RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. NAVY

120904-N-FE728-113 DETROIT (Sept. 4, 2012) The US Brig Niagara arrives at Renaissance Pier during the Navy'Äôs commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812 in Detroit. This celebration coincides with Detroit Navy Week, one of 15 signature events planned across America in 2012. Niagara served as the relief flagship for Oliver Hazard Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Todd A. Stafford/Released)

　

　
120902-N-KT462-122 PEARL HARBOR (Sept. 2, 2012) Sailors standby to perform a rifle volley during the 67th anniversary of the end of World War II aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial. The ceremony marked 67 years since Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz, along with other U.S. and Allied officers, accepted the unconditional surrender of the Japanese, ending World War II. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jon Dasbach/Released)

THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EIGHT AIR FORCE

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GRAFTON UNDERWOOD, United Kingdom – Councilor James Hakewill, the Mayor of Kettering Borough, greets Maj. Gen. Stephen Wilson, Eighth Air Force commander, as he enters Boughton House Aug. 17. The day marked the 70th anniversary of the first Eighth Air Force bombers, from the 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy), participating in World War II which launched from Grafton Underwood. Col. Frank Armstrong, 97th BG commander, and the 340th Bomb Squadron commander Maj. Paul Tibbets (who later flew the Enola Gay to Hiroshima, Japan, on the first atomic bomb mission) piloted the lead aircraft of the group, Butcher Shop. In the leading aircraft of the second flight, Yankee Doodle, flew Gen. Ira C. Eaker, the commanding general of the VIII Bomber Command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Stives)
　

England ceremony marks 70th anniversary of Eighth Air Force

By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
8/23/2012 - GRAFTON UNDERWOOD, United Kingdom (AFNS) -- U.S. and Royal Air Force leadership; local community leaders from Kettering, United Kingdom; and veterans marked the 70th anniversary of the first 8th Air Force bombers participating in World War II with a ceremony at Boughton House and a memorial service at Grafton Underwood Aug. 17.

At Boughton House 70 years ago, the Duke of Buccleuch loaned part of his 10,000-acre estate to the United States Army Air Forces, who built up Grafton Underwood Airfield on the grounds.

Leadership in attendance included Maj. Gen. Stephen Wilson, 8th Air Force commander; RAF Air Commodore R.L. Atherton, representing the U.K. Ministry of Defence; Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton, RAF Chief of Air Staff; and Col. Brian Kelly, 501st Combat Support Wing commander;

"Our first heavy bomber air combat mission took place at this very spot 70 years ago today," said Wilson, during his remarks to more than 200 people in attendance. "Twelve B-17s departed Grafton Underwood, escorted by RAF Spitfires, to strike targets in occupied France. General Ira Eaker, my predecessor as the Commander of VIII Bomber Command, flew on the first mission himself. The bombing results were good and the formation only took minor damage. It was a solid start, and the press swooned at the story, but we knew we had a long way to go. That December, General Eaker told Fleet Street reporters in London, still hungry for good news, 'We won't do much talking until we've done more fighting. After we've gone, we hope you'll be glad we came.'"

Wilson talked about how RAF Bomber Command and VIII Bomber Command worked hand-in-hand striking at the heart of Germany's war-making capability with "around the clock - RAF Bomber Command at night, Eighth Air Force by day" bombings. They grew into the nickname "The Mighty Eighth" - with more than 350,000 Americans serving in England and flying more than 620,000 sorties from August 1942 to May 1945.

"Comprised of nearly 50 bomber groups and 20 fighter groups, the Eighth Air Force sent aloft the greatest air armada in history," said Wilson. "I doubt we'll ever see anything like it again. As many as 1,000 bomber and 1,000 fighter aircraft flew in a single maximum effort mission. A mission of this magnitude put more than 11,000 men in the air at one time. Unfortunately, not all of them made the return trip home."

Early on, aircrew losses were at a catastrophic 20 percent per mission. The chances of a crew making it to 25 missions were virtually nonexistent. Occasionally, one crew, or even just one person, would make it to the 25-mission mark.

"More than 26,000 Mighty Eighth Airmen made the ultimate sacrifice for our common cause. Another 28,000 became prisoners of war," said Wilson. 'Let me try to put this number in context. If we started the clock from 8th Air Force's inception in 1942 to the end of the war in Europe, we lost two Mighty Eighth Airmen every hour of every day, one killed and one became a prisoner of war, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for almost three years."

The partnership with the RAF has continued for 70 years and Wilson addressed the brotherhood that has formed.

"Eighth Air Force has continued the tradition of delivering strategic airpower for 70 years," he said. "Like our forefathers of World War II, Eighth Air Force aircrews have never been turned back from a target by the enemy. The weather has turned us back and we have been recalled, but enemy action -- fighters or flack -- never turned the Airmen of The Mighty Eighth away from our target. Not in any conflict since our inception, from world War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and most recently, Libya. And in almost every conflict, we have continued our remarkable relationship -- fighting shoulder-to-shoulder alongside our trusted wingmen from the RAF. Over the years, it has become hard to find an 8th Air Force bomber crew that hasn't shared a drink with their RAF brethren in some crowded bar on the far side of the world."

"Thank you for keeping our story alive -- Britain's and America's extraordinary story -- where two nations with a remarkable relationship stood shoulder-to-shoulder against tyranny and aggression, a story of epic resolve in the life-and-death struggle over the fate of the free world, an incredible story kept alive in the hearts and minds of our people," said Wilson.

The event at Boughton House was followed by a wreath-laying service near the 8th Air Force memorial at Grafton Underwood.

U.S.-FRANCE RELATIONS

Map Credit:  U.S. State Department
FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, FRANCE
The United States and France established diplomatic relations in 1778 following the United States' declaration of independence from Great Britain, and France provided key assistance to the United States as an ally during its war of independence. The Vichy Government of France severed diplomatic relations with the United States in 1942 during World War II; relations were normalized in 1944. The United States and France are among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (P5).

Relations between the United States and France are active and friendly. The two countries share common values and have parallel policies on most political, economic, and security issues. Differences are discussed frankly and have not generally been allowed to impair the pattern of close cooperation that characterizes relations between the two countries.

The U.S. and France work closely on many issues, most notably in combating terrorism, efforts to stem the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and on regional problems, including in Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Central Asia. As one of the P5+1 powers and as a leader of the European Union, France is working to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, France fully supports U.S. engagement in the peace process. France is one of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) top five troop contributors. The French support NATO modernization efforts and are leading contributors to the NATO Response Force.


U.S. Assistance to France
The United States provides no development assistance to France.


Bilateral Economic Relations


France is a member of the European Union and is the United States’ third-largest trading partner in Europe (after Germany and the U.K.). Trade and investment between the United States and France are strong. On average, over $1 billion in commercial transactions, including sales of U.S. and French foreign affiliates, take place every day. U.S. exports to France include industrial chemicals, aircraft and engines, electronic components, telecommunications, computer software, computers and peripherals, analytical and scientific instrumentation, medical instruments and supplies, and broadcasting equipment. The United States is the top destination for French investment and the United States is the largest foreign investor in France. The United States and France have a bilateral convention on investment and a bilateral tax treaty addressing, among other things, double taxation and tax evasion.

France's Membership in International Organizations

France and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, G-20, G-8, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. France also is an observer to the Organization of American States.

WWII DRAGON VETS HONORED

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEU.S. Army World War II veterans of Operation Dragood and Members of the Military District of Washington's Sgt. Audie L. Murphy Club, the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division, and the military attaché to the French Embassy pose following a remembrance ceremony honoring the success of Operation "Dragoon" held Arlington, Va., July 21, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
World War II Veterans Honored for Their Part in Operation Dragoon
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, July 22, 2012 - A group of World War II veterans received recognized yesterday in a ceremony held here for their gallantry during a 1944 combat operation in southern France.

Operation Dragoon lasted from Aug. 15 until Sept. 14, 1944. It was the second largest amphibious invasion of World War II, with over 1,000 ships delivering three divisions of troops to the beaches of France. Additionally, an airborne division parachuted into the country to help secure beach heads along with Greek, Polish and Dutch forces, according to retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Timothy Stoy, historian for the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The Society of the 3rd Infantry Division hosted the ceremony honoring veterans who fought during the operation. French Army Col. Brice Houdet, military attaché from the French Embassy, presented the French Legion of Honor during the ceremony to retired U.S. soldiers John Singlaub, Paul Donlon, Darryl Egner, Elias Hernandez, Michael Halik and the son of Stanley Siemrzuch.

Before presenting the French awards, Houdet thanked the group of veterans on behalf of the people of France.

"I would like to salute all of the American allied veterans who took part in that momentous operation 68 years ago," he said. "We are deeply honored to have some of you with us today."

"I will have the distinct honor to present six of these highly deserving former service members with the Legion of Honor, France's highest national honor and distinction, for their outstanding services during World War II," Houdet said.

The six award recipients were all accompanied by members of the Military District of Washington's Sgt. Audie L. Murphy Club, representing the connection to Murphy and the 3rd Infantry Division in which he served.

During the ceremony, U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Edd Watson, currently the command sergeant major of the 3rd Infantry Division, narrated a Missing in Action presentation, and explained the items on a table displayed to honor fallen soldiers.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Randy E. Manner, Joint Staff director for the chief of the National Guard Bureau, said Operation Dragoon may not be as well known as some other World War II operations, but it should be remembered for its strategic importance.

"Sometimes, the voice of history does not speak as loudly about some events such as Operation Dragoon," Manner said.

"So that's our job today ... to be that voice and to speak loudly about those great successes all those many years ago," he said. "Those gathered here ... know the strategic value of Operation Dragoon."

Manner, whose father served under Singlaub, a retired Army major general, noted Operation Dragoon was critical because it opened a much-needed supply line into France for the allies to "continue to smash the Nazis."

"History records that over 90,000 soldiers and over 11,000 vehicles were on the beach, on the ground, within days," he said. "The bottom line is the operation significantly contributed to the shortening of the war in Europe, which meant, of course, the shortening and the lessening of the number of lives that were lost and the number of the families that were affected."

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, director of operations, readiness and mobilization for the Department of the Army, thanked all of the veterans present for their sacrifice and "tremendous" service to the country.

"Although not as well known as Operation Overlord, Operation Dragoon was a highlight of the second World War for many in our military," he said. "[It was] one of the most successful combined joint operations in the European theater.

"Today, we take fighting as a joint team, alongside our sister services, for granted, just as we've come to count on our multi-national allies to be there in operations around the world today," Vandal said. "But on Aug. 15, 1944, in the early days of the liberation of Europe, such a level of cooperation was far from commonplace."

Vandal called the allied forces a "vanguard" of history who forged a path "for all of us to follow."

"Some historians have mistakenly called Operation Dragoon the 'forgotten D-Day,' particularly in comparison to the larger and more famous invasions of Normandy," he said. "In fact, some have even gone so far as to imply that the operation was easy – merely a cakewalk.

"Sgt. Audie Murphy, from the 3rd Infantry Division, might disagree with this characterization," Vandal said. "Given that he earned a Distinguished Service Cross during Operation Dragoon, I think it speaks for itself [and what troops] did."

Vandal noted allied forces of Operation Dragoon advanced more than 500 miles in less than a month and took more than 100,000 Germans prisoner.

"Overlooked by history or not, Operation Dragoon was a pivotal moment in the history of France, a fact well understood by all of you veterans sitting here today," he said.

Vandal, a former member of 3rd Infantry Division himself, expressed his appreciate for all World War II veterans.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA'S REMARKS ON PARTNERSHIPS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta delivers remarks as part of the Acheson lecture series at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., June 28, 2012. DOD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley  

Panetta: Partnerships Bolster National Security
By Amaani Lyle
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2012 - Collaboration, as much as military might, should play a key role in national security, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said here last night.
In remarks as part of the United States Institute of Peace's Acheson lecture series, Panetta outlined a blueprint for building 21st-century partnerships and improving security cooperation across several areas.

"We must be bold enough to adopt a more collaborative approach to security, both within the United States government and among allies, partners, and multilateral organizations," he said, adding that the United States must place even greater strategic emphasis on building the security capabilities of others.

Panetta underscored the need to maintain comprehensive and integrated capabilities in key regions to confront critical security challenges.

"Unlike past defense drawdowns when the threats the country was facing appeared to diminish, we still confront many challenges," the secretary said.

Destabilizing behavior of nations such as Iran and North Korea, the rise of new powers across Asia and the ongoing need to deter aggression in the Middle East and North Africa, Panetta said, have made partnership a critical component of peaceful and cooperative international order.

"Our new strategy prioritizes the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East – the areas with the most significant security challenges," he said. "We will retain ... our military presence, ... but we are also going to help more nations share the responsibilities and costs of providing security by investing in alliances and partnerships."

These partnerships will include engagement in exercises, training and innovative rotational deployments, the secretary added.

Panetta acknowledged that the United States must face these challenges while grappling with a deficit and debt problem that has led Congress to seek early half a trillion dollars in defense savings over the next decade. This, he added, requires reshaped priorities that will include a leaner, agile and quickly deployable force on the cutting edge of technology while continuing to develop key capabilities.

"We will ... continue to invest in the capabilities of the future such as cyber, unmanned systems, space, special operations forces, and the ability to quickly mobilize and maintain our industrial base," he said.

Panetta said his strategies built on many enduring philosophies put forth by Dean Acheson, for whom the lecture series is named. As secretary of state from 1949 to 1953, Acheson was a leading proponent for bolstering America's military might and was a principal architect of America's foreign policy.

"Acheson strongly believed that America should not seek to shoulder the burden and costs for global security alone," the secretary said. "Instead, he understood that a key part of a strong defense was to build the security capacity of allies and partners."

Panetta praised Acheson's forward-thinking in policy from Western Europe and NATO to South Korea, from the Truman Doctrine to the Nixon Doctrine, and the statesman's involvement with key allies and regional partners to build a sound U.S. national security strategy after World War II.

BOMBER AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT IN THE EARLY 1940S

U.S. AIR FORCE FACT SHEET
One of the first North American B-25s built. (U.S. Air Force photo) 
The pace of U.S. bomber development accelerated through the 1930s into the World War II years. Projects on the drawing board in the late 1930s were built and flying by the early 1940s. These projects could be grouped into three broad development categories: medium bombers, very heavy bombers and special projects.

The two most famous medium bombers were the North American B-25, which was developed using knowledge gained in the unsuccessful XB-21 project, and the B-26, the first successful Martin bomber since the ground breaking B-10.

At dawn on April 18, 1942, a U.S. Navy task force was heading through rough Pacific seas toward Japan. One of the ships in the flotilla was the aircraft carrier Hornet with 16 AAF B-25s on deck. Plans called for the B-25s to take off from the carrier within 450 to 650 miles of Japan, bomb selected targets at such locations as Yokohama and Tokyo, and then fly another 1,200 miles to friendly airfields on mainland China.

AAF B-26 medium bombers in England became operational in the spring of 1943. Not having the long range of the B-17 and B-24, B-26s were used almost exclusively for missions to Holland, Belgium and northwestern France, where they bombed airfields, transportation and lines of communication.

Very heavy bomber development can be traced back to the Boeing XB-15 and Douglas XB-19. Although neither design was successful, the data gathered led to the development of the B-29 -- one of the best bombers of WWII.

Development of the Boeing Superfortress, "very heavy bomber," began late in 1939 and the first XB-29 made its initial flight on Sept. 21, 1942; however, in a bold wartime gamble, the AAF ordered the plane into quantity production months before this first flight. Among the B-29's new features were pressurized crew compartments and a central fire-control system with remotely controlled gun turrets. Flying combat missions first from India and China and later from the Marianas Islands, the Superfortress repeatedly demonstrated its capability for carrying bomb loads of up to 20,000 pounds against targets as far away as 1,500 miles from its base.

Even larger bombers were in development during the war. The prototypes for the Northrop B-35 flying wing and the massive Consolidated B-36 Peacemaker were both ordered in 1942.

Finally, some bombers series were modified to test the feasibility of the escort bomber concept. Because of the limited range of escort fighters early in the war, bombers with greatly increased armament were built. The plan failed mainly because the increased weight of the escort bomber made it too slow to keep pace with the regular bomber formation and it had no maneuverability to avoid enemy fighter attacks.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA DELIVERS INTREPID FREEDOM AWARD

Photo:  WWII Aircraft Carrier USS Intrepid.  Credit:  U.S. Navy.
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Intrepid Freedom AwardAs Delivered by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, New York City, New York, Thursday, May 24, 2012
I want to express my profound regret for not being able to accept this award in person tonight.  I had very much looked forward to coming up to the city I love, and to being aboard that great ship, the USS Intrepid.

But I want you to know that I am profoundly honored by this award.  And I am proud to be associated with this organization and its noble mission of honoring the heroes of America's armed forces.

I know that many of those heroes are in the audience.  I'd like to acknowledge all the men and women from across the services who join us tonight, and all of the veterans – particularly those who served aboard the USS Intrepid.

I also want to pay special tribute to the Fisher family for the extraordinary work done by the Intrepid Family of Foundations.

The three Intrepid foundations – the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, the Fisher House Foundation, and the Intrepid Relief Fund – make a crucial difference in the life of our armed forces.

They provide critical support to our troops, veterans, wounded warriors, and their family members in times of hardship, in times of need, and in times of heartbreak.
Through the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Americans learn a timeless lesson.  It is the lesson that our freedom, our security, and our very way of life are made possible only because there have been those among us willing to fight and to die to make it so.
Our men and women in uniform embody what makes America strong:  the determination to overcome any challenge, and the willingness to sacrifice for our children.
The Intrepid museum also reminds us of the strong spirit of innovation that courses through the life of the military, a spirit which has always been and remains the key to a strong national defense.

I'm talking about the ability to look around the corner, perceive new challenges, and develop ways to leap ahead of potential adversaries or competitors.
To not only be able to fight, but to be able to anticipate how and where and against whom we might need to fight.

These are the forces that led the military to develop the jet engine, to help send people and satellites to space, to build the Internet, and now to develop remotely piloted aircraft and automated vehicles.

The story of this ship is the story of innovation in the face of crisis and adversity.
As many of you know, the Intrepid's keel was laid more than 70 years ago, only one week before our country was brutally attacked at Pearl Harbor.  It would go on to play a decisive role in defeating the Japanese Navy and securing victory in the Pacific.
For more than ten years, we have been in a different kind of war than what the Intrepid confronted in the early years of her life.  From networks of violent extremists operating across the globe to ruthless insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, our military has fought an adversary determined to attack our homeland.  But just as with World War II, we have made clear that nobody attacks America and gets away with it.  What we have done to Bin Laden and al Qaeda's leadership sends a message that we will do whatever we have to do to protect our country.
It has been a decade of great challenge, but also of great change, of innovation and adaptation for the men and women of the United States military.  Across the services our men and women have become vastly more networked, more capable and more effective at operating on the 21st century battlefield.

This next greatest generation of heroes has exemplified the spirit of innovation and leadership that runs through the United States military.

These men and women, who have fought and bled for us over the last ten years, want to find ways to lead and to contribute to a better future for their children.
As leaders in business and as leaders in government, we need to find ways to support them and their families – by helping those who are leaving the service find good jobs, by supporting their educational ambitions, and by helping them start a business.

These are men and women who have been tested by war, who have demonstrated the greatest qualities of leadership, sacrifice, and innovation.  I have had no greater honor in life than to lead them as Secretary of Defense.  In them I see the best that America has to offer, and I see a hope for a better future.
Thank you all for your support of them and thank you again for this award.

HONORING ANZIO BEACHHEAD VETERANS AND FAMILIES

FROM:  U.S. NAVY
Honoring the Anzio Veterans
By Ensign Chris Collins, USS Mahan Public Affairs Office
NORFOLK (NNS) -- On board guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72), crew members welcomed the Anzio Beachhead Veterans and their families, April 26, commemorating the anniversary of the World War II storming of Anzio Beach in Italy 68 years ago.

On Jan. 22, 1944, the beaches of Anzio, Italy, were assaulted by 40,000 soldiers, over 5,000 vehicles, and more than 250 U.S. Navy vessels, leading into a battle that waged for almost five months.

"I served in the Army from 1941 to 1945 as a .50-caliber machine gunner, 32 months of those years were spent overseas," said Bryant Huffman. "My wife and I still travel to Italy every year, but we always avoid the Anzio area."

The ship hosted the 25 veterans and their families who visited Mahan, where they were given a tour of the missile decks and foc'sle, the 5-inch gun, and the main decks spaces such as Central Command Station, the Mess Decks, and Combat Information Center.

Retired Lt. Col. John Ray, who enlisted on July 5, 1942, spent his Anzio days as an enlisted soldier but received a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) commission following the war. He went on to spend 24 years in the Army, retiring before the Vietnam conflict began.

"I finally left in 1966 as a lieutenant colonel," said Ray, "but I was proud to be a grunt in the 34th Infantry, 2nd Division during the war."

Morris Snyder talked about his experiences during the war; he spent five campaigns fighting in Africa and Europe, where he was wounded on three separate occasions. His third wound resulted in his capture by the German Army. He spent 228 days in a POW camp where he served as the Barracks Chief and Medical Examiner, despite having no medical experience.

After returning home and being offered a commission, he resigned his duties in the military after just two and a half years of service. He then went on to a 40-year career in the steel industry. He was awarded three Silver Stars and most recently the French Legion of Honor, the highest award the French government can bestow.

Snyder is more proud of raising a family than the awards.

"I've got a bunch of shiny stuff they gave me," Snyder said.

The veterans spoke of their excitement being able to visit a warship and learn something new. Mahan Sailors spoke with the veterans, heard their stories, and said they were reminded of the many reasons they chose to fight for their country.

Mahan is currently home ported at Naval Station Norfolk. Last year, the ship completed a U.S. 6th Fleet deployment in support of maritime security and will deploy again in 2013.

DOOLITTLE RAIDERS HONORED AT CEREMONY MARKING 70Th ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC MISSION

Doolittle raiders honored at ceremony marking 70th anniversary of historic mission