The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Battle of Cowpens (1/17/1781) - May 13th, 2003

NPS ^ | Scott Withrow, Park Ranger

[SAMWolf]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

.

FReepers from the The Foxhole
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

.

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The Battle of Cowpens

The Battle of Cowpens, January 17, 1781, took place in the latter part of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution and of the Revolution itself. It became known as the turning point of the war in the South, part of a chain of events leading to Patriot victory at Yorktown. The Cowpens victory was one over a crack British regular army and brought together strong armies and leaders who made their mark on history.

From the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge on, the British had made early and mostly futile efforts in the South, including a failed naval expedition to take Charleston in 1776. Such victories boosted Patriot morale and blunted British efforts, but, by 1779-80, with stalemate in the North, British strategists again looked south. They came south for a number of reasons, primarily to assist Southern Loyalists and help them regain control of colonial governments, and then push north, to crush the rebellion. They estimated that many of the population would rally to the Crown.

In 1779-80, British redcoats indeed came South en masse, capturing first, Savannah and then Charleston and Camden in South Carolina, in the process, defeating and capturing much of the Southern Continental Army. Such victories gave the British confidence they would soon control the entire South, that Loyalists would flock to their cause. Conquering these population centers, however, gave the British a false sense of victory they didn’t count on so much opposition in the backcountry. Conflict in the backcountry, to their rear, turned out to be their Achilles’ heel.

The Southern Campaign, especially in the backcountry, was essentially a civil war as the colonial population split between Patriot and Loyalist. Conflict came, often pitting neighbor against neighbor and re-igniting old feuds and animosities. Those of both sides organized militia, often engaging each other. The countryside was devastated, and raids and reprisals were the order of the day.


General Nathaniel Greene

Into this conflict, General George Washington sent the very capable Nathanael Greene to take command of the Southern army. Against military custom, Greene, just two weeks into his command, split his army, sending General Daniel Morgan southwest of the Catawba River to cut supply lines and hamper British operations in the backcountry, and, in doing so "spirit up the people". General Cornwallis, British commander in the South, countered Greene’s move by sending Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton to block Morgan’s actions. Tarleton was only twenty-six, but he was an able commander, both feared and hated – hated especially for his victory at the Waxhaws. There, Tarleton was said to have continued the fight against remnants of the Continental Army trying to surrender. His refusal, tradition says, of offering no quarter, led to the derisive term "Tarleton’s Quarter".

These events set the stage for the Battle of Cowpens. On January 12, 1781, Tarleton's scouts located Morgan’s army at Grindal’s Shoals on the Pacolet River in South Carolina’s backcountry and thus began an aggressive pursuit. Tarleton, fretting about heavy rains and flooded rivers, gained ground as his army proceeded toward the flood-swollen Pacolet. As Tarleton grew closer, Morgan retreated north to Burr’s Mill on Thicketty Creek. On January 16, with Tarleton reported to have crossed the Pacolet and much closer than expected, Morgan and his army made a hasty retreat, so quickly as to leave their breakfast behind. Soon, he intersected with and traveled west on the Green River Road. Here, with the flood-swollen Broad River six miles to his back, Morgan decided to make a stand at the Cowpens, a well-known crossroads and frontier pasturing ground.

The term "cowpens", endemic to such South Carolina pastureland and associated early cattle industry, would be etched in history. The field itself was some 500 yards long and just as wide, a park-like setting dotted with trees, but devoid of undergrowth, having been kept clear by cattle grazing in the spring on native grasses and peavine.



There was forage at the Cowpens for horses, and evidence of free-ranging cattle for food. Morgan, too, since he had learned of Tarleton’s pursuit, had spread the word for militia units to rendezvous at the Cowpens. Many knew the geography some were Overmountain men who had camped at the Cowpens on their journey to the Battle of Kings Mountain. Camp was made in a swale between two small hills, and through the night Andrew Pickens’ militia drifted into camp. Morgan moved among the campfires and offered encouragement; his speeches to militia and Continentals alike were command performances. He spoke emotionally of past battles, talked of the battle plan, and lashed out against the British. His words were especially effective with the militia the "Old Waggoner" of French and Indian War days and the hero of Saratoga, spoke their language. He knew how to motivate them even proposing a competition of bravery between Georgia and Carolina units. By the time he was through, one soldier observed that the army was "in good spirits and very willing to fight". But, as one observed, Morgan hardly slept a wink that night.

Dawn at the Cowpens on January 17, 1781, was clear and bitterly cold. Morgan, his scouts bearing news of Tarleton’s approach, moved among his men, shouting, "Boys, get up! Benny’s coming! Tarleton, playing catch up, and having marched his army since two in the morning, ordered formation on the Green River Road for the attack. His aggressive style was made even now more urgent, since there were rumors of Overmountain men on the way, reminiscent of events at Kings Mountain. Yet he was confident of victory: he reasoned he had Morgan hemmed in by the Broad, and the undulating park-like terrain was ideal for his dragoons. He thought Morgan must be desperate, indeed, to have stopped at such a place. Perhaps Morgan saw it differently: in some past battles, Patriot militia had fled in face of fearsome bayonet charges – but now the Broad at Morgan’s back could prevent such a retreat. In reality, though, Morgan had no choice – to cross the flood-swollen Broad risked having his army cut down by the feared and fast-traveling Tarleton.



Tarleton pressed the attack head on, his line extending across the meadow, his artillery in the middle, and fifty Dragoons on each side. It was as if Morgan knew he would make a frontal assault – it was his style of fighting. To face Tarleton, he organized his troops into three lines. First, out front and hiding behind trees were selected sharpshooters. At the onset of battle they picked off numbers of Tarleton’s Dragoons, traditionally listed as fifteen, shooting especially at officers, and warding off an attempt to gain initial supremacy. With the Dragoons in retreat, and their initial part completed, the sharpshooters retreated 150 yards or more back to join the second line, the militia commanded by Andrew Pickens. Morgan used the militia well, asking them to get off two volleys and promised their retreat to the third line made up of John Eager Howard's Continentals, again close to 150 yards back. Some of the militia indeed got off two volleys as the British neared, but, as they retreated and reached supposed safety behind the Continental line, Tarleton sent his feared Dragoons after them. As the militia dodged behind trees and parried saber slashes with their rifles, William Washington’s Patriot cavalry thundered onto the field of battle, seemingly, out of nowhere. The surprised British Dragoons, already scattered and sensing a rout, were overwhelmed, and according to historian Babits, lost eighteen men in the clash. As they fled the field, infantry on both sides fired volley after volley. The British advanced in a trot, with beating drums, the shrill sounds of fifes, and shouts of halloo. Morgan, in response, cheering his men on, said to give them the Indian halloo back. Riding to the front, he rallied the militia, crying out, "form, form, my brave fellows! Old Morgan was never beaten!"

Now Tarleton’s 71st Highlanders, held in reserve, entered the charge toward the Continental line, the wild wail of bagpipes adding to the noise and confusion. A John Eager Howard order for the right flank to face slightly right to counter a charge from that direction, was, in the noise of battle, misunderstood as a call to retreat. As other companies along the line followed suite, Morgan rode up to ask Howard if he were beaten. As Howard pointed to the unbroken ranks and the orderly retreat and assured him they were not, Morgan spurred his horse on and ordered the retreating units to face about, and then, on order, fire in unison. The firing took a heavy toll on the British, who, by that time had sensed victory and had broken ranks in a wild charge. This event and a fierce Patriot bayonet charge in return broke the British charge and turned the tide of battle. The re-formed militia and cavalry re-entered the battle, leading to double envelopment of the British, perfectly timed. British infantry began surrendering en masse.



Tarleton and some of his army fought valiantly on; others refused his orders and fled the field. Finally, Tarleton, himself, saw the futility of continued battle, and with a handful of his men, fled from whence he came, down the Green River Road. In one of the most dramatic moments of the battle, William Washington, racing ahead of his cavalry, dueled hand-to-hand with Tarleton and two of his officers. Washington’s life was saved only when his young bugler fired his pistol at an Englishman with raised saber. Tarleton and his remaining forces galloped away to Cornwallis’ camp. Stragglers from the battle were overtaken, but Tarleton escaped to tell the awful news to Cornwallis.

The battle was over in an hour. It was a complete victory for the Patriot force. British losses were staggering: 110 dead, over 200 wounded and 500 captured. Morgan lost only 12 killed and 60 wounded, a count he received from those reporting directly to him.

Knowing Cornwallis would come after him, Morgan saw to it that the dead were buried – the legend says in wolf pits -- and headed north with his army. Crossing the Broad at Island Ford, he proceeded to Gilbert Town, and, yet burdened as he was by the prisoners, pressed swiftly northeastward toward the Catawba River, and some amount of safety. The prisoners were taken via Salisbury on to Winchester, Virginia. Soon Morgan and Greene reunited and conferred, Morgan wanting to seek protection in the mountains and Greene wanting to march north to Virginia for supplies. Greene won the point, gently reminding Morgan that he was in command. Soon after Morgan retired from his duty because of ill health— rheumatism, and recurring bouts of malarial fever.


The Cowpens Flag was named due to its presence at the Battle of the Cowpens in South Carolina, January 17, 1781. This was during the last months of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution, where the Continental Army under General Daniel Morgan defeated the British soundly. The flag above was first carried by the Third Maryland Regiment which was part of the Continental Line of Maryland, Virginia and Georgia Regiments. The original flag is now at Annapolis, Maryland.

Now it was Greene and his army on the move north. Cornwallis, distressed by the news from Cowpens, and wondering aloud how such an interior force could defeat Tarleton's crack troops, indeed came after him. Now it was a race for the Dan River on the Virginia line, Cornwallis having burned his baggage and swiftly pursuing Greene. Cornwallis was subsequently delayed by Patriot units stationed at Catawba River crossings. Greene won the race, and, in doing so, believed he had Cornwallis where he wanted -- far from urban supply centers and short of food. Returning to Guilford Courthouse, he fought Cornwallis' army employing with some success, Morgan's tactics at Cowpens. At battle's end, the British were technically the winners as Greene's forces retreated. If it could be called a victory, it was a costly one: Five hundred British lay dead or wounded. When the news of the battle reached London, a member of the House of Commons said, "Another such victory would ruin the British army". Perhaps the army was already ruined, and Greene's strategy of attrition was working.

Soon, Greene's strategy was evident: Cornwallis and his weary army gave up on the Carolinas and moved on to Virginia. On October 18, 1781, the British army surrendered at Yorktown. Cowpens, in its part in the Revolution, was a surprising victory and a turning point that changed the psychology of the entire war. Now, there was revenge – the Patriot rallying cry Tarleton’s Quarter. Morgan's unorthodox but tactical masterpiece had indeed "spirited up the people", not just those of the backcountry Carolinas, but those in all the colonies. In the process, he gave Tarleton and the British a "devil of a whipping".

[SAMWolf]

The Aftermath

Of Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton's 1,076 man force at Cowpens, 110 were killed and 712 were captured, of whom 200 were wounded. Tarleton also lost two artillery grasshoppers, two regimental standards (colors), thirty-five wagons, 100 horses, 800 muskets, a traveling forge and even the officers' slaves. More importantly, Lt. General Charles Cornwallis had lost his light troops. He would no longer be able to launch lightning attacks. On January 23, Major Edward Giles reached Maj. General Nathanael Greene's camp and delivered the news of the victory. The camp celebrated with many toasts to the victory and musket fire. Giles then carried the news all the way to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, forgetting to stop at Williamsburg and inform Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson.

General Sir Banastre Tarleton

Congress awarded Brig. General Daniel Morgan a gold medal. Lt. Colonel's William Washington and John Eager Howard received silver medals. Andrew Pickens received a sword. The Virginia House of Delegates awarded Morgan "a horse with furniture, and a sword," while South Carolina Governor John Rutledge promoted Pickens to brigadier general. Back at Cowpens the fighting was not over. Lt. Colonel Washington still wanted to catch Lt. Colonel Tarleton, so he gathered his dragoons and began his pursuit. Tarleton galloped past the abandoned baggage train. He now learned that General Cornwallis was still to the south, so he coerced a Rebel into serving as a guide. Thirty minutes later, Washington arrived and asked the Rebel's wife for information. Fearful of her husband's safety, she pointed Washington down the wrong road. Only after twenty-four miles did Washington figure he had been misled.

General Morgan himself did not linger on the battlefield to bask in the victory. He was sure that General Cornwallis would pursue him, so on the day of the battle he marched five miles north to Island Ford and crossed the Catawba River. While Morgan was on his way to Gilbert Town, Lt. Colonel Tarleton was arriving at Cornwallis' camp at Turkey Creek where he made a report of the battle to the General. After Cornwallis learned from Tarleton of the Battle of Cowpens, he swore to recover the prisoners. Meanwhile, Tarleton endured silent accusations of his responsibility for the disasterous loss. On January 27, 1781, he requested that he be allowed to retire and await a court martial. Cornwallis denied his request with a letter of confidence on January 30th.

General Daniel Morgan

General Morgan soon rejoined with General Greene in a retreat from the pursuing General Cornwallis across North Carolina. What has become known as the 'Race to the Dan River' was underway. In his effort to catch the Continentals, Cornwallis burned his wagon train. This action would cripple him following the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina in March 15, 1781. For Daniel Morgan, the cold and rainy weather brought on his sciatica and soon it was too painful for him to sit on a horse. On February 10, 1781, Morgan retired to his home in Virginia until July.

[SAMWolf]

Feeding the Armies

In the Revolution, Patriot and British armies often marched and fought on empty stomachs as plans for obtaining food went awry. This was particularly true in the backcountry where food was scarce. Examples of foraging for food and food-related problems abound. Earlier in the war, General Gates and his Southern Continentals, on the march to Camden, subsisted on apples, peaches, and half-ripened corn. James Collins, writing about backcountry campaigns in his Autobiography of a Revolutionary Soldier, told of eating turnips and parched corn. In one poignant example, Battle of Cowpen's participant John Martin, recuperating from wounds in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and beyond assistance of the army, reported the death of his horse because he lacked money to purchase forage. In another instance, Cornwallis, because his army was so dead tired and hungry, chose not to pursue General Greene in the aftermath of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Up in Virginia, Samuel McCune was employed to drive cattle from Augusta County to Yorktown. Throughout the southern theater of war, scouting parties on both sides would scour the country in every direction in search of food.



At Cowpens, Daniel Morgan worried about obtaining food for his men - the area around the Pacolet River had been plundered and fought over so much, there was little to requisition. In addition, he had horses to feed. Each militiaman had brought a horse, in addition to those of the cavalry, making the total over 450. Perhaps that was part of Morgan's plan to stop at Cowpens - there should be some grass for the horses, even in winter, and, possibly free-ranging calves could be found and killed for beef. Beef was indeed available: James Turner, a Spartanburg District resident and participant in the battle, butchered beef to feed Morgan's army before and after the battle. It was reported that militia groups constantly left camp to hunt for forage. Such were the realities of feeding the armies.

[SAMWolf]

'The southern campaign broke the will of the British to continue the war.'

-- From 'History of the Southeastern U.S. and Caribbean Areas'

'General Morgan's signal victory over Colonel Tarleton with the flower of the British Army reflects the highest honor upon our arms, and I hope at least the attended with this advantage, that it will check the offensive operations of the enemy until General Greene shall have collected a much more respectable force than he had under his command by the last accounts from him. I am apprehensive that the Southern States will look upon this victory as much more decisive in its consequences than it really is, and will relax in their exertions. It is to be wished that the gentlemen of Congress who have interests in those States would remove such ideas, if any such should be found to exist, and rather stimulate them to redouble their efforts to crush an enemy, pretty severely shaken by the two successful strokes upon Ferguson and Tarleton.'

-- General Washington
in a letter to the President of Congress on the 17th of February.

[SAMWolf]

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[SAMWolf]

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on May 13:
1314 Sergius of Radonesh Russian saint
1592 John Cloppenburg vicar/theologist
1655 Innocent XIII [Michelangiolo dei Conti] Italy, 244th Roman Catholic Pope (1721-24)
1717 Maria Theresa Empress of Austria (Wife of emperor Franz I)
1729 Henry William (Baron) Stiegel early American glassmaker
1730 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd marquis of Rockingham (Whig) British PM (1765-66, 1782)
1735 Horace Coignet composer
1746 Oliver Brownson composer
1756 Wojciech Zywny composer
1761 Adrian Loosjes Pzn publisher/writer (Mauritius Lijnslager)
1769 Joâo VI King of Portugal (1816-26)
1776 Charles Ots composer
1776 Rodrigo Ferreira da Costa composer
1792 Pius IX "Pio Nono" [Giovanni-Maria Mastai-Ferretti], Pope (1846-78)
1795 Joshua Ratoon Sands Commander (Union Navy), died in 1883
1828 Josephine Elizabeth Butler social reformer
1830 Zebulon Baird Vance Governor (Confederacy), died in 1894
1831 Willem baron of Goltstein of Oldenaller Dutch minister of Colonies
1840 Alphonse Daudet French writer (Tartarin of Tarascon)
1842 Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan London England, composer (Gilbert & Sullivan)
1843 Count Paul J Smet de Naeyer Belgian politician
1847 Johannes Haarklou composer
1854 Louis H Chrispijn Dutch director (Lost & Found, Silvia Silombra)
1854 Paul Klengel composer
1856 Peter Henry Emerson 1st to promote photography as an independent art
1857 Ronald Ross England, pathologist (Nobel 1902)
1857 Sir Ronald Ross England, pathologist (Nobel 1902)
1859 Eugust Enna composer
1866 Ottokar Eugen Novacek composer
1867 Sir Frank Brangwyn Wales, painter/muralist/cartoonist (Willam Morris)
1868 Paolo Gallico composer
1874 Henry Clough-Leiter composer
1876 Raoul Laparra composer
1881 Ilona Durigo Hungarian singer
1882 Georges F Braque French cubist painter (The Bike)
1883 Henk JFM Sneevliet leader RSAP/editor Spartacus (Dutch-Indies)
1886 Joseph Achron Latvia/US violinist/composer (Golem suite)
1891 Fritz Rasp Bayreuth Germany, actor (Diary of a Lost Girl)
1896 Charles F Pahud de Mortanges Dutch equestrian (Olympics-gold-1928, 32)
19-- Leslie Winston Austin TX, actress (Cindy-Waltons)
1900 Jos Panhuysen author (Pornographer)
1903 Alfred Pugsley civil engineer
1903 Paul Page Birmingham AL, actor (Girl From Havana, Moth)
1904 Alfred Earle Birney poet
1904 Tim Wall cricketer (18 Tests for Australia 1928-34)
1906 Thomas Mitchell architect/engineer
1907 Austin Whitaker schoolmaster classical scholar/archivist
1907 Daphne du Maurier English writer (Rebecca, Parasites)
1907 Laurence Kirwan archaeologist
1908 Michael Richardson commandant (Home for Disabled Sailors)
1911 Maxine Sullivan [Marietta Williams], US singer/actress (Going Places)
1911 Robert Middleman Cincinnati OH, actor (Barney-The Monroes)
1912 Helen Craig San Antonio TX, actress (Snake Pit, They Live by Night)
1913 Sanjiva Reddy President (India)
1913 William R Tolbert President of Liberia (1971-80)
1914 Joe Louis world heavyweight boxing champion (1937-49)
1915 John Habakkuk principal (Jesus College in Oxford)
1917 Paul Osmond British senior civil servant
1917 Wilhelmus C Wijen [Broeder Pius] social worker (Curaçao)
1918 John Johnston British diplomat (Rhodesia, Malaysia)
1920 Ratu Kasmisere Mara PM of Fiji (1960-70, 70- )/President (1994- )
1921 Syd[ney G] Vincent British mine workers leader
1926 Beatrice Arthur [Frankel] New York NY, actress (Maude, Dorothy-Golden Girls)
1927 Clive Barnes New York Times drama critic (New York Times, New York Post)
1927 Herbert Ross director/choreographer (Footloose)
1930 Mike Gravel (Senator-R-AK)
1931 Eileen Diss theatrical designer (August, Secret Places, Betrayal)
1931 Jim Jones reverend, poisoned over 900 in Guyana (Jonestown Massacre)
1931 Sydney Lipworth CEO (Monopolies & Mergers Commission)
1931 William Utting chief inspector (British Social Services)
1933 Alden Ashforth composer
1933 Sid Morrison (Representative-R-WA, 1981- )
1933 Stig Gustav Schonberg composer
1934 Adolf Muschg writer
1935 Nigel Butterley composer
1935 Yizhak Sadai composer
1936 Alan Rayfield governor (Long Latin Prison)
1936 Rafael Campos Santiago Dominican Republic, actor (Tonka)
1937 John Cope MP/Paymaster General
1937 Judith Somogi New York NY, conductor (Frankfurt Opera-1982)
1937 Roger [Joseph] Zelazny sci-fi author (6 Hugos, Chronicles of Amber)
1937 Zohra Lampert New York NY, actress (Doctor's Hospital)
1938 Buck Taylor Hollywood CA, actor (Monroes, Gunsmoke)
1939 Anthony Hide racehorse trainer
1939 Harvey Keitel Brooklyn NY, actor (Taxi Driver, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs)
1939 Terry Dill Forth Worth TX, PGA golfer (1992 Bank One Senior Classic)
1939 William W Cobey Jr (Representative-R-NC, 1985-87)
1940 Bruce Chatwin England, writer (On the Black Hill)
1940 Richard Brooks singer (Impressions)
1941 Imca Marina [Bijl], singer (Viva España, Bella Italia, Oh Brazil)
1941 Joe Brown singer/guitarist
1941 Ritchie Valens singer (Donna, La Bamba)
1941 Senta Berger Vienna Austria, actress (Cast a Giant Shadow)
1942 Jim Douglas jazz guitarist
1942 Vladimir A Dzhanibekov USSR, cosmonaut (Soyuz 27, 39, T-6, T-12, T-13)
1943 Mary Wells Detroit MI, singer (My Guy)
1944 Betsy Finley Ashton broadcast journalist/author/lecturer
1944 Carolyn Franklin US singer/songwriter (Baby Baby Baby, Angel)
1944 Clive Radley cricketer (England batsman in 8 Tests 1978)
1944 Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw British explorer/genealogist
1945 Magic Dick [Richard secondalwitz], harmonicaist (J Geils Band-Centerfold)
1946 Danny Klein New York NY, rock bassist (J Geils Band-Centerfold)
1946 Tim Pigott-Smith actor (Sweet William, Jewel in Crown)
1947 David Hughes cricketer
1947 Overend Pete Watts rock bassist (Mott the Hoople-All the Young Dudes)
1947 Stephen R Donaldson US, secondci-fi author (Lord Foul's Bane)
1949 Franklin Ajaye Brooklyn NY, comedian/actor (Jazz Singer, Car Wash)
1949 John Glover conductor
1949 Zoe Wanamaker actress (Raggedy Rawney)
1950 Danny Kirwan rocker (Fleetwood Mac)
1950 John "Jocko" Marcellino rocker/actor (Tagget, Hot to Trot, Rain Man)
1950 Peter Gabriel London England, rocker (Sledgehammer, Shock the Monkey, Solsbury Hill, Genesis-The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway)
1950 Stevie Wonder [Steveland Morris] Saginaw MI, singer/songwriter (I Just Called To Say I Love You, Superstition, You are The Sunshine of My Life, My Cherie Amour)
1951 Paul Thompson rock drummer (Roxy Music)
1951 Selina Scott TV newscaster (West 57th)
1952 John R Kasich (Representative-R-OH, 1983- )
1952 Manfred Langer Austrian/Dutch disco builder
1952 Sew Shivnarine cricketer (3 Tests for West Indies 1978, later USA captain)
1956 Aleksandr Yuriyevich Kaleri Russia, cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-14)
1956 Darius Rucker lead vocalist (Hootie & the Blowfish-Let Her Cry)
1957 Claudie André-Deshays France, cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-24)
1957 Eloise Broady Houston TX, playmate (April 1988)
1958 Frances Barber Wolverhampton England, actress (Castaway)
1959 Robert Earnshaw racehorse trainer
1960 Richard M "Dick" van de Toorn actor (Pastorale)
1960 Shannon Vessup-Millen Los Angeles CA, WPVA volleyballer (National-9th-1991)
1961 Dennis Rodman NBA forward (Chicago Bulls)
1963 Julian Brookhouse rocker (Curiosity Killed Cat-Keep Your Distance)
1963 Wally Masur England, tennis star
1964 Jose Rijo pitcher (New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds)
1964 Sam Randolph Santa Barbara CA, Nike golfer (1993 New England-2nd)
1964 Sara Gomer England, tennis star
1965 Chris Washburn NBAer
1968 Annette DeLuca North Bergen NJ, LPGA golfer
1968 James Harris NFL defensive end (Minnesota Vikings)
1969 Lyle Mouton Lafayette LA, outfielder (Chicago White Sox)
1970 Doug Evans NFL defensive back (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31)
1970 Giuseppe Busillo hockey forward (Team Italy 1998)
1970 Mark Beaufait Royal Oak MI, US hockey forward (Olympics-1994)
1970 Mitch Lyons NFL tight end (Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers)
1970 Selwyn Jones NFL defensive back (Seahawks, Denver Broncos-Superbowl 32)
1971 Hamish Pepper Auckland New Zealand, laser single handed yachter (Olympics-96)
1971 Michael Sirotka Chicago IL, pitcher (Chicago White Sox)
1971 Rob Fredrickson NFL linebacker (Oakland Raiders)
1971 Tom Nalen NFL center (Denver Broncos-Superbowl 32)
1972 Darryl Sydor Edmonton, NHL defenseman (Dallas Stars)
1972 Josh Heinrich NFL/WLAF defensive end (Lions, Barcelona Dragons)
1973 Brooke Jennifer Gambrell Boise ID, Miss America-Idaho (1996)
1973 Michelle Mouser Miss USA-Ohio (1997)
1974 Albert Connell wide receiver (Washington Redskins)
1974 Lisa Jacob 800 meter freestyle relay (Olympics-96)
1975 Chris Crawford NBA forward (Atlanta Hawks)
1977 Diane Halber Torrance CA, figure skater (1996 National Collegiate champion)
1977 Sara DeCosta ice hockey goalie (USA, Olympics-98)

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Deaths which occurred on May 13:
0384 Servatius/Aravatius bishop of Tongeren, dies at 65+
1381 John of Chatillon Governor/Viceroy of Holland, dies
1390 Robert II the Steward King of Scotland (1371-90), dies
1619 Johan van Oldenbarnevelt lands advocate, beheaded
1732 Theodor Schwartzkopff composer, dies at 72
1776 Anton de Haen medical Ratio medendi, dies at 71
1787 Johann Michael Malzat composer, dies at 38
1793 Martin Gerbert composer, dies at 72
1812 Johann Matthias Sperger composer, dies at 62
1831 Christian G Körner German lawyer, dies at 74
1832 Georges Cuvier French zoologist (La Règne Animal), dies at 62
1835 John Nash British town planner/architect (Regent's Park), dies
1839 Israel Ashkenazi of Shklov found Ashkenazic community (1815), dies
1839 Joseph Fesch French cardinal/war commission/earl/senator, dies
1864 Junius Daniel Confederate Brigadier-General, dies at 35
1873 Kaspar Masek composer, dies at 79
1882 Jules-Nicolas Crevaux French explorer, murdered at 35
1884 Cyrus Hall McCormick inventor, dies
1885 Juliana Horatia [Gatty] Ewing author (Lob Lie-by-the-Fire), dies
1892 Jean Alexander Ferdinand Poise composer, dies at 63
1896 Nora Perry writer, dies
1904 Jan Boissevain ship owner/politician, dies
1914 R E Foster only dual England captain at cricket & soccer, dies
1916 Sholem Aleichem yiddish writer (Fiddler on the Roof), dies
1925 Boris V Savinkov Russian writer/terrorist, dies
1930 Fridtjof Nansen diplomat (Nobel 1922), dies
1930 Helena Lange German feminist, dies
1931 Josif Marinkovic composer, dies at 79
1933 Paul Ernst writer, dies at 67
1942 Hyam Greenbaum composer, dies at 41
1951 Marianne [Goudeket-]Philips author (Issue Beukennoot), dies at 65
1956 Aleksandr A Fadejev Russian author (Young Guard), commits suicide at 54
1961 Gary Cooper 2 time Academy award winning actor (High Noon), dies at 60
1962 Dr H Trendley Dean introduced fluoridation into water
1962 Frank Jenks actor (Colonel Flack), dies of cancer at 60
1962 Franz Jozef Kline US expressionist painter, dies at 51
1962 H Trendley Dean doctor (introduced fluoridation into water)
1966 Henk [Hendrik M] of Randwijk poet/editor in chief (illegal), dies
1967 Frank McGrath actor (Wagon Train), dies at 64
1971 Valerian Mikhaylovich Bogdanov-Berezovsky composer, dies 67
1972 Dan Blocker actor (Hoss-Bonanza), dies following surgery at 41
1975 Bob Wills actor (Lone Prairie), dies at 69
1978 Albert Roberts cricketer (5 Tests for New Zealand, 7 wickets), dies
1979 Nelly Aenders actress (In Pyama), dies at 65
1981 Carl Weinrich composer, dies at 76
1982 Irmgard Keun West German writer (Blühende Neurosen), dies at 72
1982 Kara Abulfazogli Karayev composer, dies at 64
1982 Renzo Rossellini Italian composer, dies at 74
1985 Leatrice Joy silent screen star, dies in Riverdale (Bronx) New York NY at 91
1985 Selma Diamond actress/comedienne (Selma-Night Court), dies of cancer at 64
1988 Chet Baker jazz trumpeter, falls to death out of a hotel window at 59
1990 Venedikt Jerofejev Russian writer, dies
1991 Jimmy McPartland jazz cornetist, dies of cancer at 83
1992 Floyd Arceneaux trumpeter, dies at 58
1992 Gisela Elsner writer, dies at 55
1993 Borolas [Joaquin Garcia] Mexican comedian (Santa Sangre), dies of heart attack at 71
1993 Evert "Eef" Dolman Dutch cyclist (Olympics-gold-1964), dies at 47
1994 Arthur Basil Cotle medievalist, dies at 77
1994 Duncan Hamilton driver, dies at 74
1994 Ruth Gillette actress (Wild Gold), dies of cancer at 88
1995 Cecil Marley cricketer (WICBC president 1971-74, Jamaican captain 1946), dies
1996 John "Jack" Baines mountaineering publisher, dies at 57

---

Reported: MISSING in ACTION


1968 SMITH DONALD G. AKRON PA.
01/01/69 RELEASED

1969 AIKEN LARRY JAMAICA NY.
07/10/69 RECOVERED FROM VC HOSPITAL, DECEASED

1969 BESSOR BRUCE C. FAIRFAX VA.

1969 BROOKS JOHN H. BRYANT POND ME.

1969 MASUDA ROBERT S. SAN JOSE CA.
POSS THROWN INTO WELL

1969 MUNOZ DAVID L. LOS ANGELES CA.
POSS THROWN INTO WELL

1969 SCOTT MIKE J. NEWARK NJ.

1970 HUBERTH ERIC J. THOUSAND OAKS CA.
SURVIVAL UNLIKELY-SAR

1970 TRENT ALAN R. WADSWORTH OH.
SURVIVAL UNLIKELY-SAR

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

---

On this day...
0535 St Agapitus I begins his reign as Catholic Pope
0609 Pope Boniface I turns Pantheon into Catholic church
0641 Eligius (Saint Eloy) becomes bishop of Doornik-Noyon
1106 Henry I of Limburg becomes duke of Netherlands-Lutherans
1110 Crusaders march into Beirut causing a bloodbath
1364 Peter Coutherel banished from Leuven
1497 Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola
1559 Excavated corpse of heretic David Jorisz burned in Basel
1568 Mary Queen of Scots is defeated by English at battle of Langside
1588 King Henri III flees Paris
1607 English colonists (John Smith) land near James River in Virginia
1624 Admiral Hermites fleet blockade Lima Peru
1637 Cardinal Richelieu of France creates the table knife
1643 Battle at Grantham: English parliamentary armies beat royalists
1643 Heavy earthquake strikes Santiago Chile; kills 1/3 of population
1652 Ingen Ryuki invited to become the abbot of Sofokuji temple in Nagasaki
1654 Venetian fleet under Admiral Adeler beats Turkish
1767 Mozart's opera "Apollo et Hyacinthus" premieres in Salzburg
1777 University library at Vienna opens
1779 War of Bavarian Succession ends
1787 Arthur Phillip sets sails with 11 ships of criminals to Botany Bay
1820 The opera "Die Jäearsbraut" is completed
1828 US passes Tariff of Abominations
1830 Republic of Ecuador is founded, with Juan Jose Flores as president
1835 1st foreign embassy in Hawaii is established
1846 US declares war on México, 2 months after fighting begins
1861 Queen Victoria announces England's position of neutrality
1864 Atlanta Campaign-Battle of Resaca GA
1865 South Brownsville TX (Palmito Ranch) Final engagement of Civil War PVT John J Williams of 34th Indiana is last man killed
1874 Pope Pius IX encyclical "On the Greek-Ruthenian rite"
1876 Amersfoort-Zutphen railway opens
1877 César Franck's "Lesson Eolides" premieres
1882 Toba-Indians killed 20 members of French expedition
1884 Institute for Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is founded
1887 15th Preakness: William Donohue aboard Dunboyne wins in 2:39½
1888 Brazil abolishes slavery
1888 DeWolf Hopper 1st recited "Casey at the Bat"
1888 Princess Isabel of Brazil signs "Lei Auréa" abolishing slavery
1890 18th Preakness: W Martin aboard Montague wins in 2:36.75
1890 Lord Salisbury offers Germany Helgoland in exchange for Zanzibar, Uganda & Equatoria
1891 17th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Kingman wins in 2:52¼
1905 James J Jeffries retires as boxing champion
1906 Bezalel Art School opens in Jerusalem
1909 Christian National Labor Workers (CNV) party begins in Netherlands
1911 37th Kentucky Derby: George Archibald aboard Meridian wins in 2:05
1911 New York Giant Fred Merkle is 1st to get 6 RBIs in an inning (1st)
1912 Royal Flying Corps is established in England
1913 1st 4 engine aircraft built & flown (Igor Sikorsky-Russia)
1916 1st observance of Indian (Native American) Day
1916 42nd Kentucky Derby: Johnny Loftus aboard George Smith wins in 2:04
1917 1st appearance of Mary to 3 shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal
1917 Ernest Bloch's "Schelomo" premieres
1918 1st US airmail stamps issued (24¢)
1922 48th Kentucky Derby: Albert Johnson aboard Morvich wins in 2:04.6
1923 Pulitzer prize awarded to Willa Carter (One of Ours)
1926 German Government of Luther falls
1927 "Black Friday" on Berlin Stock Exchange
1927 VVOG soccer team forms in Harderwijk
1930 Farmer killed by hail in Lubbock TX; this is the only known fatality due to hail
1931 Paul Doumer elected President of France
1932 Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich marries Nina Varsar
1933 59th Preakness: Charley Kurtsinger aboard Head Play wins in 2:02
1934 Great dustbowl storm
1936 Quiroga Government takes office in Spain
1939 65th Preakness: George Seabo aboard Challedon wins in 1:59.8
1939 SS St Louis departs Hamburg with 937 Jews fugitives
1940 British bomb factory at Breda
1940 Churchill says I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears & sweat
1940 Dutch Queen Wilhelmina flees to England
1940 German breakthrough at Grebbelinie
1941 Martin Bormann is named head of Nazi Party Chancellery in Germany
1941 Trial against resistance fighter comte d'Estienne d'Orves begins
1941 Willy Lewis' US jazz band performs in Switzerland
1942 Helicopter makes its 1st cross-country flight
1942 Pitcher Jim Tobin belts 3 homeruns in a game
1943 German & Italian forces in Africa surrender
1943 German occupiers confiscate all radios
1944 70th Preakness: Conn McCreary aboard Pensive wins in 1:59.2
1945 US troops conquer Dakeshi Okinawa
1946 Sarwate & Banerjee add 249 for 10th wicket for Indians vs Surrey
1946 US convicts 58 camp guard of Mauthausen concentration camp to death
1946 Winston Churchill welcomed in Rotterdam
1947 Senate approved the Taft-Hartley Act limiting the power of unions
1949 1st British-produced jet bomber, Canberra, makes its 1st test flight
1950 Diner's Club issues its 1st credit cards
1952 Minor-league Bristol pitcher Ron Necciai strikes out 27 in 9-innings
1952 Pandit Nehru becomes premier of India
1953 New York Giants Willie Mays & Darryl Spencer each hit 2 homeruns & a triple
1954 "Pajama Game" opens at St James Theater NYC for 1063 performances
1954 Labour Party wins British municipal elections
1954 Robin Roberts gives up a homerun then retires the next 27 men in a row
1954 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Enwetak
1955 Mickey Mantle hits 3 consecutive homeruns of at least 463'
1956 Pachyderm Building at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo opens
1958 French settlers riot against French army in Algeria
1958 Jordan & Iraq form the Arab Federation
1958 Pierre Pflimlin forms French Government
1958 Rioters attack US Vice President Nixon in Venezuala
1958 Stan Musial, is 8th to get 3,000 hits
1959 Kraft Music Hall with Milton Berle, last airs on NBC-TV
1960 1st launch of Delta satellite launching vehicle; it failed
1960 Phillies lose 3rd consecutive 1-0 game
1960 WOLE TV channel 12 in Aguadillo Puerto Rico
1962 Mickey Wright wins LPGA Western Golf Open
1965 Rolling Stones record "Satisfaction"
1965 Several Arab nations break ties with West Germany after it established diplomatic relations with Israel
1966 Federal education funding is denied to 12 school districts in the South because of violations of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
1966 Rolling Stones release "Paint it Black"
1967 New York Yankee Mickey Mantle hits career homerun #500 off Stu Miller
1967 Octagonal boxing ring is tested to avoid corner injuries
1968 1,000,000 French demonstrate against De Gaulle & Pompidou
1970 Beatles movie "Let it Be" premieres
1971 Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane seriously injured in a car accident
1972 115 die in nightclub atop 7-story Sennichi department store (Osaka Japan)
1972 Milwaukee Brewers beat Minnesota Twins, 4-3, in 22 innings (started 5/12)
1973 "Cyrano" opens at Palace Theater NYC for 49 performances
1973 Judy Rankin wins LPGA Lady Carling Golf Open
1973 Tennis hustler Bobby Riggs beats Margaret Smith Court in a Mother's Day match in California
1975 "Rodgers & Hart" opens at Helen Hayes Theater NYC for 108 performances
1975 Hail stones as large as tennis balls hit Wernerville TN
1975 Stanley Cup ; Philadelphia Flyers beat New York Islanders 4-3
1976 9th & final ABA championship: New York Nets beat Denver Nuggets, 4 games to 2
1977 Howard Stern begins broadcasting at WRNW, Briarcliff Manor NY
1978 "Angel" closes at Minskoff Theater NYC after 5 performances
1978 Henry Rono of Kenya sets record for 3,000 meter steeplechase (8:05.4)
1978 Joie Chitwood drives a Chevette 5.6 miles on just 2 wheels
1978 Musical "Runaways" with Elizabeth Swados premieres at Plymouth Theater NYC for 199 performances
1979 "The Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall" opens & closes at Mark Hellinger NYC
1979 Sandra Post wins LPGA Lady Michelob Golf Tournament
1979 Shah & family sentenced to death in Teheran
1980 Cincinnati Red Ray Knight hits 2 homeruns in 5th inning vs New York Mets
1981 Dinamo Tbilisi wins 21st Europe Cup II
1981 Pope John Paul II shot, wounded by assailant in St Peter's Square
1982 Braniff Airlines files for bankruptcy
1982 Chicago Cubs win their 8,000th (beat Astros)
1982 Soyuz T-5 is launched-Berezovoi & Lebedev for 211 days in space
1982 Terri Lea Utley, (20), from Arkansas, crowned 31st Miss USA
1983 Reggie Jackson is 1st major leaguer to strike out 2,000 times
1984 "Oliver!" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 17 performances
1984 Amy Alcott wins LPGA United Virginia Bank Golf Classic
1984 Johan Cruyffs last competitive match
1985 Carlton Fisk becomes the 5th catcher to steal 100 bases
1985 Laura Elena Martinez-Herring, 21, (Texas), crowned 34th Miss USA
1985 Philadelphia Police bomb a house held by group "Move", kills 11
1987 Ajax wins 27th Europe Cup II
1989 Approximately 2,000 students begin hunger strike in Tiananmen Square, China
1989 Minnesota Twin Kirby Puckett becomes the 35th to hit 4 doubles in a game
1989 Trinidad & Tobago ties US 1-1, in 3rd round of 1990 world soccer cup
1990 "Change in the Heir" closes at Edison Theater NYC after 16 performances
1990 Dottie Mochrie wins LPGA Crestar Golf Classic
1991 "Michael Jackson: The Magic & the Madness" goes on sale
1991 Apple releases Macintosh System 7.0
1991 South African activist Winnie Mandela convicted of abducting 4 blacks
1991 Yankee Stadium fans sing "Like a Virgin" to Jose Canseco
1992 3 astronauts simultaneous walked in space for the 1st time
1992 Ajax wins 21st UEFA Cup
1992 Concrete foundation for ballpark at Gateway (Jacobs Field) is poured
1992 Final episode of "Night Court" airs on NBC-TV
1992 Frank Stallone beats Geraldo Rivera in boxing on Howard Stern Show
1993 6th annual business person run held in Wall Street
1993 Arsenio Hall's 1,000th show retrospective seen in Netherlands
1993 CBS' Knots Landing ends 14 year run with 334th show in Netherlands
1993 Kansas City Royal George Brett hits his 300th homerun
1993 Methane gas explosion in Secunda coal mine South-Africa, kills 50
1994 Indians, begin a 18 home game win streak at Jacobs Field
1995 6.5 earthquake hits Greece
1995 Chelsi Smith, 21, of USA, crowned 44th Miss Universe; Shanna Lynn Moakler, (19-New York), replaces Chelsi Smith as Miss USA
1995 New Zealand beats US for the America's Cup
1996 OJ Simpson appears on British TV discussing his not guilty verdict
1997 Eddie Murray is 6th baseball player to play in 3,000 games

---

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Ancient Rome : Lemuria; a. d. iij Id. Maias
US : Mother's Day, give her a call today - - - - - ( Sunday )
Ireland : Feis Ceoil music festival (1897) - - - - - ( Monday )
Baltimore : Preakness Frog Hop - - - - - ( Wednesday )
US : Native American/Indian Day - - - - - ( Saturday )

---

Religious Observances
Bhuddist-Singapore : Buddha's Birthday
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Robert Bellarmine, bishop/confessor/doctor

---

Religious History
1665 A statute was enacted in Rhode Island, offering freemanship with no specifically Christian requirements, thus effectively enfranchising Jews.
1839 Birth of William P. Mackey, a Scottish physician who later in life became a Presbyterian pastor. Mackey wrote several hymns during his life, including "Revive Us Again."
1917 Near Fatima, Portugal, three shepherd children reported that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had appeared to them. Since 1930, this appearance has come to be known as Our Lady of Fatima.
1925 In Tallahassee, Florida, the State legislature passed a bill requiring daily Bible readings in all public schools.
1981 In St. Peter's Square, Rome, Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca, 23, shot and seriously wounded Pope John Paul II in an assassination attempt. Following a long convalescence, however, John Paul resumed his world travels.

---

Thought for the day :
"At 18, I was ashamed of how ignorant my father was. At 21, I was amazed at how much he had learned in three years."

[SAMWolf]

"At 18, I was ashamed of how ignorant my father was. At 21, I was amazed at how much he had learned in three years."

I remember going through that phase. Must be universal.

[Valin]

Good post today. About all I know of the British southern campaign comes from PBS's show "Liberty". As I recall it turned into a real bloodbath, with many private scores being settled on both sides. If memory serves even the British were appalled at what they had unleashed.

[SAMWolf]

I saw that series. Even have the book that accompanied it.

I remember the Disney TV show with Leslie Nielson as The Swamp Fox.

[Johnny Gage]

Air Power
Dassault SUPER ETENDARD

The Super Etendard is a carrier-based single-seat strike fighter first introduced into service in 1978. It is an updated version of the Etendard IVM. Based on experience gained during the Korean war (1950-53), French authorities drew up specifications for a light interceptor. This definition was rapidly assimilated into a program for a light tactical bomber that could also fulfil an air superiority mission. At the same time, NATO published its requirements for the LWTSF (Light Weight Tactical Strike Fighter). In response, the Dassault company presented its Mirage and Etendard aircraft.

To meet the needs of both national and NATO programs, Dassault carried over the aerodynamic design of its Super-Mystère, applying it to smaller aircraft equipped with power plants that could reach transonic speeds without afterburners. This led to the design of the Mystère XXII (Etendard II), Mystère XXIV (Etendard IV) and Mystère XXVI (Etendard VI), developments which were remarkable for improving lift so that take-off and landing became possible at reduced speeds.

The Etendard IV M was the first naval aircraft developed by Dassault. The Etendard IV M made its maiden flight 21st May 1958 at Melun-Villaroche (the Seine-et-Marne region of France). The wings of the aircraft are mid-mounted, swept-back, and tapered with blunt tips there are sawtooth in the leading edges. There is one turbojet engine inside the body. There are semicircular air intakes below the canopy and a single exhaust. The fuselage has a long, pointed nose. The body bulges at the air intakes and tapers to the rear. There is a bubble canopy well forward on the nose. The dorsal spine extends from the cockpit to midbody. The tail is large, swept-back, and tapered tail fin with curved tip. The flats are low- to mid-mounted on the tail fin, swept-back, and tapered with blunt tips.

Between 1961 and 1965, the French Navy took delivery of 69 Etendard IV M's and 21 Etendard IV P's. The Etendard IV M continued in service in the French Navy until July 1991. These aircraft logged a total of 180,000 flying hours and made 25,300 carrier landings. Even today, there are still several Etendard IV P's and IV PM's in service.

The naval single-seater combat aircraft, Dassault Super-Etendard, is a modernized version of the Etendard IV M. Main modifications include updating of the weapons system through the installation (a first for a French production aircraft) of a modern navigation and combat management system. The aircraft prototype made its maiden flight 28 October 1974 at Istres (the Bouches-du-Rhône region of France).

The French Navy commissioned the plane for the first time in 1977 and 71 aircraft are now in service on the aircraft carriers Foch and Clemenceau. This plane, armed with Exocet missiles and flown by Argentinian pilots (14 aircraft), proved its combat effectiveness during the Malvinas [Falklands] war with Britain in 1982.

The Super-Etendard will be replaced by the naval version of the multi-role combat aircraft Rafale at the beginning of the 21st century.

Specifications:
Country of Origin: France
Builder: DASSAULT-BREGUET
User Country: Argentina, France
First flight: May 1958 Etendard IV, October 1990 (Upgraded Super Etendard)
In-service in the French Navy: 1964 Etendard IV, June 1993 (Upgraded Super Etendard)
Similar Aircraft: Fantan A, Mitsubishi F-1, Mirage F1, Yak-38 Forger
Crew: One
Role: strike fighter

Dimensions:
Span: 31 ft, 6 in / 9.60 meters
Length: 47 ft / 14.31 meters
Height: 3.85 meters
Range: 750-1080 nautical miles
Endurance: 1h45 to 2h15 with réservoir supplémentaire
Speed: Mach 1,3 (@ 11 000 m) and Mach 0,97 (@ low altitude)
Ceiling: 45,000 feet / 13700 meters
Weight: 11.90 tonnes (6.25 à vide).
In-Flight Refueling: Yes
Internal Fuel: 2612 kg
Payload: 2100 kg w/full int fuel
Power plant/Thrust: SNECMA 8 K50 jet engine / 5 tonnes

Armaments:
two 30-mm guns
Air-to-ground middle range missile (ASMP)
Exocet air-to-surface Aerospatiale missile
Matra Magic 2 air-to-air missile
AS30 air-to-surface laser-guided missile
rockets
free fall and parachute drag bombs
laser-guided bombs

Systems:
radar Anémone
nacelle Atlis
détecteur Sherloc
brouilleur Barracuda
Drax radar detector
Barracuda and Phimat jamming pods
leurres Alkan 5081
rear flare dispenser

Sensors: Agave radar, RWR, ballistic bombsight

Special equipment:
6 Oméra 31 cameras (100, 150, 200 and 600 mm)
Drop Tanks 600 L drop tank with 479kg of fuel for 99nm of range
625 L drop tank with 499kg of fuel for 103nm of range
1100 L drop tank with 879kg of fuel for 182nm of range

All photos Copyright of Global Security.org

[SAMWolf]

Current Military News
Comings and Goings

Marine Corps Cpl. David Carrillo, center, carries an American flag as over 200 Marines from Aircraft Group 11 and the Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron returned on a chartered plane to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Monday, May 12, 2003. Marines from the Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron flew more than 500 sorties during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


Marine Corps Sgt. Rick Busitzky, center, hugs his wife Susana Busitzky, right, and daughter Kristen Busitzky, left, as Marines from Aircraft Group 11 and the Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron returned on a chartered plane to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Monday, May 12, 2003. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)


A South Korean soldier get a kiss from his children during a farewell ceremony for troops being deployed to Iraq (news - web sites), in Kwangju, south of Seoul,May 13, 2003. The 329 engineers will leave on May 14 to work in a non-combat role in the rebuilding of Iraq. REUTERS/Rhee Dong-Min


A South Korean soldier kisses his baby during a farewell ceremony for troops being deployed to Iraq (news - web sites), in Kwangju, May 13, 2003. REUTERS/Rhee Dong-Min

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Johnny.

Figures the french build a plane and they get used in combat by the Argentinians and not the french.

[Jen]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!

To be removed from this list, please send me a blank private reply with "REMOVE" in the subject line! Thanks! Jen

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning all! Have a great day everyone.

[Soaring Feather]

Great pictures SAM. Such happy faces. Thanks much.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Jen.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[SAMWolf]

Morning Feather. We're supposed to have agorgeous day today. Sunny and a high of 75, no rain ubtil Thursday, it's too nice to be stuck at work. :-(

[Soaring Feather]

Well Sam, I am under overcast skies, wet and a little on the cool side.

It takes a while to get May putting on all cylinders. LOL

[SAMWolf]

You're just getting our weather from last week.