Posted on 04/20/2018 8:10:04 AM PDT by fugazi
1861: Col. Robert E. Lee, considered for a top command by Gen. Winfield Scott (whom Lee served as a chief aide during the Mexican-American War), and having just rejected an offer of command in the Confederate Army, reluctantly resigns his commission in the U.S. Army following the secession of his home state of Virginia.
However, in three days Lee will take command of Virginia state forces – one of the first five generals appointed to the Confederate Army.
Meanwhile, Norfolk Navy Yard is abandoned and burned by Union forces to prevent the facility from falling into enemy hands after Virginia’s secession. The Confederates would do the same when they abandon the shipyard in May 1862.
1914: Following the arrest of U.S. sailors in Veracruz and the discovery of an illegal arms shipment from Germany to Gen. Victoriano Huerta’s regime, Pres. Woodrow Wilson obtains Congress’ approval to occupy the Mexican port. The following day, Marines and Naval "Bluejacket" infantry seize the port and, supported by Naval gunfire, take the town. Marines will remain in Veracruz until November.
This date also marks the first-ever combat deployment of a Naval aviation unit: Lt. John H. Towers, 1st Lt. Bernard L. Smith (USMC), and Ens. Godfrey deC. Chevalier, 12 enlisted support personnel, and three planes board the cruiser USS Birmingham and sail for Tampico.
1918: In the skies over France, German pilot Manfred von Richtofen – the infamous “Red Baron” – guns down two Sopwith Camels of the Royal Air Force's No. 3 Squadron within three minutes, scoring what will be his final two kills.
The next day, Richtofen (who began the war as a cavalry officer) is shot down and killed. The Australian fighter squadron credited with shooting the German ace down gives Richtofen a full military funeral...
(Excerpt) Read more at victoryinstitute.net ...
Royal Guardsmen song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFHv7H3G-ew
Snoopy cartoon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRPli53ezfo
Very Interesting!
The Fokker triplanes had a short career even at a time when short careers of fighter aircraft were the norm. Their iconic status belies the fact that so few survived the war. But of those that did survive one, which likely wore Richthofen’s colors as he had flown it and scored 3 kills in it, was a museum piece till its destruction in WW2 so it is easy to understand the association even discounting that the Baron died in a triplane.
I’m just glad the Mexican-American War made into the first sentence given today’s date.
Sorry, my bad, Richthofen was INJURED in one.
Great plane, until you ran short on fuel or ammo.
Aren’t they all?
Isn't that pretty much true for every military aircraft?
Indeed, but when it’s time to go home and all the other planes are faster than you, the trip can be a lot less pleasant.
“As odd as it may seem”
Not odd at all. Ground fire has taken out more planes than air to air combat ever has. And those planes were made of tissue paper.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowy_Evans
Thought it was determined to be an Australian machine gunner.
Richthofen was flying low to the ground and slower than a Cessna and got some pepper for his gumbo.
It certainly wasn’t Roy Brown...
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