Archive for January 7th, 2008

News You Can Use – 100 Way 11/21/2007

January 7th, 2008 by xformed

embedded by Embedded Video

More “gouge” here. Teaser from a blog entry:

11/21/2007 Sarge and Wendy’s Daily Blog

When you set your alarm clock for 4.30 a.m. to get up and dirt dive, it had better be worth it. The drive to Lake Wales airport is dark and cold. The coffee at IHOP on the way begins to make it bearable. Bleary eyes start to open and smiles begin to creep across tired faces. The smiles always become wider as you walk past Alan Gutshall who somehow manages to be first up, coffee in hand and always ready with a “Good morning, sir, good to see y’all” as you make your way to the 5.30 a.m. circle up.

In short, today was worth getting up for.

We set up the formation inside the armoury which is our home for the week, walked it out on the runway outside and boarded our aircraft around 7.30 for another crack at the 100 diamond. Spirits were definitely up. The chase CASA went over the base at 18,000 and by 12,500 feet the thirty-six way base was hammering through the sky. The formation built to 64 quickly and relatively smoothly by around 7,500 feet and the row 9 wings were called in. The row 10 wings came in shortly afterwards and the formation built into 90’s by the time it reached the 5,000 hard deck. Mike Lewis gave a “hold on” call in anticipation of the last four people docking and to the sound of arch calls we waited. And waited. And waited…and waited…and…well, you get the picture.
[…]

With stuff like this to do…why wouldn’t you want to jump out of a “perfectly good airplane?”

The Mechanik trailer

Category: Skydiving | Comments Off on News You Can Use – 100 Way 11/21/2007

Monday Maritime Matters

January 7th, 2008 by xformed

Opening notes:

RADM Julius A. Furer, USN

RADM Julius A. Furer, USN

Navy Cross
ADM Furer, a Naval Academy graduate of 1901 was the head of his class, and a man who got things done. Along the way, he set the stage for success in several warfighting areas, as well as supporting disciplines, earning a Navy Cross during WWI.From the Haze Gray website, the longest biography I could find on this man:

Julius Augustus Furer, naval constructor, inventor, administrator, and author, was born 9 October 1880 at Mosel, Wis. Appointed to the Naval Academy in 1897, he graduated at the head of his class in 1901. After sea duty in INDIANA (Battleship No. 1) and SHUBRICK (Torpedo Boat No. 31), he acquired a Master of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1905.

In the era of great naval expansion after the Spanish-American War, Furer established a reputation for professional competence in his remarkably expeditious outfitting of the Navy Base at Charleston, S.C., which at that time lacked a physical plant, natural resources, and a skilled shipbuilding labor force.

While serving in the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1911, he applied new theories of scientific management. His advanced thinking and methods of procurement brought him the added task of purchasing all tools, machinery, and dock facilities for the Navy’s new base for the Pacific Fleet-Pearl Harbor. Furer installed the equipment in 18 months, but delayed his departure when submarine F-4 (Submarine No. 23) sank in 50 fathoms off Honolulu. He insisted on salvaging her, and invented a submersible pontoon which
raised the boat and enabled her to be moved to drydock. An investigation of her hull revealed a design error which was corrected to avoid similar accidents.

Furer returned to Washington late in 1915 and took charge of the Supply Division, Bureau of Construction and Repair. Against some opposition by advocates of smaller vessels, he proposed the construction of 110-foot submarine chasers to meet the threat of the German U-boat. Furer’s arguments persuaded the Navy’s General Board to order 450 vessels constructed on Furer’s basic design. These contributions to the American war effort earned Furer the Navy Cross.

Following the war, he reported to the staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, and tirelessly devoted his talent to the improvement of damage control, ship design, and crew comfort. From December 1922 to April 1927, he was a member of the U.S. Naval Mission to Brazil.

Furer next was assigned to the Asiatic Station, where he developed extensively the aircraft facilities at Cavite,
Philippine Islands.

In 1928, he became Manager of the Industrial Department of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and supervised the modernization of battleships PENNSYLVANIA (BB-38) and NEW MEXICO (BB-40). Under his management, the yard set records for low costs and speed of construction.

Between July 1935 and December 1937, Furer was Naval Attache at embassies in London, Paris, Berlin, and Rome.

His technical advice aided the American delegation to the London Naval Conference in 1936.

A Rear Admiral at the outbreak of World War II, he became the Coordinator of Research and Development, and the
senior member of the National Research and Development Board. He coordinated widespread research that speeded
development of modern weapons systems for the Navy. These services won Furer the Legion of Merit 30 June 1945.

Julius Furer retired from active service in 1945, but was recalled to duty in the Navy’s History Division in 1951. During a second retirement, he wrote the widely acclaimed study, “Administration of the Navy Department in World War II,” published in 1960.

Rear Admiral Julius A. Furer died 6 June 1963 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

USS JULIUS A FURER (FFG-6)

In honor of ADM Furer, the USS JULIUS A FURER (DEG-6, later FFG-6), a ship of the BROOKE Class, was commissioned Nov 11th, 1967 at Bath, ME, another fine product of Bath Iron Works. Another site, for the Plank Owners, is here.Decommissioned in the US Navy Nov 10th, 1988, she was recommissioned in the Pakistani Navy as Badr (D-161) and served in that navy until retuning custory to the US Navy in 1993. She was scrapped in 1994. The FURER was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet.

Category: Maritime Matters, Military, Military History, Navy | Comments Off on Monday Maritime Matters

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