The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - LVT Landing Vehicle, Tracked - Aug. 23rd, 2005

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[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

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for all those serving their country at this time.

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LVT Landing Vehicle, Tracked
LVTA Landing Vehicle, Tracked Armored

When FMC management realized in 1940 that U.S. involvement in World War II was inevitable, they had a decision to make. Because they wouldn’t be able to continue making peace-time goods, they would either be forced to close plants, or become involved in producing a war-time product. The decision to manufacture a war-time product led to the company’s first attempt at producing amphibious vehicles.


LVT(1) exhibited by manufacturer (FMC) in 1941 parade, Lakeland, FL.

FMC entered into a competitive program to develop an amphibious landing vehicle for the Marine Corps. The only prototype for this LVT (Landing Vehicle, Tracked) was a rescue vehicle designed by John Roebling, used on mercy errands in the Florida swamps. FMC engineers redesigned the Roebling Alligator, adapting it for combat.


LVT(Mark I)s at Guadalcanal

The Assault Amphibian series started with the Roebling ALLIGATOR. The Alligator was developed over a period of 7 years, starting in 1932. The first "Gators" were a disappointment, in that the water speed was only 7.5mph. The land speed was 25 mph. Through design changes, and by using larger engines, the water speed of the Alligator was increased to 8.6 mph by 1939. In 1940, Roebling built a new model which was designated the CROCODILE. The Crocodile had a land speed of 25 mph and a water speed of 9.4 mph.


LVT(1) training at Hampton Roads, VA durng WW II.

LVT1 -


LVT(Mark I)

The LVT1 was a direct copy of the Crocodile, except that it was fabricated from sheet steel instead of aluminum. The LVT-1 was in production from 1941 to 1943. Being heavier, the land speed of the LVT1 was 18 mph and the water speed was 7 mph. A 6 cylinder, 146 hp Hercules engine was used for power. The LVT1 was propelled by two endless chains fitted with cleats, both in the water and on land. The first LVT1's were used as logistic support vehicles only. They were not armored and carried no armament, however, this soon changed. At the Battle of Turawa, bolted on armor plate was used and the vehicles were equipped with one to four 30 cal. machine guns.


LVT(Mark I)

LVT2 -


LVT(Mark II)


The new LVT, named the Water Buffalo, proved very successful and was judged superior when compared to other vehicles. The Water Buffalo’s success led to a multi-million dollar contract from the U.S. Marine Corps. FMC built more than 11,000 amphibious landing vehicles, which contributed significantly to the successful completion of the war in the Pacific. LVT2's cab was placed a small distance from the bow, and the cab had two windows for the crew. LVT2, known as Water Buffalo, had a cargo capacity of 5940lbs (2690kg), and incorporated torsilastic suspension. This suspension involved springing the road wheels on rubber springs. The track of LVT2 was made up of two chains, each with a pitch of 4" (10cm), which were attached to each other by steel crossbars and the large propellor-like grousers. LVT2 also used the engine and transmission of the gasoline-powered light tank M3.


LVT(Mark II)

The second generation LVT2 was developed in 1941 and was in production from 1942 to 1945. The LVT-2 was the basic design for a series of vehicles used during WWII. This family of vehicles included the LVTA1, LVTA2, LVT4, LVTA4, and LVTA5. A few of the LVTA5s were modified in 1949 and continued in service until the mid 1950s.


LVT(Mark III)


These vehicles were powered with 7-cylinder radial aircraft engines built by Continental Motors. These engines developed 220hp, their service life was very short. Major overhaul was scheduled for 100 hours, however few ever lasted that long. The transmission was a 5 speed, manual shift SPICER that incorporated a manually operated steer differential. This transmission had been developed for the M-3 light tank. As a result, the transmission was too-narrow for the LVT. This problem was overcome by using four final drives. The internal finals were bolted to the transmission/differential gear case and supported by two mounting yokes. The external final drives were bolted to the hull and powered the drive sprockets. This generation of LVTs was used through the Okinawa campaign in 1945.


LVT(Mark IV)


LVT(A)1 -


LVT(A)(Mark I)


LVT(A)1 used the LVT(A)2's chassis, but with an armored superstructure over the cargo compartment. A turret with a 37mm gun and a coaxial .30cal MG was mounted on the superstructure, and two more .30cal MG mounts were emplaced on either side of the vehicle behind the turret.


LVT(A)s heading for Okinawa

LVT(A)2 -


LVT(A)(Mark II)

LVT(A)2 was an LVT2 with the 10- and 14-gauge steel on the cab front and rear, hull front, and pontoon sides replaced with armor plate.



LVT(A)4 -


LVT(A)(Mark IV)

The LVT(A)4 was based on LVT(A)1, but with a new turret mounting a 75mm howitzer. Both early and late armored cabs were fitted to LVT(A)4. In later vehicles, the ring-mounted .50cal MG was replaced by a mount for a .30cal MG on either side of the rear of the turret. Late-production turrets had vision blocks installed in their rears and sides.


Marine amphibious tractors approach a beach during a training excercise. Developed to deliver Marines over the coral reefs of the Pacific islands, the vehicle was invented by Donald Roebling in 1937 to rescue people lost in the Everglades. Known as the LVT (Landing Vehicle, Tracked), several models were produced, with the basic one being the Mark I Alligator (pictured). With a capacity of 20 troops or 4,500 pounds of cargo, it soon became a work-horse during island-hopping landing operations.

LVT(A)5 -

The LVT(A)5 was fitted with a power traverse mechanism and elevation stabilizer and was then designated LVT(A)5.


LVTs, jam-packed with 4th Marine Division troops, approach Iwo Jima, 19 February 1945.

[SAMWolf]

Roebling Alligator Amphibian Tractor



Developed and, in part, financed by its inventor, Donald Roebling, the Alligator amphibian tractor is the predecessor of every Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) in the world. The story of the Roebling amphibian tractor starts with the devastating hurricanes which struck southern Florida in 1926, 1928, and 1932. Donald Roebling's father, financier John A. Roebling, had witnessed the loss of life brought about by these storms in the swampy areas of the Okeechobee region. Spurred by a challenge from his father to use his engineering talents to design and develop a vehicle "that would bridge the gap between where a boat is grounded and a car is flooded out," Donald Roebling, the grandson of the designer and builder of the Brooklyn Bridge, started work on his Alligator amphibian tractor in early 1933.


Heading for the beach at Tarawa

Roebling and his staff completed their first model Alligator in early 1935. It used aluminum, a comparatively new and unproven material, in the construction of the hull to reduce weight and increase buoyancy. It was propelled on land and water by paddle-tread tracks and was then powered by a Chrysler 92-horsepower industrial engine. This first model was then modified and upgraded so extensively that it is generally referred to as the second model Alligator. This second Alligator had improved tracks with built-in roller bearings which rode in specially designed steel channels which eliminated the need for idler and bogie wheels to support the tracks, as were used on most tractor and tank designs.


LVTs bringing in supplies

In 1937, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Edward C. Kalbfus, Commander, Battleships, U.S. Pacific Fleet, showed Major General Louis McCarty Little, Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, an article on Roebling's amphibian tractor in the October 4th issue of Life magazine. In turn, General Little forwarded the article to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. In March 1938, Major John Kaluf of the Equipment Board at Quantico was dispatched to Clearwater, Florida, with orders to investigate the military potential of the Roebling Alligator. Major Kaluf returned a favorable report and in May 1938 the Commandant of the Marine Corps requested that a "pilot model" be purchased for "further tests under service conditions." This request was turned down by the Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair due to limited funding.


The stumps of trees shattered by artillery and the seemingly bottomless mud can sometimes stymie even an LVT.

In the fall of that year, the new President of the Marine Corps Equipment Board, Brigadier General Emile P. Moses, and Kaluf's replacement as Secretary, Major Ernest E. Linsert, made a visit to Clearwater which would become a turning point in the development of the amphibian tractor. It was during this visit that General Moses persuaded Roebling to design a new Alligator which would incorporate a number of improvements. The fact that the Marine Corps did not have any available funds at this time forced Roebling to come up with most of the $18,000 required to fabricate this vehicle from his own pocket. Construction on this new Alligator was completed in May 1940.

[SAMWolf]

The Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) was an amphibious armoured vehicle used by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Army during World War II. It was also known as Amphtrack, amtrak, amptrack, from the contraction of amphibious tractor.

Development


Engaged in the bitter struggle to establish the Peleliu beachhead, Marine riflemen get only momentary shelter behind an LVT, while other Marines atop the amphibian tractor fire at enemy targets. The name of the LVT was more than prophetic.

The LVT had its origins in a civilian hurricane rescue vehicle called the Alligator invented by Donald Roebling in 1937. The United States Marine Corps, which had been developing amphibious warfare doctrines based on the ideas of Lt. Col. Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis and others, soon became interested in the machine after learning about it through an article Life magazine.



Designed by John A. Roebling (originally as a hurricane rescue vehicle), the first LVTs could hold 24 men or 4,500 pounds (2,000 kg) of cargo. They were first used in landings on Guadalcanal in August 1942. Many types were produced with different armament, capacity and other features. In the course of World War II, about 18,000 were built.



Improvement and experimentation continued throughout the war, especially in the areas of suspension (vehicle) and power plant. Later models included turreted tank-like vehicles with a light cannon or flamethrower, and a special cargo model with a loading ramp.



The first military model was called the LVT 1, short for "Landing Vehicle, Tracked" and was introduced in 1941. Steaming at a respectable six knots in the water and travelling twelve mph on land, it could deliver 24 fully-equipped assault troops to the beach, and supply supporting fire from two .30 cal. machine guns. It was not armoured per se, but its steel hull offered some protection from shrapnel and small-arms fire. Troops exited from rear doors on dry land, instead of using a ramp in the front at the water's edge as on other landing craft of the era. There were some problems when the tracks encountered especially tough surfaces like coral, although they performed well on sand. Proper maintenance of the new-fangled machine was often an issue, as few Marines were trained to work on it, and early models suffered frequent breakdowns.

Combat History



The LVT 1 first saw action at Guadalcanal and was last used in the assault on Tarawa. Japanese artillery disabled half of the tractors by the end of the day. Still, the amphtracks proved their worth by successfully ferrying men across the coral reef and through the shallows to the beach. Marines who arrived in LCVP Higgins boats, on the other hand, could not cross the reef and had to wade through chest-deep or higher water while being raked by Japanese machine guns; casualties were horrific and many who did make it to the beach alive had lost their rifles and other essential gear. The "alligator" was clearly a good idea that worked, but improvements such as added armor were needed to make it more effective.

Modern Descendents



Many of the world's militaries employ more modern versions of the amphtrack. One of the latest is the United States Marine Corps EFV, slated to replace the AAV in 2008. (Incidentally, the AAV is manufactured by United Defense, formerly a division of FMC—Food Machinery Corporation. Originally a manufacturer of insecticide spray pumps and other farm equipment, the company was pressed into service to build the first order of 200 LVT1's, and eventually became a defense contractor).

	LVT: Landing Vehicle, Tracked Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored)
	LVT(1)	LVT(2)	LVT(3)	LVT(4)	LVT(A)1	LVT(A)2	LVT(A)4
Displacement:	16,900 lbs	25,200 lbs	28,000 lbs	23,350 lbs	25,200 lbs	27,600 lbs	38,000 lbs
Length:	21'6"	26'1"	24'1"	26'1"	26'1"	261"	26'1"
Beam:	9'10"	10'8"	10'10"	10'8"	10'8"	10'8"	10'8"
Speed:	4 knots (water) 15 mph (land)	5.4 knots (water) 25 mph (land)	5.2 knots (water> 25 mph (land)	5.4 knots (water) 25 mph (land)	5.4 knots (water 25 mph (land)	5.4 knots (water) 25 mph (land)	5.2 knots (water) 25 mph (land)
Armament:	1 .50-cal mg, 1 .30-cal. mg.	1 .50-cal mg, 1 .30-cal. mg.	1 .50-cal mg, 1 .30-cal. mg.	1 .50-cal mg, 1 .30-cal. mg.	1 37mm., 3 .30-cal. mg.	1 .50-cal mg, 1 .30-cal. mg.	1 75mm. howitzer, 1 .50-cal. mg.
Complement:	3	3	3	3	6	6	5
Capacity:	4,500 lbs cargo or 20 equipped troops	6,500 lbs cargo or 24 equipped troops	8,000 lbs cargo or 24 equipped troops	6,500 lbs cargo max.	1,000 lbs cargo	6,500 lbs cargo	2,000 lbs ammunition and gear
Propulsion:	Hercules WXLC 3 6-cylinder, 146 hp. @ 2,40 rpm gasoline engine	Continental radial air-cooled 7-cylinder 200 hp. @ 1,800 rpm gasoline engine	2 Cadillac V-8 water-cooled 220 hp @ 3,400 rpm gasoline engines	Continental radial air-cooled 7-cylinder 200 hp. @ 1,800 rpm gasoline engine	Continental radial air-cooled 7-cylinder 200 hp. @ 1,800 rpm gasoline engine	Continental radial air-cooled 7-cylinder 200 hp. @ 1,800 rpm gasoline engine	Continental radial air-cooled 7-cylinder 200 hp. @ 1,800 rpm gasoline engine
# Built	1,225	2,963	2,962	8,348	509	450	1,890
Manufacturer:	Food Machinery Corp.	Food Machinery Corp.	Borg-Warner	Food Machinery Corp.	Food Machinery Corp.	New Britain	Food Machinery Corp.
1st Combat:	Guadalcanal	Tarawa	Okinawa	Saipan	Kwajalein	New Britain	Saipan

Additional Sources:

www.ibiblio.org
en.wikipedia.org
www.wwiivehicles.com
www.olive-drab.com
www.army.mil
www.skylighters.org
www.europa1939.com
www.tarawaontheweb
www.nps.gov

[SAMWolf]

Waves of LVTs heading for the beach as seen from the air.

"The development of the amphibian tractor, or LVT, which began in the middle 1930s provided the solution and was one of the most important modern technical contributions to ships-to-shore operations. Without these landing vehicles our amphibious offensive in the Pacific would have been impossible."

---Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC

"With the political and military situation in Europe and Asia worsening, military appropriations from Congress improved and the Navy's Bureau of Ships was able to fund a $20,000 contract with Roebling for the construction of a new test vehicle. It was almost identical to "Alligator 3," but was powered by a 120-horsepower Lincoln-Zephyr engine. This Alligator was completed in October 1940, and was tested at Quantico, Virginia, and later in the Caribbean. While the testing of this fourth Alligator revealed some deficiencies, the general design was deemed a success. The tractor was redesigned using a welded steel hull and incorporating many of the recommendations of the test team. A contract was then let by the Navy for 100 LVT-1s. The first of the production LVTs would roll off the Food Machinery Corporation's (FMC) assembly line in July 1941."

---Anthony Wayne Tommell

[SAMWolf]

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Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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************Snippy, I bequeath to you the FR TH PL.

148 posted on 08/24/2004 11:39:45 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)

It's TreadHead Tuesday at the Foxhole. Good morning, ON THE WAY!!!!. :-)

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

[Iris7]

These very first Amtraks were, are, very important machines. Saved many good Marines.

Think how useful one thousand of these machines would have been on D-Day, especially later models armored to withstand small arms fire and artillery splinters.

The 75mm howitzer model would have come in handy.

[Iris7]

The early amtracks had no suspension whatever. To call them rough riding is a great understatement. The Marine accounts of operational use of these machines really only make complaint about their ride. "Knock out your fillings and break your feet and legs" sort of language. Must be an exaggeration. ????

Oh, and they needed more weapons. How like the fighting man!

When John Roebling made his amphibious tractor he saved a lot more good men's lives than he expected to, eh?

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole.

[GailA]

Good morning, it's Tuesday so it must be my quilting day. And a day of rest from the sweat shop McD's.

[The Mayor]

August 23, 2005

Spiritual Reupholstering

Read:
Ephesians 4:17-24

Put on the new man which was created according to God. —Ephesians 4:24

Bible In One Year: 1 Chronicles 4-6

When we moved into our home 5 years ago, we discovered that the former owner had left us six dining room chairs. They were covered with fabric of beautiful African art—tasteful zebra stripes. We appreciated the unexpected gifts and used them frequently when entertaining guests.

When we recently moved again, those chairs needed a makeover to match our new decor. So I called an upholsterer and asked, "Shouldn't we just put the new material over the existing fabric?" He responded, "No, you'll ruin the shape of the chair if you just put new material over the old."

The work of God in our lives is similar. He's not interested in merely changing our spiritual appearance. Instead, He intends to replace our character with what is called "the new man," made in the image of Christ (Ephesians 4:24). The flesh has a tendency to perform religious activity, but this is not the work of the Holy Spirit. He will completely transform us on the inside.

But the process is a partnership (Philippians 2:12-13). As we daily lay aside our old behaviors and replace them with godly ones, the God of grace works in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God wants to reupholster us. —Dennis Fisher

Dear Lord, You've given new life to me—
A great and full salvation;
And may the life that others see
Display the transformation. —Hess

When you receive Christ, God's work in you has just begun.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Why Would Anyone Want To Be Holy?

[alfa6]

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone!

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on August 23:
1754 Louis XVI Versailles, king of France (1774-92); guillotined
1785 Oliver Hazard Perry naval hero
1869 James (Sunny Jim) Rolph SF mayor (1912-31), MUNI backer
1900 Ernst Krenek Vienna Austria, composer (Johnny Spielt Auf)
1903 William Primrose Glasgow Scot, violist (Method for Violin & Viola)
1911 Birger Ruud Norway, 90m ski jumper (Olympic-gold-1932, 36)
1911 Elizabeth Robinson US, 100m dash (Olympic-gold-1928)
1912 Gene Kelly Pitts, dancer/actor (An American in Paris, Going My Way)
1913 Bob Crosby Spokane Wa, Bing's brother, orch leader (Bob Crosby Show)
1923 Richard Adler, composer, songwriter (Damn Yankees, Pajama Game)
1930 Michel Rocard Courbevoie France, Prime Minister of France
1930 Vera Miles actress (Psycho)
1932 Mark Russell Buffalo NY, political satirist/pianist (Real People)
1933 Pete Wilson (Sen/Gov-R-Calif)
1934 Barbara Eden Tucson Az, actress (Dream of Jeannie, Amazing Dobermans)
1934 Christian "Sonny" Jurgensen NFL QB (Eagles, Redskins)
1940 Richard Sanders Harrisburg Pa, actor (Les Nessman-WKRP, Spencer, Berrengers)
1942 Nancy Richey Gunther San Ant Tx, tennis player (US Doubles 1965, 66)
1942 Patricia McBride ballerina (NYC Ballet Co)
1943 Bobby Diamond LA Calif, actor (Duncan Gillis-Dobie Gillis)
1944 Antonia Novello US Surgeon General
1947 Keith Moon rocker (True Story of 200 Motels)
1947 Rex Allen Jr Chicago, country singer (Nashville on the Road)
1948 Ron Blomberg NY Yank, 1st designated hitter
1949 Rick Springfield Australia, (General Hospital, Jessie's Girl)
1949 Shelley Long Fort Wayne Indiana, actress (Diane-Cheers, Money Pit)
1951 Mark Hudson Portland Ore, comedians (Bonkers, Hudson Brothers Show)
1951 Queen Noor of Jordan
1953 Bobby Gubby rocker (Bucks Fizz-My Camera Never Lies)
1956 Gerry Cooney heavyweight boxer/great white hope
1967 Nancy Jane Cox Campbellsville Kentucky, Miss Kentucky-America-1991
1970 River Phoenix Madras Ore, actor (Little Nikta, Stand By Me)

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Deaths which occurred on August 23:
408 Flavius Stilcho, Roman general, beheaded
0634 Aboe Bekr Abd Allah, [al-Siddik], friend/successor of Mohammed, dies

1305 William Wallace, Scottish patriot, hanged, disemboweled & beheaded

1819 Oliver Hazard Perry naval hero, dies on 34th birthday
1926 Rodolpho Alfonzo Rafaello Pietro Filiberto Guglieimi Di Valentina D'Antonguolla (Rudolph Valentino), silent movie idol, dies in NY at 31
1927 Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti executed in Mass
1960 Oscar Hammerstein II Broadway librettist, dies at 65
1962 Hoot Gibson silent screen cowboy actor, dies at 70
1975 Hank Patterson actor (Fred Ziffel-Green Acres), dies at 87
1989 Yusef Hawkins shot by 30 whites in Bensonhurst because he's black
1995 Alfred Eisenstaedt, photojournalist

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Take A Moment To Remember
GWOT Casualties

Iraq
23-Aug-2003 5 | US: 2 | UK: 3 | Other: 0
UK Corporal Dewi Pritchard Basra - Basrah Hostile - hostile fire
UK Warrant Officer Colin Wall Basra - Basrah Hostile - hostile fire
UK Major Matthew Titchener Basra - Basrah Hostile - hostile fire
US Specialist Stephen M. Scott Baghdad Non-hostile - weapon discharge
US Private 1st Class Vorn J. Mack Ramadi - Anbar Non-hostile - drowning

23-Aug-2004 1 | US: 1 | UK: 0 | Other: 0
US Staff Sergeant Robert C. Thornton Jr. Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - RPG attack

Afghanistan
A GOOD DAY


http://icasualties.org/oif/
Data research by Pat Kneisler
Designed and maintained by Michael White
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Go here and I'll stop nagging.
http://www.taps.org/
(subtle hint SEND MONEY)

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On this day...
0476 Odoacer becomes King of Byzantine
1244 Turks expel the crusaders under Frederick II from Jerusalem.
1328 King Philip VI of France, crowned
1514 Ottoman Turks under Selim I (the Grim), defeat Persians at Battle of Chaldiran
1617 1st one-way streets established (London)
1813 Battle of Grossbeeren - Prussians under Von Bulow repulse French(SHOCKING NEWS!!)

1833 Britain abolishes slavery in colonies; 700,000 slaves freed

1838 Mt Holyoke Female Seminary (South Hadley, Mass) 1st graduating class
1864 Fall of Fort Morgan at Mobile
1866 Treaty of Prague ends Austro-Prussian war
1869 1st carload of freight (boots & shoes) arrives in SF, from Boston
1872 1st Japanese coml ship visits SF, carrying tea
1883 Phillies make 27 errors against Providence (wild pitches, walks & passballs count as errors prior to 1888)
1900 National Negro Business League organizes (Boston)
1903 6th Zionist Congress, Theodor Herzl declares Jewish state
1904 Automobile tire chain patented
1914 Japan declares war on Germany in World War I
1917 Race riot in Houston Texas (2 blacks & 11 whites killed)
1919 "Gasoline Alley" cartoon strip premiers in Chicago Tribune
1924 Mars' closest approach to Earth since the 10th century

1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop-pact (Soviet Union neutral/Poland divided)

1940 Luftwaffe begins night bombing on London
1942 1st US flights land on Guadalcanal
1942 German army begins assault on city of Stalingrad
1944 Romania liberated from Nazi occupation (Comes under Soviet occupation) (National Day 1944-1990)
1947 Pres Truman's daughter, Margaret's 1st public singing concert
1948 World Council of Churches formed by 147 churches from 44 countries
1950 West Germany & Japan readmitted to Intl Amateur Athletic Federation
1953 Phil Grate sets record for throwing a baseball (443'3«")
1958 Marie Ashton completes playing piano a female record 133 hours
1960 World's largest frog (3.3 kg) caught (Equatorial Guinea)
1961 US lunar probe Ranger 1 reaches 190 km from Earth, falls back
1963 Beatles release "She Loves You" in the UK
1963 Ringo admits he wrote a song "Don't Pass Me By"
1964 St Louis Cards are 11 games back in NL, & win the World Series
1966 Lunar Orbiter 1 takes 1st photograph of Earth from Moon
1968 Ringo quits the Beatles over a disagreement, temporarily
1968 Yanks & Tigers play 3-3 tie in 19 due to 1 AM curfew
1969 Audrey McElmory (US) wins World Cycling Championships, Brno, Czechoslovakia (1st American to win cycling race title since 1912)
1972 Republican convention (Miami Beach, Fla) renominates VP Agnew but not unanimous-1 vote went to NBC newsman David Brinkley)
1973 Intelsat communications satellite launched
1975 Communists take over Laos
1977 1st man-powered flight of a mile (Bryan Allen in Gossamer Condor)
1979 Bolshoi Ballet dancer Alexander Godunov defects in NYC
1979 UN's Vienna office opens
1985 Said Aouita of Morroco sets the 1.5k record (3:29.46) in Berlin
1985 Paul Hornung awarded $1,160,000 by a Louisville court against NCAA who barred him as a college football analyst for betting on games
1988 Mike Tyson & Mitch Green brawl at 4 A.M. in Harlem
1989 LA Dodgers beat Montreal Expos, 1-0, in 22 innings
1998 Retailers began marketing computers with the new 450 MHz Intel Pentium II.
1999 German Government moves from Bonn to Berlin
2001 Brian Regan (retired M Sgt.), arrested for spying for Iraq, Libya and China
2002 Pres. Shevardnadze accuses Russia of bombing inside Georgia's border.

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Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"
[Ancient Rome] Volcanalia (Festival of Vulcan)
Romania : Liberation Day (1944-1990)
Swaziland : Umhlanga Day
National Religious Software Week (Day 2)
Fall of Empires Month

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Religious Observances
RC : Mem of St Rose of Lima, patron of Latin America (opt)
Christian] Feast of St Astrius & Claudius
[Christian] Feast of St Eugene/Eoghan of Ardstraw
[Christian] Feast of St Philip Benizi
[Christian] Feast of St Tydfil

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Religious History
1572 In France, late this night, Catholic conspirators began massacring thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants), under orders of Catherine de Medici, advisor to her son, Charles IX, King of France.
1823 Karl F. A. GÀGÀtzlaff, 20, first arrived in Bangkok the first missionary ever to reach Thailand. Representing the Netherlands Missionary Society, GÀGÀtzlaff and his wife later translated the complete Bible into Siamese, and portions of it into the Lao and Cambodian languages.
1882 Death of Charles W. Fry, 45, English Salvation Army worker. It was Fry who penned the words to the lyric hymn, "I Have Found a Friend in Jesus" (a.k.a. "Lily of the Valley").
1948 During its Amsterdam Assembly (Aug 22 Sept 4), the newly-formed World Council of Churches officially ratified its Constitution.
1952 Death of Frederick George Kenyon, 89, British archaeologist and language scholar. Kenyon devoted his life to discovering biblical parallels in ancient Greek papyri, convincing critics that science does not disprove the Bible.

Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.

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N.Y. Man in Record Book for Eyebrow Hair


SARANAC, N.Y. (AP) - A 43-year-old North Country man has made the Guinness Book of World Records in a new entry for the longest eyebrow hair.
Frank Ames of Saranac in Clinton County measured in at 3.78 inches or nearly eight centimeters.
"I don't know why it grows like that; it just always has," Ames told the Press-Republican of Plattsburgh.

Ames's journey toward notoriety began almost two years ago when a co-worker at Bombardier Corp. noticed the bushy brow and suggested he try for a record. Ames then decided to go for it, but discovered that no such category existed. So, he made a phone call to Guiness and was sent a bunch of forms to fill out and rules for officially getting recognized.

Ken Joy, a machinist and measuring expert at Bombardier, measured the hair in February 2004 with Plattsburgh Mayor Daniel Stewart and the city's entire Common Council standing by as witnesses.
Now, Ames is on page 24 of the 2006 edition, in the "Body Parts" section.

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Thought for the day :
"It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe."
Robert W. Service

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies. Flag-o-Gram.

Operation Gut Suck will commence in 2 hours.

by Pfc. Mike Pryor

August 9, 2005

Capt. Jeffrey T. Burgoyne, commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, shakes hands with his brother, Sgt. 1st Class Cliff Burgoyne, a platoon sergeant in the same battalion, after reenlisting him during a ceremony at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. This photo appeared on www.army.mil.

Duty, Honor, Country, Brother size here.

[Soaring Feather]

Morning, PE. Hope all goes well for you. :)

[w_over_w]

MORNING GLORY FOLKS!

[Professional Engineer]

Donald Roebling, the grandson of the designer and builder of the Brooklyn Bridge

I recognized the name immediately. Obviously, the Engineer gene breeds true.

[Professional Engineer]

Hi miss Feather