President Roosevelt called December 7th, 1941, “A date which will live in infamy.”
Today is the anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor. Sadly, we no longer even hold ceremonies commemorating that day. As our greatest generation passes on, let us honor their sacrifices to keep America free.
I’d also like to take a moment of silence for the 2402 Americans who were lost on that day, along with the hundreds more who were wounded during the attack.
During the 1980s, German weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch developed the G11, a weapon which fired a 4.7mm caseless cartridge. It was big, black, and bulky. But even then, those crafty Germans developed a means to carry it. In fact, they came up with several ways to carry it.
The G11 was evaluated by the US Army during the Advanced Combat Rifle Program, but was not adopted. The ammunition proved to be too much of a challenge.
For more information on the HK G11 ceaseless gun, visit armourersbench.com/2017/11/19/an-introduction-to-the-heckler-koch-g11.
My friend Dr Jan-Phillipp Weisswange has teamed up with Sören Sünkler to present the new book, “GSG 9. The special operations unit of the Federal Police – Germany’s spearhead in the fight against terrorism”, available from k-isom.com.
The photographs are excellent and the book includes English text, so don’t shy away because of language concerns.
He offered me this description of the book:
Producing an illustrated volume aimed at introducing today’s GSG 9 to a wider public is undoubtedly among the highpoints in any specialized journalist’s career. It has been an honour and a pleasure to turn this project into reality. On 16th October 2017, Sören Sünkler (my publisher, producer and co-author) and me have had the great honour to presenting the very first copy of our book “GSG 9. The special operations unit of the Federal Police – Germany’s spearhead in the fight against terrorism” to the unit’s commander, Colonel Jerome Fuchs. Now the book is available on the market finally!
The core task of GSG 9 is the fight against terrorism and other forms of serious and violent crime. In performing this mission, protecting human lives has always been GSG 9’s utmost priority.
Ever since its foundation in 1972, this has been its raison d’être – around the clock and around the world.Throughout its 45-year history, continuity and change have been GSG 9’s constant companions. Founded on 26 September 1972 as “Grenzschutzgruppe 9”, or Border Guard Group 9, of the former Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS), or Federal Border Guard, it is one of the world’s oldest police special operations units. Following the transformation and renaming of the BGS to the Bundespolizei, or Federal Police, in July 2005, GSG 9 was the only unit to retain its traditional nomenclature. Since then, the special operations unit has been officially known as “GSG 9 der Bundespolizei”.
Evolving “modi operandi” and the emergence of new threats as well as the ever-changing global political situation have confronted the GSG 9 with fresh challenges right from the start – challenges which GSG 9 has invariably met with matchless resolve.
Featuring 208 pages, the lavishly illustrated book offers a unique look at today’s GSG 9, the ultramodern special operations unit of the German Federal Police, and its 45-year history. Short texts in German as well as in English language provide further information about GSG 9’s tasks, organization, selection and training, operational units, special skills, missions, national and multinational cooperation, weapons and equipment as well as history.
I was fortunate to meet with Jan-Phillipp at Milipol where he presented me with a copy.
The first edition of the book is strictly limited to 2.000 copies for the public book trade. When ordering (bestellung@k-isom.com), a number between 1001 and 3000 can be chosen and will be delivered if still available. I already have number 1776.
Jan-Phillipp Weisswange and Sören Sünkler: GSG 9. The special operations unit of the Federal Police – Germany’s spearhead in the fight against terrorism. Nuremberg/Germany 1/2017: S.Ka-Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-9815795-4-3. 208 pages, Hardcover. Price: 49,00 € plus shipping. Contact: bestellung@k-isom.com
Here’s a 1967 Republic aircraft documentary featuring the F-105 Thunderchief and other airframes supporting the ground forces in Vietnam. Interestingly, there’s actually coverage of the ground crew and maintainer effort.
Many of our readers are overt or closet airplane nerds. See if you can count and identify the various aircraft.
How far we have come in precision.
This is SGT Elvis A. Presley’s M-1951 field jacket on display at Graceland. Yes, that Elvis.
Elvis served as a scout in A Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment, 3rd Armor Division “Spearhead” at Ray Barracks, Freidberg, Germany from 1958 to 1960.
Photo by Thomas R Machnitzki
Edited to correct spelling of Friedberg; Western civilization is now secure.
Vickers Guide has just announced that they’ve opened pre-orders for the upcoming Volume 1 of the WWII Germany series. Previous volumes on the M1911A1 and M16 families of small arms have become indispensable elements of my reference library.
With this volume Larry Vickers has teamed up with a number of subject matter experts, including Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons and Tom Whiteman of Legacy Collectibles, to provide additional insight into the wide variety of firearms being showcased.
First Volume of Vickers Guide: WWII Germany specifically covers the small-arms categories of Machine Pistols, Submachine Guns, Bolt Action Service Rifles, Bolt Action Sniper Rifles, Primary Service Handguns, Foreign Service and Occupation Handguns, and a wide selection of the other pistols used by Germany throughout the war. In all, over 60 firearms are shown in incredible detail to give enthusiasts of all levels a new appreciation for this incredibly dynamic time in firearms development.
Oder yours at www.vickersguide.com.
The Office of Technical Services produced several comic book cover prints for its 50th anniversary in 2001. This is the second historical Agency comic print from the Directorate of Science and Technology.
Sized 8″ x 12″ on a hard back, they are ready to mount right out of the package.
www.ingloriousamateurs.com/product/scienceandtechnologyprint
