of one star-ranked officer for every 1252 enlisted members.
David Shoebridge, a Greens Senator and Defence spokesperson, criticizes the perceived “top-heavy” structure of the ADF, especially considering the diminishing overall military personnel numbers. He remarks on the regular appointments of new generals, admirals, or Air Marshals without corresponding advancements in military assets.
The research details the distribution of senior officers within the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force. For instance, the Navy currently has 68 senior officers, including 50 Commodores, 15 Rear Admirals, and 3 Vice-Admirals. The Army, boasting over 27,000 personnel, comprises 58 Brigadiers, 22 Major-Generals, 5 Lieutenant-Generals, and one General, Angus Campbell, serving as Chief of Defence. The Royal Australian Air Force includes 50 Air Commodores, 14 Air Vice-Marshals, and two Air Marshals.
The overall enlisted numbers for the ADF have declined from 62,429 in 1983 to 57,218 full-time members in 2023. Senator Shoebridge criticizes the failure of senior Defence leadership to meet recruiting targets over the past decade while concurrently doubling their own senior ranks. He characterizes this as rewarding failure and emphasizes the disproportionate concentration of senior officers overseeing a diminishing group of enlisted members.
Furthermore, it is noted that Australia’s Chief of Defence will receive a salary exceeding $1 million this year, surpassing the compensation of counterparts such as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the United States, earning $329,304, and the UK Chief of the Defence Staff, who is paid $534,509.
By Rebecca Williams – Quora
The SR-71 was much faster than the U-2, reaching speeds of over Mach 3 at altitudes of over 80,000 feet. This required the pilots to wear special pressure suits and helmets that limited their mobility and vision.
The SR-71 also had a complex engine and inlet system that needed constant monitoring and adjustment to avoid unstarts, which could cause violent yawing and pitching of the aircraft. The SR-71 also had a very narrow margin between its maximum and minimum speed limits, known as the “coffin corner”, which made it vulnerable to stalls and over speeds. The SR-71 pilots had to fly with great precision and concentration to maintain the optimal speed and altitude for their mission.
The SR-71 was more sensitive to the environmental conditions than the U-2. The SR-71 was designed to operate in a high-temperature regime, where the airframe and the fuel tanks would expand and contract due to the frictional heating and cooling. The SR-71 had to take off with a partial fuel load and refuel in mid-air several times during its mission because the fuel tanks would leak on the ground and only seal properly at high temperatures.
The SR-71 also had to deal with the effects of thermal shock, which could cause cracks and failures in the structure and the systems. The SR-71 pilots had to cope with the extreme temperature changes and the potential malfunctions that could occur during their flight.
The SR-71 was more demanding in terms of the physical and mental fitness of the pilots than the U-2. The SR-71 pilots had to undergo rigorous training and selection, as well as regular medical examinations and evaluations. The SR-71 pilots had to endure high levels of stress, fatigue, and noise during their missions, which could last for several hours.
The SR-71 pilots also had to perform complex manoeuvres and evasive actions in case of enemy threats, such as surface-to-air missiles and interceptors. The SR-71 pilots had to be highly skilled and experienced to handle the challenges and risks of flying the fastest and highest aircraft ever built.
One person is confirmed dead, and seven remain missing after a U.S. Air Force Osprey crashed off southern Japan. The crew member recovered from the ocean has been pronounced dead. The cause of the crash and the status of the seven others are unknown. The Osprey, with eight on board, is an Air Force aircraft, and earlier reports suggested different passenger counts. Ospreys, capable of helicopter-like takeoff and airplane-like flight, have a history of accidents, prompting calls for a suspension of flights in Japan. The crash site, off Yakushima, was reported by a fishing boat. The coast guard found debris and an inflatable life raft. The search continues, and the aircraft had departed from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Japanese officials seek explanations from the U.S. military.
ED: Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, and its borders are primarily with Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The Dniester River forms much of the eastern border between Moldova and Ukraine. Transnistria, a breakaway region that declared independence in 1990 but is not internationally recognized, is located on the eastern side of the Dniester River, separating it from the rest of Moldova. The situation in Transnistria has led to political complexities and diplomatic challenges for Moldova. The capital of Moldova is Chisinau.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has revoked the citizenship of Alexandr Kalinin, the leader of the marginal pro-Russian Party of Regions and the Congress of Moldovan diasporas in Russia. The corresponding decree was published on the Moldovan head of state’s website on Tuesday, November 28.
The decision to strip Kalinin of Moldovan citizenship was based on the grounds of “recruitment into the armed forces of a foreign state,” as specified in Article 23.1.3 of Moldova’s Law on Citizenship.
Kalinin assumed the role of chairman of the Moldovan Party of Regions in 2016. In 2020, he garnered signatures in support of a presidential bid but later withdrew voluntarily. Notably, Kalinin is an outspoken advocate of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, evident in numerous photos and videos on his social media accounts where he is seen donning a military uniform marked with the letter Z, used by the Russian army in its conflict in Ukraine…an act prohibited in Moldova.
The politician has actively organized events aimed at assisting Russian soldiers by collecting warm clothing and footwear. Subsequently, these items are delivered to occupied settlements in Luhansk Oblast. Such activities are in violation of Moldovan regulations.
Kalinin’s actions have not gone unnoticed internationally, as he has faced sanctions from both the European Union and Canada for his attempts to undermine the stability of the Moldovan government.
The Vietnam War was one of the most controversial and divisive conflicts in modern history. But how much do you really know about it? In this video, we will reveal some surprising facts about the Vietnam War that most people don’t know. Did you know that the war was not only fought in Vietnam, but also in Laos and Cambodia, or that the lotus became known as a symbol of death? These are just some of the facts that we will explore in this video, so stay tuned and learn more about this fascinating and tragic chapter of history.