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Posted on 06/24/2003 12:00:03 AM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.
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1812-1819 The wars against what we now call the Seminoles started somewhat earlier than this, but these years would greatly influence the upcoming conflicts. While Spain was in control of Florida it had several problems to deal with. First, the climate and unhealthy conditions of the territory was not attractive to people in terms of settlement. Second, there was a gentleman named Napoleon that roamed Europe at will and proved to be of greater importance in the minds of the rulers of Spain as the decade progressed.  To solve the first of the problems stated above, in 1790, Spain invited Irish Catholics, English citizens, and citizens of the United States to settle inside the borders of the territory. They offered titles of land to any and all individuals who stayed on a land claim for ten years at the end of the term of occupancy the individuals would be exempt from taxes and military service to Spain. Thomas Jefferson stated that he wished 100,000 U. S. citizens would take Spain up on their gracious offer. In 1804, due to problems that U. S. citizens were causing the local authorities and Spanish citizens of the territory the invitation to settle was cancelled (remind anyone of Texas prior to the Mexican War). In 1812, the Governor of Florida had encourage the Seminoles of the Alachua area to raid U. S. farms and settlements inside the territory. This date should sound familiar, yes thats right, same time frame as the War of 1812. Due to uprisings of the Seminoles and the war against England, the Governor of Georgia organized his state militia and decided he would take Florida before the British did and rid the territory of Georgia's troublesome neighbors to the south, the Seminole. The Seminoles were becoming extremely bothersome to Georgia. Since the war with Britain started, the British encouraged the Seminoles and Creeks to raid settlements along the Georgia-Florida frontier to draw forces from the Canadian border.  Although Florida was under Spanish rule in the early 1800s, the Seminole Indians did not respect Spanish authority. The Seminoles made it a practice, for example, to harbor runaway slaves. General Andrew Jackson, having achieved a major military success against the Creek Indians in 1814, led an army into Florida against the Seminoles in 1817, looting and burning their villages. These advances led to a war between the United States and Spain. Jackson seized Pensacola in northern Florida, bringing the U nited States and Spain to a point where they had to negotiate or fight. On February 22, 1819, the Florida Purchase Treaty was signed, ceding Florida to the United States. When Jackson became President in 1828, he set about moving the Seminoles out of Fl orida altogether, an effort which led to the Second Seminole War of 1835-42. In Fall of the year 1812, the so-called Patriot army had already established a provisional government under President John H. McIntosh, with Col. Ashley as his Minister of War, and had its capital at St. Mary's, Georgia, in March, 1812, before the Georgia forces arrived. General Geo. Matthews of Georgia had charged of the movement, and was promised help from the U. S. regulars should he need it. Col. Daniel Newnan, of the Georgia Militia, who was at Fort Picolata was attacked by a party of Seminoles at the fort. After a fierce battle the forces under Col. Newnan defeated the beseiging force. He soon started making plans to hit the Seminoles were they lived. On September 24th, 1812 a force of 110 men he undertook to penetrate the enemy's country over one hundred miles, and attack two formidable chiefs surrounded by their warriors on Spanish territory while the U. S. and Spain were supposedly at peace. Upon reaching the area near what is today Gainesville, Fla., Col. Newnan engaged the Alachua Seminoles. Over a period of about 10 days, Col. Newnan's force was under constant danger from attack while it retreated back to Fort Picolata, out of the original force he left with all but 50 were effectively out of action, and he had completely exhausted all supplies. After reaching the safety of reinforcements they hailed this action as a victory and celebrated their supposed triumph. The Patriots would soon give up their crusade to acquire the territory of Florida, but the United States would soon be back to try again. General Gaines and Colonel (later general) Duncan Clinch in response to reports of a fort being manned by runaway slaves and a variety of Seminole and Creek warriors on the Apalachicola River, ordered the build up of armed camps in the vicinity. This in the eyes of the United States was many things; a beacon for slaves in Georgia to run to for safety, the possibility of Spain's collaboration and support of the hostile bands, and a base of operation for bands to raid U. S. settlements on the frontier. General Gaines ordered Col. Clinch to take provisions for Camp Crawford (north of the fort), which included cannons, powder and other war supplies. On the 17th of August Lieutenant Loomis, USN, arrived at the mouth of the Apalachicola River with two gunboats on the same mission. In order for the gunboats to get to Camp Crawford they had to pass the fortification. The orders to both commands was if any opposition was made by the negro fort that it should be reduced to rubble.  In one of the first combined arms attack made by U. S. forces the fort was dessimated in short order. On the 26th of August the gunboats try to pass the fort, which was replied with cannon fire. Col. Clinch's and his forces at Camp Crawford heard the gunboats open fire upon the fort and headed for the Negro Fort by land. After only the 5th discharge from the gunboats, a round known as a "hot shot" (a round ball of iron heated over a fire till it is red hot) found the powder magazine of the fort. Around 100 men and 200 women and children were insidethe fort for protection, only a sixth of the total occupants survived the horrible blast. A force was seen advancing by Col. Clinch's scouts, but it dispersed before engaging him. Florida from this time through 1816 was in a state of anarchy. The U.S. regular army had manned outposts and small forts all along the Florida Georgia line until mid 1817, which was successful in maintaining peace in that region. The army decided to pull its forces closer to the Alabama River which was west of the border areas. It is during this time that altercations between the Georgia settlers and Seminoles started to increase. General Edmund P. Gaines learned of the hostilities there and ordered Major Twiggs with a detachment of 300 men to take an Indian village named Fowl Town near the Florida line. During the initial attack an alarm was sounded and many Seminoles escaped into the swamps. This would start a series of events that would effectively start the war. Fowl Town was again visited by U. S. forces this time by Captain McIntosh with an equivalent number of men as the first time. This was to obtain the supplies that were left at the town after the first visit. Only this time the Seminoles were waiting for them. A small skirmish commenced and light casualties were felt by both forces engaged.  Micanopy In retaliation to the attacks upon Fowl Town the Seminoles gathered support from other local clans and made an assault against Fort Scott. The garrison force at Fort Scott of 600 regular soldiers, commanded by General Gaines was confined to their post and the seige began. General Jackson upon hearing of the predictament faced by Gen. Gaines musters up a force of 1800 men comprised of regulars, Tennesee volunteers, and Georgia Militia, to relieve the beseiged troops at Fort Scott. At the same time General Gaines is able to muster a force of 1600 Creek Indians to the service of the U. S. under Brigadier General McIntosh. McIntosh and Jackson joined forces on the 1st of April and proceeded to the beseiged fort. The force of Seminoles only numbered from 900 to 1000 men and did not wish to contend with such a force. The Seminoles fled back into the swamps and Fort Scott was saved. The force under Jackson then focused on Miskasuky towns, destroying them on their way to St. Marks. Jackson took St. Marks without firing a shot at the small Spanish garrison stationed there. Upon taking over control of St. Marks, April 7, 1818, he promptly arrested and held a trial against two British agents (Arbuthnot and Ambrister) in Florida and accused them of arming and inciting the natives to rise up in force against the U. S. The two British agents were found guilty and one was hung from the yardarms of the U. S. vessel that was in port at the time and the other shot. Gen. jackson then proceeded to Pensacola. This move was according to Gen. Jackson to take control over territory that the Spanish could not control due to their weak military and political influence in the territory. If the Spanish couldn't control the natives he would.  St. Marks, Fla., April 1818 -- Two Seminole chiefs, or micos are captured by Jackson's forces who used the ruse of flying the British flag to lure the Indians to them. Picture from the Florida State Archives. On May 24, 1818, Gen. Jackson's force was outside Pensacola and preparing to seige the town and the small Spanish garrison in the territorial capitol. Upon Jackson's arrival the Spanish governor fled to Santa Rosa Island and escaped capture by Jackson's forces. This according to Jackson was the only great failure of his campaign, his inability to capture, hold trial, and hang the Spanish governor for assisting the enemy of the U. S. In the following year the U. S. Army would build up the frontier fortifications to help quell the Seminole raids into Georgia. This would lead to the treaty of 1819 which would make West Florida officially the territory of the United States. Later in 1821, a treaty would be signed by the U. S. and Spain for the rest of Florida and the islands off the coast of Georgia and Florida.
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 Family and friends of Marines returning from Iraq gather in front of a hangar on the flight line aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. June 7. The returning squadron, Marine Wing Support Squadron 371, is coming off a deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom that lasted almost six months. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Keith Underwood  Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 step off a plane worn by travel but energetic at the sight of family and friends on Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. June 7. U.S. Marine Corps. photo by Lance Cpl. Keith Underwood  Family and friends of Marines returning from Iraq gather in front of a hangar on the flight line aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. June 7. The returning squadron, Marine Wing Support Squadron 371, is coming off a deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom that lasted almost six months. U.S. Marine Corps. photo by Lance Cpl. Keith Underwood  Luis and his Mother, Ninfa, await the arrival of husband and father, Master Sgt. Julio Delasierra, Marine Attack Squadron 214, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., June 15. The majority of squadron was deployed abroad for almost 11 months. U.S. Marine Corps. photo by Lance Cpl. Keith Underwood  Sgt. Charles Snow, Marine Attack Squadron 214, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., wastes no time before starting to play with daughter, Haley, after returning to MCAS Yuma June 15. U.S. Marine Corps. photo by Lance Cpl. Keith Underwood  A Marine stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., joyfully embraces his family after deplaning at MCAS Yuma June 7. U.S. Marine Corps. photo by Lance Cpl. Keith Underwood  Staff Sgt. Micheal Bitson, from the 48th Communications Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, U.K., is seen here kissing his wife Iris Miller after returning from a deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, June 11. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Stacey Jeanpaul  Scotty is one happy pup now that his owner Gunnery Sgt. MaryAnn Bickel, Combat Service Support Detachment 16, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., is back on the air station June 11. Gunnery Sgt Bickel was deployed four and a half months earlier to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Marine Corps. photo by Lance Cpl. Keith Underwood
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Thanks Sam . . . sniff . . .
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Air Power |
Produced to meet a joint Anglo-French requirement in 1965 for a dual-role advanced/operational trainer and tactical support aircraft, the Jaguar has been transformed into a potent fighter-bomber. The RAF originally intended to use the aircraft purely as an advanced trainer, but this was later changed to the offensive support role on cost grounds.
Starting in the early 1960's, the French Air Force began looking for aircraft to replace its Lockheed T 33 and Fouga Magister trainers as well as its Mystère IV tactical fighters. In April 1964, the Aeronautics Technical Bureau invited French aeronautics companies to respond to a preliminary design in a programme for a twin-engined aircraft to equip ECAT (Ecole de combat and d’appui tactique, or School of Combat and Tactical Support). The ECAT programme resulted in the companies Dassault, with the Cavalier, and Breguet, with the Br 121, entering into competition. On 30th June 1964, the engineering offices of Breguet, headed by Georges Ricard, submitted to the competent authorities the project Br 121, a version of the Br 1001 Taon, with twin Rolls Royce RB 172-45 engines. The project Cavalier was finally abandoned following the choice of the Breguet aircraft.
It quickly became apparent that the RAF also needed an aircraft that corresponded rather closely to the characteristics of the Br 121. On 17th May 1965, the two countries concluded a protocol agreement for the study and joint manufacture of a low-altitude combat and training aircraft. Responsibility fell to Breguet Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation, under the management of the Franco-British joint-company SEPECAT (Société européenne de production de l’avion d’école de combat and d’appui tactique, or European Company for the Production of Aircraft for the School of Combat and Tactical Support). Breguet Aviation was acquired by the company Dassault in 1967.
The first prototype, Jaguar A, flew from Istres (Bouches-du-Rhône, France), on 08 September 1968.
Difficulties in cooperation, due to the lack of a true main contractor, and changes in the definition delayed the Jaguar entering service until 1972. Originally a program for a trainer aircraft, it ended up as a ground attack aircraft with little in common, either in terms of size or cost, with the model initially foreseen. The French and British versions also were not identical, since each country had imposed, for its own models, nationally-sourced equipment.
In the end, a total of 573 aircraft were ordered. France and Britain purchased 403 to which were added 54, exported to three countries (Oman, Ecuador and Nigeria), and 116 to India of which 70 were produced under license in that country.
The first RAF aircraft took to the air in October 1969, and each air force placed orders for 200 aircraft - the RAF opting for 165 single-seat and 35 two-seat aircraft. Deliveries to No 226 OCU at Lossiemouth began in 1973, and at its peak the Jaguar equipped 8 front-line and 1 training squadron; Nos 14, 17, 20 and 31 Sqn at Bruggen (strike/attack), II(AC) Sqn at Laarbruch (reconnaissance) as well as the three Coltishall based squadrons (6, 41 and 54) and Lossiemouth based 16(Reserve) Sqn.
India acquired the Jaguar strike fighter to meet the IAF's Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft (DPSA) requirement to replace the Canberra and Hunter aircraft. After many years of evaluation and negotiation, the Anglo-French fighter was contracted for, an interim batch of ex-RAF Jaguars being accepted to re-equip No. 14 Squadron. IAF pilots and technicians received conversion training with the RAF and British Aerospace in Lossiemouth, Coltishall and Warton before ferrying the first Jaguars to India in July 1979. These were followed by a batch of U.K. built Jaguars to re-equip No. 5 Squadron even as simultaneously, HAL prepared for production of the aircraft, its powerplants, avionics and accessories in India. By the mid-1980s, the Jaguar was in service with Nos. 5, 14, 16 and 27 Squadrons while a flight of No.6 Squadron was equipped with the Maritime Jaguar carrying the new generation Sea Eagle anti-ship sea-skimming missile. The Jaguar strike fighter was equipped also with Magic air-to-air missiles on unique overwing pylons, featured advanced attack systems and able to carry formidable warload till the far ends of the sub-continent.
The Jaguar has a long sleek fuselage with a large swept tail fin and rudder. The fuselage features a long, pointed, chiseled nose, and the body widens at the air intakes rectangular to the exhausts. Relatively short-span swept wings are shoulder-mounted on the fuselage. The internal jet engines, mounted to the rear of the cockpit, have rectangular air intakes either side of the fuselage behind the cockpit, with their top surfaces forming an extension of the wing. The engine exhausts show prominently under the forward portion of the tail. The rear jetpipes are located forward and below the tailplane which has marked anhedral. The raised bubble canopy is set above the sharply-pointed nose. The twin mainwheels of the undercarriage retract into the fuselage.
A variety of weapons including cluster, freefall, retard and laser guided bombs, as well as rockets can be carried on the four wing and one fuselage stations. Two 30mm cannon are mounted internally. To mark targets for laser-guided weapons, the aircraft carries the thermal imaging and laser designation (TIALD) pod. For self-defence, overwing Sidewinder infra-red missiles are carried and the aircraft is fitted with a comprehensive suite of electronic countermeasures. Perhaps the Jaguar's most impressive feature is its navigation and attack system. With mission data fed into the computer, all the necessary information for a pinpoint attack is relayed to the head-up display. From the display, the pilot knows exactly where the target is located and precisely when to release his weapons for maximum effect.
The RAF fleet is currently undergoing an upgrade program, and this will see aircraft fitted with new cockpit displays, helmet-mounted sights, the ability to carry the new Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and other system improvements to further extend the life of the aircraft well into the next century.
The Jaguar has been with the RAF for over 25 years and yet, in terms of technology growth, the late 1990s have seen the aircraft expand its operational capability by a greater degree than during any other period of its lifetime. In fact, today's RAF Jaguar actually merits respect as a weapons platform and allows its operators the opportunity to produce the kind of results that they have long deserved. For those of you who have missed the recent advance of this often ridiculed Anglo-French machine, read on; you may be pleasantly surprised to discover that the curvature of the earth will shortly be surplus to requirements!
'Jaguar 97' is the UK Jaguar Force fleet standard machine and, at first glance, only the finest enthusiasts would recognise the differences between a '97' model and the trusty steed that first appeared in RAF livery in 1973. There are no design or aerodynamic changes but enhanced engines, offering a potential 25% thrust increase, will eradicate pilots' concerns during take-off in hot and high locations! It is inside the cockpit that the new toys will be most obvious to those familiar with the 'old machine'. A new stick top and hand controller have brought true HOTAS functions to the Jaguar pilot, reducing time spent 'head in cockpit' dealing with navigation button-pressing and weapon aiming facilities. A 1:1 ratio wide-angle Head Up Display (HUD) and associated up-front controller has replaced the peculiar 5:1 geared version of old and with this new HUD comes the capability to display a multitude of real-time information. Out goes the microfilm fed moving map display and in comes Multi-Purpose Colour Display (MPCD). The MPCD displays a digitally generated map or the image seen through the newly acquired TIALD pod by displaying TV/IR imagery in video style format.
The introduction of Ferranti's FIN 1064 Inertial Navigation system in 1985 allowed the Jaguar to be operated accurately and reliably at low level. This excellent INAS has now been updated by integrating a GPS receiver and a Terrain Profile-matching system (TerProm) to give outstanding accuracy and performance with weapon aiming and navigation; no more excuses for missing any targets! An in-built Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) also utilises the Digital Terrain Elevation Database (DTED) of TerProm warning of an impending collision with either granite or significant man made obstructions! All the new hardware is linked by a 1553 databus plus imagery from both the HUD and TIALD can be recorded onto S-VHS compact videocassettes for debriefing purposes.
On the ground, planning a sortie is now done on the Jaguar Mission Planner (JMP), a PC-based system using a similar database to that of TerProm. It allows pilots to choose very careful routes through known Surface-to-Air Missile threat areas and minimise aircraft exposure in hostile territory. Now that the new hardware is in place, in both aeroplane and on the ground, future upgrades can be easily implemented through upgrades of software and databases. Self defence was enhanced during the Gulf Conflict by arming the Jaguar with overwing mounted AIM-9L missiles; it will soon be possible to launch these missiles via a helmet mounted sight system, something that will significantly improve the respect given to a Jaguar in an air-to-air engagement.
In terms of operational capability, the Jaguar is currently a day/VFR medium and low-level ground attack/recce aircraft with an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons in its inventory. The Night Vision Goggle (NVG) re-equipment programme should soon produce enough aircraft to allow limited 'night combat ready' to be declared by the Jaguar Force. It is not yet a Harrier GR7 or Tornado GR1/4 competitor but it may not be long before the addition of a Forward Looking Infra Red system creates yet another 'electric aeroplane' to add to the RAF nocturnal inventory. Fortunately, there have not been any more attempts to produce a maritime Jaguar and, within the latest modification programme, there is still space to stow one's golf clubs for those well-earned relaxing moments in exotic locations.....
Finally, in a world of tight finances and knotted purse strings, the Jaguar is regarded favourably. The upgrade to the RAF Jaguar fleet will be completed within a diminutive budget and within a commendable timescale; true value will be gained from using state-of-the art equipment when it is most useful, now! Yet, despite undergoing major avionics and engine upgrades, this 25 year-old aircraft remains an inexpensive, reliable and highly deployable commodity that can deliver a modest punch in virtually all scenarios that could be expected of a rapid reaction force.
Specifications:
Builder team: Anglo-French co-operation Dassault / BAe
Primary Function: Close Air Support (CAS), Battlefield Air Interdiction (BAI)
Powerplant: Two Turbomeca/Rolls-Royce Adour 104 turbofans of 7,305lb st.
Crew: GR1B pilot only
Dimensions:
Span: 28ft 6 in (8.69m)
Length: 55ft 2.5in (16.83m)
Height: 4.80 m
Weight: empty / maximum at takeoff : 7.5 t / 15 t
Fuel capacity: 4,200 l internal / 7,800 maximal / In-flight refuelling
Performance:
Max Speed: Mach 1.35 990mph (1,593km/h) at 36,000ft (11,000m).
Operational ceiling: 40,000 ft
Armaments:
Two 30mm Aden / DEFA 553 guns
up to 10,000lb (4,500kg) stores including
Matra Magic R550 air-to-air missile ;
AS 30 laser air-to-surface missile,
laser guided bombs
Martel rockets
laser-guided bombs.
Special equipment:
Electronic counter measures,
photo recce capacity with Omera 40 camera,
gyroscopic guidance
All photos Copyright of Global Security.Org/a>
Here's to your return and the hope that I never have to deal with in-laws.
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