Podcasts about Royal Australian Air Force

In June 1959, Anglican missionary Father William Booth Gill and dozens of witnesses reported seeing something extraordinary above the remote coastal village of Boianai, Papua New Guinea.Over two consecutive nights, a brilliant disc-shaped object allegedly hovered over the sea as several humanlike figures moved across its upper deck. When Gill and the witnesses raised their arms and waved, the mysterious figures appeared to wave back.In this episode of Truth Be Told with Tony Sweet, we investigate one of UFO history's most compelling—and often overlooked—mass-witness encounters. We examine Gill's original observations, the reported attempt at communication, the Royal Australian Air Force investigation, and the possible explanations offered by skeptics.Did the witnesses encounter an intelligently controlled craft? Could planets, clouds and human perception explain what they saw? Or did something truly unknown visit the coast of Papua New Guinea?Join Tony Sweet as we revisit the remarkable case remembered by one unforgettable phrase: They waved back.Subscribe to Truth Be Told and follow us as we continue questioning everything and exploring UFOs, ancient mysteries, spirituality and the unexplained.#TruthBeTold #TonySweet #FatherGill #BoianaiUFO #UFOEncounter #UFOHistory #UFOs #UAP #UAPDisclosure #AlienEncounter #Extraterrestrial #FlyingSaucer #CloseEncounter #PapuaNewGuinea #UnexplainedMysteries #ParanormalPodcast #Paranormal #AncientMysteries #MysteryPodcast #AlienContactBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-be-told-with-tony-sweet-paranormal-ufos-unexplained-mysteries--3589860/support.

The Royal Australian Air Force's largest international exercise is underway in the Northern Territory and will run for the next three weeks. The Prime Minister has described this year as the most significant for Exercise Pitch Black, owing to increased the importance of international alliances. - Крупнейшие международные учения Королевских военно-воздушных сил Австралии проходят в Северной территории и продлятся до середины августа. Премьер-министр назвал учения Pitch Black этого года самыми значимыми за всю их историю в связи с возросшей важностью международных союзов.Больше историй, интервью и новостей от SBS Russian доступно здесь.Слушайте программу на русском языке SBS по понедельникам, четвергам и субботам в 12 часов дня.Читайте нас в Facebook и подпишитесь на наши подкасты по этой ссылке.

In fighter jet aviation, errors can be fatal -- so the systems built around learning from them have to actually work. My guest is Christian "Boo" Boucousis, a former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot and CEO of Afterburner, a leadership firm that has spent three decades translating combat aviation discipline into frameworks for business leaders. Episode page with links and more Boo's favorite mistake is really a reframe of the whole concept: in fighter pilot culture, there's no word for "mistake," only outcomes to debrief. He tells the story of his first mission as a commander, which ended in a visible, ten-second failure in front of three of the most senior leaders in the Air Force -- and how every one of them owned their own error first in the debrief that followed. That moment became the foundation for ORCA (Objective, Result, Cause, Action), the method he now teaches business leaders to replace blame with structured learning. We also get into the difference between "perfect" and "flawless," why an estimated 86 percent of leaders may carry undiagnosed perfectionism, and how that shows up as a need for control at work. If you lead a team and want a more honest way to talk about what went wrong, this conversation is for you.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has used the ASEAN foreign ministers' summit to raise Australia's concerns over a Chinese missile test earlier this month. The White House says President Donald Trump wants Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel before a civilian nuclear agreement can go ahead. The Royal Australian Air Force's largest international exercise is underway in the Northern Territory and will run for the next three weeks. - ペニー・ウォン外相は、マレーシアで開かれているASEAN外相会議で、中国が今月実施したミサイル発射実験への懸念を改めて表明しました。アメリカのトランプ大統領は、サウジアラビアと締結した民生用の原子力協定について、サウジアラビアがイスラエルと国交正常化することが条件になるとの考えを示しました。オーストラリア空軍が主催する最大規模の多国間軍事演習「ピッチブラック」が、ノーザンテリトリーで始まりました。演習は今後3週間にわたって行われ、日本も参加国のひとつです。1週間を振り返る週間ニュースラップです。Listen to SBS Japanese Audio on Tue, Thu and Fri from 1pm on SBS 3. Replays from 10pm on Tue, Thu and Sat on SBS1. Listen to past stories from our podcast. Download the free SBS Audio App and don't forget to visit SBS Japanese Facebook and Instagram page! - SBSの日本語放送は火木金の午後１時からSBS3で生放送！火木土の夜10時からはおやすみ前にSBS1で再放送が聞けます。SBS日本語放送ポッドキャストから過去のストーリーを聞くこともできます。無料でダウンロードできるSBS Audio Appもどうぞ。SBS 日本語放送のFacebookとInstagramもお忘れなく。

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has used the ASEAN foreign ministers' summit to raise Australia's concerns over a Chinese missile test earlier this month. The White House says President Donald Trump wants Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel before a civilian nuclear agreement can go ahead. The Royal Australian Air Force's largest international exercise is underway in the Northern Territory and will run for the next three weeks. Recorded 24 July. - ペニー・ウォン外相は、マレーシアで開かれているASEAN外相会議で、中国が今月実施したミサイル発射実験への懸念を改めて表明しました。アメリカのトランプ大統領は、サウジアラビアと締結した民生用の原子力協定について、サウジアラビアがイスラエルと国交正常化することが条件になるとの考えを示しました。オーストラリア空軍が主催する最大規模の多国間軍事演習「ピッチブラック」が、ノーザンテリトリーで始まりました。演習は今後3週間にわたって行われ、日本も参加国のひとつです。1週間を振り返る週間ニュースラップです。7月24日収録。Listen to SBS Japanese Audio on Tue, Thu and Fri from 1pm on SBS 3. Replays from 10pm on Tue, Thu and Sat on SBS1. Listen to past stories from our podcast. Download the free SBS Audio App and don't forget to visit SBS Japanese Facebook and Instagram page! - SBSの日本語放送は火木金の午後１時からSBS3で生放送！火木土の夜10時からはおやすみ前にSBS1で再放送が聞けます。SBS日本語放送ポッドキャストから過去のストーリーを聞くこともできます。無料でダウンロードできるSBS Audio Appもどうぞ。SBS 日本語放送のFacebookとInstagramもお忘れなく。

In de Northern Territory is maandag de grootste internationale oefening van de Royal Australian Air Force van start gegaan. Premier Anthony Albanese noemt deze editie van Exercise Pitch Black de belangrijkste tot nu toe, vanwege het toenemende belang van internationale militaire samenwerkingen.SBS Dutch, iedere woensdag en zaterdag om 11AM op SBS2. Meer op onze website of abonneer je op onze feed in Spotify of Apple Podcast.

အီစထြ့လယါကလံၤသုး — Royal Australian Air Force, စးထီၣ်မၤဝဲဒၣ် ထံဂုၤကီၢ်ဂၤ သုးတၢ်မၤလိ အဒိၣ်ကတၢၢ်တခါ ဖဲ Northern Territory—ကလံၤစိၤကဝီၤဒိၣ်တၢ်ပၢအပူၤဒီး သုးတၢ်မၤလိအံၤ ကယံၤဝဲဒၣ် တုၤလၢဆူမဲာ်ညါသၢနွံန့ၣ်လီၤ. Exercise Pitch Black သုးတၢ်မၤလိတနံၣ်အံၤန့ၣ် ကိတိာ်ခိၣ်ကျၢၢ် ပာ်ဖျါအီၤဒ်အမ့ၢ်သုးတၢ်မၤလိလၢအရ့ဒိၣ်ကတၢၢ်တခါ, ဒ်သိးလၢအမ့ၢ်တၢ်မၤအါထီၣ် ထံဂုၤကီၢ်ဂၤသိၣ်မှံၤသနၢၣ်တၢ်အကါဒိၣ်သ့ၣ်တဖၣ်န့ၣ်လီၤ.အီစထြ့လယါကလံၤသုး — Royal Australian Air Force, စးထီၣ်မၤဝဲဒၣ် ထံဂုၤကီၢ်ဂၤ သုးတၢ်မၤလိ အဒိၣ်ကတၢၢ်တခါ ဖဲ Northern Territory—ကလံၤစိၤကဝီၤဒိၣ်တၢ်ပၢအပူၤဒီး သုးတၢ်မၤလိအံၤ ကယံၤဝဲဒၣ် တုၤလၢဆူမဲာ်ညါသၢနွံန့ၣ်လီၤ. Exercise Pitch Black သုးတၢ်မၤလိတနံၣ်အံၤန့ၣ် ကိတိာ်ခိၣ်ကျၢၢ် ပာ်ဖျါအီၤဒ်အမ့ၢ်သုးတၢ်မၤလိလၢအရ့ဒိၣ်ကတၢၢ်တခါ, ဒ်သိးလၢအမ့ၢ်တၢ်မၤအါထီၣ် ထံဂုၤကီၢ်ဂၤသိၣ်မှံၤသနၢၣ်တၢ်အကါဒိၣ်သ့ၣ်တဖၣ်န့ၣ်လီၤ.

The Royal Australian Air Force's largest international exercise is underway in the Northern Territory and will run for the next three weeks. The Prime Minister has described this year as the most significant for Exercise Pitch Black, owing to increased the importance of international alliances. - अस्ट्रेलियन वायुसेना रोयल अस्ट्रेलियन एअर फोर्सको सबैभन्दा ठूलो अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सैन्य अभ्यास एक्सरसाइज पिच ब्ल्याक नदर्न टेरिट्रीमा सुरु भएको छ र आगामी तीन सातासम्म सञ्चालन हुनेछ। प्रधानमन्त्रीले अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय साझेदारी र गठबन्धनहरूको बढ्दो महत्त्वका कारण यस वर्षको एक्सरसाइज पिच ब्ल्याक अहिलेसम्मकै सबैभन्दा महत्त्वपूर्ण भएको बताएका छन्। थप यो रिपोर्टमा।Subscribe to the SBS Nepali podcast here.You can listen to SBS Nepali's live broadcast every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 pm via SBS South Asian on digital radio, on television channel 305, through the SBS Audio app, on SBS On Demand, or via our website.You can also follow SBS Nepali on social media: Facebook, Instagram and X (@SBS Nepali) - हाम्रा थप अडियो प्रस्तुतिहरू पोडकास्टका रूपमा उपलब्ध छन्। यो नि:शुल्क सेवा प्रयोग गर्न तपाईंले आफ्नो नाम दर्ता गर्नु पर्दैन। पोडकास्टमा सामाग्री उपलब्ध हुनासाथ सुन्न यहाँ थिच्नुहोस्।एसबीएस नेपालीको प्रत्यक्ष प्रसारण हरेक मङ्गलवार र बिहीवार दिउँसो २ बजे SBS South Asian मा डिजिटल रेडियोमार्फत, आफ्नो टेलिभिजनको च्यानल ३०५ मा, SBS Audio एपमार्फत, SBS On Demand मा वा हाम्रो वेबसाइटबाट सुन्न सक्नुहुन्छ।साथै हामी सोसल मिडिया प्लेटफर्महरू फेसबुक, इन्स्टाग्राम र एक्स मा पनि रहेका छौं SBS Nepali का नाममा।

The Royal Australian Air Force's largest international exercise is underway in the Northern Territory and will run for the next three weeks. The Prime Minister has described this year as the most significant for Exercise Pitch Black, owing to increased the importance of international alliances.

Royal Australian Air Force launches largest international exercise; fresh strikes between the US and Iran; Spanish fans delighted by World Cup win.

Today on True Blue Conversations, we sit down with an extraordinary woman whose story is built on resilience, service, family, and an unbreakable mindset. Eva Clarke is a former Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force Physical Training Instructor, a mother, a wife to a serving military member, and one of Australia's most accomplished fitness endurance athletes. A multiple Guinness World Record holder, Eva has built a reputation for achieving what many would consider impossible through grit, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Throughout her military career, Eva dedicated herself to helping others achieve their best, but it was her own battles with injury, adversity, and personal hardship that forged the resilience that would define the next chapter of her life. From serving in uniform to breaking world records in push-ups, burpees, pull-ups, endurance events, and fitness challenges across the globe, Eva has continually redefined what is possible. Despite battling serious wrist injuries and significant medical setbacks, she refused to let limitations dictate her future, instead turning obstacles into fuel and proving that the human spirit is capable of far more than most people imagine. As a mother, military spouse, veteran, educator, coach, and elite athlete, Eva's story is not simply about physical strength. It is about discipline, sacrifice, perseverance, and finding purpose through challenge. Her achievements have inspired countless people around the world and helped raise significant funds for charitable causes through her record-breaking efforts. This is a conversation about service, family, resilience, mental toughness, and what it truly means to keep moving forward when life throws everything it has at you. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the remarkable story of Eva Clarke. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Eva Clarke Editor: Kyle Watkins

John talks with Christian "Boo" Boucousis — former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot, CEO of Afterburner, behavior specialist, leadership keynote speaker, author of the best-selling book, The Afterburner Advantage: How a Small Team of Fighter Pilots Transformed 3,500 Companies and Helped an NFL Team Win the Super Bowl, host of The Few Leaders podcast, and devoted dad. Through Afterburner, "Boo" helps individuals and organizations turn intention into reality with less wasted effort. Listen to this episode to learn more: [00:00] - Intro [01:23] - Christian's bio and background [03:39] - Going from fighter pilot to business leader [04:47] - The air show that shaped Christian's life purpose [05:32] - Being diagnosed with ADHD and how it affected him at school [06:38] - Why he transitioned from fighter pilot to entrepreneurship [07:16] - Discovering Afterburner and eventually taking it over [08:48] - Afterburner's coaches are fighter pilots from around the world [09:45] - The two core roles of Afterburner [10:47] - Busy vs. effective and why people avoid thinking [13:00] - Missionizing your life instead of simply making to-do lists [16:28] - The ORCA method: Objective, Result, Cause, and Action [19:31] - Creating habits & avoiding all-or-nothing thinking [21:54] - The Plasma ball brain analogy [24:57] - How small daily actions expand your comfort zone over time [27:24] - The myth of big wins [29:53] - Celebrating wins in a meaningful way [33:54] - Christian's transition from military life to civilian life [35:33] - Balancing his ambition and time with kids NOTABLE QUOTES: "If you have some real clarity around your intention, the path looks after itself." "The problem is, it's really easy to be busy and go nowhere." "That's something that a fighter pilot is trained to do: understand that your job is to hit a target, not to go flying." "Missionize your life." "To missionize your life means every day you have to have a mission. You have to achieve something. And then, when you know what you want to achieve, you can work backwards and prioritize the work. Understand: is this a distraction, or is this focusing on what matters? And you start to reduce the noise each and every day. Otherwise, you're just looking for something to do." "Well, humans are engineered to be busy, and as a result, we reward effort and find work. And then, when we start to get into those paradigms of laziness or procrastination, that's usually the byproduct of too much work, or not knowing where to start, or not really understanding why the work is important and why should I bother." "Habits are just doing something regularly and committing it to motor memory, so you don't have to think about it. It becomes an unconscious behavior." "The habit isn't the goal. The habit is the small thing that just gets you moving towards the goal." "The habit you want to instill is the habit of movement, not the habit of going to the gym." "Your whole life begins to become what it is you identify yourself as in the future." "When you win, you release dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. It's the byproduct of success, which is why successful people seem to be so incredibly busy and not make it feel like work, because they're busy winning. They're not busy doing work." "Even when you have a bad mission, you debrief, you learn some really great things, and that's a win." "It's not the quantity of time that you have with your children; it's the quality of time." USEFUL LINKS: https://callmeboo.com/ https://www.christianboucousis.com/ https://www.afterburner.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/afterburner/posts/?feedView=all https://www.instagram.com/christianbooboucousis/ https://www.facebook.com/christian.boucousis https://www.facebook.com/AfterburnerIncPage https://www.youtube.com/@afterburnerinc CONNECT WITH JOHN Website - https://iamjohnhulen.com    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhulen Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnhulen    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/johnhulen    X - https://x.com/johnhulen    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLX_NchE8lisC4NL2GciIWA    EPISODE CREDITS Intro and Outro music provided by Jeff Scheetz - https://jeffscheetz.com/ 

This is Part 2 of my conversation with Christian "Boo" Boucousis. We move beyond his origin story and into the mindset of a fighter pilot. As the CEO of Afterburner, Boo teaches teams how to implement a practical, no nonsense approach to clarity, accountability, and performance — the same principles that kept him alive in the cockpit. This fighter pilot's guide is something we can apply in business and everyday life, including: • Iteration as a daily practice — why quick, honest reflection creates momentum • Clear expectations — how alignment reduces friction in work, relationships, and leadership • Accountability without blame — a simple debrief framework for steady improvement • The D.O.S.E. model — using your brain's chemistry to stay resilient and focused Be sure to watch Part 1 to hear Boo's full journey from his childhood in the Australian outback to the Royal Australian Air Force, his entry to entrepreneurship and his faith transformation. Join the Journey If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more episodes that explore clarity, courage, and the mindsets and faith behind meaningful growth. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boldjourneysco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldjourneysco/ Through The Fire Newsletter: https://boldjourneys.co/subscribe/ Chapters 00:00 Think Like Fighter Pilots 03:03 Afterburner and Mission Focus 04:08 Red Tails Lesson on Mission 05:32 Finding and Buying Afterburner 06:52 Accountability and Skill Benchmarks 09:31 Flight Suit Culture and Identity 12:46 The Cognitive Model of Iteration 15:54 Debriefing vs Blame Reviews 21:44 Applying Iteration at Home 27:06 Biases Beliefs Behaviors Framework 32:20 The Chemistry of Resilience 36:11 Final Questions and Takeaways

What does it take to lead at the next level—without burning out trying to be perfect?In this episode of the People Development Podcast we sit down with Christian “Boo” Boucousis, former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot and high-performance business leader, to unpack the mindset shifts and execution frameworks that help leaders grow through discomfort instead of avoiding it.From the cockpit to the boardroom, Boo shares practical lessons on leadership, clarity, decision-making, and building momentum in high-pressure environments. Together, we explore why perfectionism keeps leaders stuck, how progress compounds over time, and what it means to lead people with both strategy and humanity.In this episode, you'll learn:  Why perfectionism creates overwhelm and burnout   How small wins build momentum and confidence   The 3 Layers of Leadership: Vision, Mission, and Values   The Fighter Pilot Method for execution and accountability   How to use the ORCA framework: Objective → Result → Cause → Action   Why trust, credibility, and connection matter as much as strategy   How to “start with the end in mind” and reverse engineer meaningful growth  This conversation is packed with practical wisdom for leaders, business owners, and teams looking to build healthier organizations that thrive independently of any one person.Because at the end of the day:The cost of the next level is discomfort...but growth is worth it.Guest: Christian “Boo” Boucousis 

Ep 27. Every business owner knows this feeling: your team comes to you with every problem, every decision, every question. You've become the bottleneck. The answer man. The person who has to solve everything because no one else will.It's exhausting. And it's stopping your business from growing.Lachlan speaks to Clifford Morgan, organisational psychologist, executive coach and author of "The Coaching Leader", to unpack how business owners can shift from giving all the answers to developing a team of problem solvers. You'll learn:- Why your team keeps coming to you (and how to break the pattern)- The simple coaching framework that develops independent thinkers- Practical questions you can use in real situations this weekClifford brings unique insights from his 15+ years in the Royal Australian Air Force, where he shifted from command-and-control leadership to coaching hundreds of leaders across military and business contexts. Learn more about Clifford and get a copy of his book at cliffordmorgan.com.auSubscribe get bonus resources from the podcast + monthly leadership & business insights direct to your inbox: https://leaderguide.com.au/communityMy Business Guide is presented by LeaderGuide.com.au - Small Business Coaches based in Brisbane

Veteran Danny Jeffery, who served 35 years in the Royal Australian Air Force, including time spent in Afghanistan, spoke with Mark Levy about his career. He opened up about his own mental health battles and the struggles many veterans face after serving their country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EPISODE 702 - John R. Carlos - Retired Royal Australian Air Force Wing Commander and Author of Cryonic Dreams, AwakeningAmazon Bestselling Author John R. Carlos Launches a Bold Sci-Fi Trilogy That Confronts Power, Control and the Ethics of ResurrectionAbout John R. CarlosBorn in Madrid and raised in Perth, Australia, John R. Carlos is a retired Royal Australian Air Force Wing Commander. Over a 42-year career, he served in a variety of roles across Australia and on deployments to Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, the UAE and Afghanistan. His storytelling is strategic, nuanced with the understanding of systems, hierarchy and moral complexity.Carlos now turns his focus to speculative fiction, publishing his debut novel “Cryonic Dreams: Awakening.” A meticulous worldbuilder and philosophical storyteller, he is passionate about crafting narratives that challenge readers to confront silence, resist control and awaken to the ethical dilemmas of our time.“Packed with heart-stopping suspense, vivid world-building, and thoughtful explorations of scientific ethics, this novel is a captivating must-read for anyone interested in the world we are all sliding towards.” - International Review of BooksCanberra, Australia - In the first installment of his debut series, “Cryonic Dreams: Awakening,” author John R. Carlos delivers a gripping sci-fi thriller that explores the dark intersection of biotechnology, institutional control and the human spirit's refusal to be programmed. Set in the year 2169, the story follows Dr. Michelle Brown, a cryonics specialist whose groundbreaking resurrection of Maryanne Kendricks—a woman preserved for 133 years—triggers a chain of sabotage, murder and pursuit by the ruthless surveillance agency AASID.As Michelle flees Earth to protect Maryanne and uncover the secrets buried in her DNA, she becomes entangled in a covert resistance against elite forces who mask their narcissistic hunger for control behind the guise of virtue and innovation. What begins as a scientific breakthrough becomes a philosophical reckoning—one that could alter the future of humanity itself.“‘Cryonic Dreams: Awakening' tells a story about what happens when science pushes the limits and the tough ethical choices that follow,” said author John R. Carlos. “With modern technology advancing at a rapid pace, it was crucial to outline a story about the tension between power and freedom—one that balances speculative ideas with genuine human stakes. My goal is to encourage readers to think critically about the future we're creating.”Blending cutting-edge biotechnology, high-stakes intrigue and a chillingly plausible vision of tomorrow, “Cryonic Dreams: Awakening” is the first installment in a planned trilogy. It explores the consequences of rewriting history, the weaponization of resurrection and the myth of Mars as a symbol of escape and rebirth.https://johnrcarlos.com.au/Send us Fan MailSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

How is drone racing shaping the future of military capability? And can Australia harness these skills to strengthen its uncrewed systems and workforce? In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Wing Commander Keirin Joyce, Australian Defence Force Drone Racing Association president and deputy director of disruptive experimentation in the Royal Australian Air Force, to discuss the recent Military International Drone Racing Tournament held in Sydney, where the ADF secured its sixth consecutive team victory amid growing global competition. WGCDR Joyce holds a bachelor of aeronautical engineering (honours) from the Australian Defence Force Academy and has spent more than two decades in support of the ADF Uncrewed Aerial Systems capability, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He shares experiences from his most recent speaking engagement at the Deakin Defence Conference in Melbourne and his PhD paper: Barriers to large logistics drones. The podcast conversation includes the following topics: How the tournament operates across racing and tactical phases, including payload delivery and aerial interception challenges designed to replicate real-world combat scenarios. Strong crossover between drone racing and military capability. Drone racing and ADF drone capability's role in recruitment, STEM engagement and developing a future-ready workforce. Finally, the discussion looks at evolving drone warfare trends, future ADF integration and opportunities to expand drone racing across services, cadets and veterans. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

More on the Laguardia crash from the NTSB and ASDE-X; a near-collision at LAX involving a Frontier flight and two trucks; a United Airlines plane struck two de-icing trucks; the FAA requested funding for 2,300 controller trainees; a Navy MQ-4C Triton reconnaissance drone went missing; and air taxis are coming to Utah. Aviation News Seconds before LaGuardia crash, controller cleared the fire truck to cross the runway, NTSB says The NTSB has determined that a LaGuardia Airport air traffic controller cleared the fire truck to cross a runway 12 seconds before the Air Canada flight touched down. The two pilots were killed in the resulting collision. The NTSB has yet to identify how this was allowed to happen. Unanswered questions: Are two overnight duty controllers enough? Why didn't a runway warning system sound an alert? Who was coordinating air and ground traffic? Did the fire truck hear the controller's last-second pleas to stop? LaGuardia has an advanced surface surveillance system called Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X). This system displays the locations of planes and vehicles to the Controllers. The fire truck didn't have a transponder, but the emergency vehicles behind it stopped in time. Possibly, the close proximity of the vehicles merging kept the system from triggering an alarm. ASDE-X is a surveillance system that uses radar, multilateration, and satellite technology to allow air traffic controllers to track the surface movement of aircraft and vehicles. It was developed to help reduce critical Category A and B runway incursions. ASDE-X overview from FAA presentation. The ASDE-X collects data from a variety of sensors: Surface surveillance radar located on top of the air traffic control tower and/or surface surveillance radar located on a remote tower Multilateration (MLat) sensors located around the airport Airport Surveillance Radars, such as the Mode S Automatic Dependent Surveillance — Broadcast (ADS-B) sensors Terminal automation system to obtain flight plan data. Multilateration (MLat) sensors determine an object’s position by measuring the time differences of signals received from multiple known locations. They are commonly used in applications such as air traffic control and navigation to accurately track the locations of vehicles or devices. Frontier Airlines Pilots ‘Slam On the Brakes' to Avoid Colliding With Two Trucks at Los Angeles International Airport Frontier Airlines flight F9-3216, an Airbus A321, was taxiing for departure at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) when it encountered two trucks that cut it off. To avoid a collision, the pilots were forced to “slam on the brakes.” The Frontier pilot told LAX controllers, “It happened so fast, both of us are like holy shit and slammed on the brakes… I might have to call the flight attendants, make sure everyone is alright in the back. It was real close… close as I've ever seen.” Plane suffered ‘substantial’ damage after hitting de-icing trucks at Denver airport On March 6, 2026, a United Airlines plane struck two de-icing trucks at Denver International Airport (DIA) as it was taxiing out of the de-icing pad. No on-board injuries occurred, although one de-icing agent suffered minor injuries. The plane suffered substantial damage. There was some confusion about whether the plane had been cleared to leave the de-icing pad. FAA proposes to hire 2,300 air traffic controllers in budget request At the end of September, the FAA employed 13,164 air traffic controllers, about 3,500 short of the targeted staffing level. The FAA's fiscal 2027 budget request proposes funding to hire 2,300 air traffic controller trainees, with about $95.4 million earmarked for that effort. A WSOC Charlotte, SC video reports that gamers are being offered paid training and other incentives if they apply. Navy MQ-4C Triton's Fate Unknown After Disappearing From Flight Tracking Over Persian Gulf Open-source tracking indicates the surveillance drone suddenly turned toward Iran and transmitted the universal 7700 emergency code. It descended from more than 50,000 feet toward approximately 9,000 feet, then disappeared from public tracking networks. The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is the maritime version of RQ-4 Global Hawk. It is a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned surveillance aircraft flown by the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Navy had 20 Triton aircraft in service in 2025, and had planned to acquire seven more. The unit cost was estimated to be just over $238 million. See: US Navy MQ-4C Triton Vanishes Near Iran After Emergency Code: Did Tehran Just Down America's US$200 Million Spy Drone? Utah's getting air taxis sooner than expected. Here's when. Paul Damron, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) air mobility program manager, says unmanned electric aircraft might be carrying packages and medical supplies as early as this summer. The FAA has designated UDOT to lead one of eight national pilot programs focused on integrating electric aircraft into various airspaces. Initially operating out of Utah's airports, the long-term goal is to create “vertiports” and connect them to existing transit modes. Under the uFLY pilot program, Utah leads a five-state partnership with Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, and Oklahoma. Aircraft will be tested under a variety of environmental conditions. Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.

After a career of more than two decades in the Royal Australian Air Force, a Central Highlands farmer is back on the farm helping his dad take care of a unique breed of cattle.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by L3Harris Technologies vice president for Australia and New Zealand, Alan Clements, to discuss the arrival of the Royal Australian Air Force's new MC-55A Peregrine aircraft. Clements is a former F/A-18 Classic Hornet instructor and previously served as commanding officer of No. 77 Squadron. He became an air commodore in 2011 and retired from the Royal Australian Air Force as an air vice-marshal in 2020. He also served as commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy from 2013 to 2016, then as the Australian defence attaché to the United States from 2017 to 2020 and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. During the podcast, the pair discuss the MC-55A Peregrine and its significance for Australia's intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and electronic warfare capabilities, including the following: The arrival of the first MC-55A Peregrine aircraft in Australia and its role in strengthening the ADF's ISR and electronic warfare capabilities. How the platform, based on a modified Gulfstream G550 business jet, provides high-altitude, high-speed intelligence collection across the electromagnetic spectrum. The benefits of adapting commercial aircraft for military ISR missions, including lower operating costs, easier maintenance and greater flexibility. The role of the MC-55A in enhancing Australia's situational awareness and decision making across the Indo-Pacific region. Future upgrades, technological challenges and the importance of rapid software and hardware development to keep pace with evolving threats. The growing importance of the electromagnetic spectrum and artificial intelligence in modern warfare and defence operations. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

For review:1. US & Iran Talk in Geneva While More US Warplanes Move to Region. The aircraft included F-22, F-35, and F-16 jets. Several refuelers were also spotted on the move, according to social media accounts dedicated to tracking military flights.A US official also confirmed to the Axios news site that more than 50 fighter jets were moved to the region in the past 24 hours.2. Iran says it temporarily closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The move came as semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported live fire exercises in the vital waterway, through which 20% of the world's oil passes.3. Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. held a new round of trilateral peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 17, as Washington presses for progress toward a deal before summer.A follow-up session is scheduled for Feb. 18. 4. General Atomics' LongShot is aiming to have its first flight test “as early as the end of 2026,” — three years after the company first said tests would begin, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced today.LongShot is an unmanned aircraft system dropped from a bomber or fighter that can launch missiles of its own. It could potentially be useful for both the Air Force and Navy, DARPA says. 5. Australia is one of the pioneers exploring collaborative combat aircraft, or CCAs, as it throws its full weight behind Boeing Defence Australia's MQ-28A Ghost Bat platform.6. The U.S. Air Force said Tuesday it expects its next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile to reach initial capability in the early 2030s, following a revamp of the over-budget program's acquisition plan set to finish this year.

Join the team for a look at the latest aviation news from around the world and across the UK.  In this week's show: The new Western Sydney International Airport scraps painful check-in process; the FAA are going to require 25-hour cockpit voice recorders on new aircraft instead of the existing 2-hour limit; and a man climbs onto a Vueling aircraft in Valencia, causing a two-hour flight delay.    In the military segment:  An aviation museum in the northwest of the UK has its £10m expansion plan approved; and The Royal Australian Air Force has deployed multiple aircraft to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to engage in multinational combat training exercises alongside the RAF from the UK and the USAF.    We've got a superb contribution from Shane for this week's Retro Airline Ad of the Week and Nev will be giving us some more details about our 600th show which of course is in May. You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email podcast@planetalkinguk.com or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, the entire team of Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro examines current news surrounding Australia's changing strategic environment: from diplomacy and armoured warfare to intelligence capability to the future of the rules-based global order. The episode opens with the appointment of Greg Moriarty as Australia's next ambassador to the United States. The former defence secretary has drawn broad bipartisan support, while opinions differ on the impact of outgoing Australian ambassador to US and former prime minister Kevin Rudd. Attention then turns to the unveiling of the M1E3 Abrams prototype, signalling the US Army's next step in main battle tank evolution and a definitive link to the Australian defence industry. The discussion shifts to the recent speech from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has publicly questioned the very existence of a post-war rules-based order. The team also deliberates on the demographic and economic trends rapidly shifting influence towards populous regional states such as Indonesia and India, raising the prospect that Australia may soon face strategic pressure from neighbours it once viewed as junior partners. Next, UK's launch of a fast-tracked undergraduate degree in drone engineering is highlighted as a response to lessons from Ukraine, while the team questions whether Australia risks falling behind. The episode concludes with final confirmation that the Royal Australian Air Force has received its first MC-55A Peregrine intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft. Enjoy the podcast The Defence Connect team

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Laura Overton and Michelle Ockers, co-authors of the new book The L&D Leader: Principles and Practice for Delivering Business Value. Together, they explore why the L&D profession must shift from delivering learning to driving business value and how leaders at every stage of their career can navigate this change. Drawing on 20+ years of benchmark data and hundreds of practitioner interviews, Laura and Michelle share their TRY and be BOLD frameworks, the navigation metaphor that underpins their book and practical insights for applying principles rather than clinging to rigid models. This conversation is a call to action for L&D professionals who want to stop getting stuck in old job descriptions, start tuning into business priorities, and step into their true potential as navigators of change. Take your L&D to the next level Take advantage of thousands of hours of analysis. Hundreds of conversations with industry innovators and 25+ years of hands-on global L&D leadership. It's all distilled into one framework to help you level up L&D. Access the L&D Maturity Model here - https://360learning.com/maturity-model KEY TAKEAWAYS High‑impact L&D leaders act as wayfinders: they co‑create a clear picture of business value with stakeholders, then continuously read signals from the organisation and course‑correct, rather than follow a fixed plan or model. Instead of chasing the next model or tool, effective L&D is grounded in learning science, fuelled by curiosity and opening up more impactful options than “just another course.” What really differentiates impactful L&D leaders are their thinking habits: being business‑first, open‑minded, leading and learning, and deliberate – a practical inner compass for bolder, better decisions. BEST MOMENTS “The horizon is getting closer to us. The amount of time between a shift and us needing to have people ready for that shift is so tight now that our traditional approaches cannot respond quickly enough.” “The (traditional) models, can restrict us …. (and) can actually crush people´s ambition.” “You are a learning change maker.” Laura Overton Bio Laura Overton is an award-winning learning analyst, author, and international speaker with over 30 years of experience in the learning industry. Best known as the founder of Towards Maturity, Laura led 15 years of research exploring how learning innovation drives business value, working with thousands of L&D leaders worldwide. Today, Laura continues to champion evidence-based practice, helping learning professionals move beyond models and frameworks to embrace principles that unlock real business impact. Michelle Ockers Bio Michelle Ockers is a respected workplace learning strategist, speaker, and podcaster. With a background that spans the Royal Australian Air Force, corporate leadership roles and global consulting, Michelle has a reputation for helping organisations modernise learning and build business-ready capabilities. Michelle is the host of the Learning Uncut podcast, where she shares real-world stories of L&D in action. Her work brings together evidence, practice, and community to support learning leaders in navigating complexity with confidence. LINKS The L&D Leader Book: https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/the-l-d-leader-9781398620278 https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleockers/ https://learninguncut.global/ https://learninguncut.global/podcast/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraoverton/ https://learningchangemakers.com/ VALUABLE RESOURCES L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home CONTACT METHOD   https://twitter.com/davidinlearning https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

RAF Liberator bombing operations in India, Burma, and Thailand remain one of the least explored air campaigns of the Second World War. Flying long-range missions from Bengal, RAF crews attacked Japanese targets across Southeast Asia, including the infamous Thailand-Burma Railway, under demanding and often dangerous conditions. In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I am talking to historian Matt Poole, author of Far East RAF Liberators: Roy Andrews and 215 Squadron. Together, we explore this campaign through the experiences of Roy Andrews, a Royal Australian Air Force wireless operator and air gunner who flew with RAF 215 Squadron on B-24 Liberator bombers during the final months of the war. Between October 1944 and April 1945, Roy Andrews flew bombing, strafing, and air-sea rescue missions over Burma and Thailand. By viewing the wider RAF air war through the lens of one airman, this episode examines long-range Liberator operations, low-level attacks, and daily life on a forward airfield in India, offering a personal perspective on an often overlooked chapter of the Second World War.   patreon.com/ww2podcast  

Your blindspots and biases block your success and happiness. Here's how to navigate that. Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM is an award-winning leadership expert, author and columnist, ranked among the top 50 management thinkers in the world. Her career began in the Royal Australian Air Force and includes roles as CEO of a global consultancy and Acting Chair of the ABC. She holds a PhD in leadership and culture, writes the popular 'Got a Minute?' column in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and is a Member of the Order of Australia.  In this episode we talk about: The concept of blindspotting – what it is and how to do it The power of intellectual humility and how to practice it The difference between seekers and knowers – and when each mindset is useful The three major thinking traps How to disentangle ego from identity, manage defensiveness, and turn feedback into growth The role of curiosity in finding truth, building psychological safety, and leading more effectively How to "read the room" in workplaces, relationships, and global contexts  The key to good leadership The importance of modeling uncertainty as a leader Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris Thanks to our sponsors:  AT&T:   Happy Holidays from AT&T. Connecting changes everything. Function:  Visit www.functionhealth.com/Happier or use the gift code Happier25 for a $25 credit towards your membership.

Richard de Crespigny is a former member of the Royal Australian Air Force, and retired Qantas pilot.Richard was the captain of flight QF32 when the engine exploded minutes into a flight out of Singapore. Alongside his in flight crew, their heroic actions saved 469 passengers, managing to avoid what could have been a nail in the coffin during a tumultuous time for airline giant Qantas. Richard openly shares the life events and learnings that allowed him to lead with confidence that fateful day in the cockpit, and what a life in pursuit of passion and experiences has afforded him.If you enjoyed this chat you can give back to the channel by subscribing & sharing it with your mates.You can follow me on social media @bradleyjdryburgh Check out Rich's books via the link below:https://qf32.aeroBig Love,Brad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirstin Ferguson: Blindspotting Kirstin Ferguson has been recognized globally by Thinkers50 as one of the top 50 management thinkers in the world and is the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Leadership Award. She was an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, and then went on to lead an international consulting firm as CEO, before serving on the boards of major publicly listed, private, and non-profit organizations. She is the author of Women Kind, Head & Heart, and her newest book Blindspotting: How to See What Others Miss (Amazon, Bookshop)*. If we stop to think about it, always all of us recognize that we have blind spots. Given that reality, anything we can do that helps us see what others might miss will help us lead better. In this conversation, Kirsten and I explore the mindsets and practices that will help us uncover more of our blind spots. Key Points Experts are better at knowing when they are right, but also less likely to show appropriate doubt when they could be wrong. There's a time to be a seeker and a time to be a knower. Both are important in different situations, but leaders in many situations would benefit from more seeking. Blindspotting is about calibration, not hesitation. Accept your intellectual limitations. A key way to do this is saying these four words more: “I don't know yet.” Disentangling your ego will help your blind spot better. Shift away from your pride a bit by separating yourself from your knowledge and expertise. Hunt down your biases. Admitting they exist is step one. Model vulnerability by talking about your past mistakes both with yourself and with others. Resources Mentioned Blindspotting: How to See What Others Miss by Kirstin Ferguson (Amazon, Bookshop)*. Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Getting Better at Reading the Room, with Kirstin Ferguson (episode 651) How to Find What's Missing, with Jeff Wetzler (episode 732) How to Teach Your Expertise to Others, with Roger Kneebone (episode 743) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

On October 3, 1952 Britain detonated an atomic bomb on the MonteBello Islands, 50 miles off Western Australia's Pilbara coast. The success of the top secret test made Britain the third atomic power after the United States and Soviet Union. Author Paul Grace, has written a dramatic account of the test, 'Operation Hurricane: The Story of Britain's First Atomic Test and the Legacy that Remains' His Grandfather, Flight Lt. Ron Grace was a Royal Australian Airforce pilot who flew security patrols before the test and 'coastal monitoring' sorties in the radioactive aftermath, searching for fallout on the Australian mainland. This episode is Paul's first hand account of the test, its politics, personalities and implications for Australia.

SINGAPORE workshop : Engagement and burnout in the workplace INDIA workshop: High Performance Leadership SummitTo sign up for our difficult conversations and workplace culture workshop go here.This episode is a bit different to our normal ones.A lot of you have been repeatedly asking me to cover Imposter Syndrome and how to fight it, so I'm delighted to welcome back Clifford Morgan to get his expertise on the subject.Cliff is a leadership expert and endorsed organisational psychologist with over seventeen years of service with the Royal Australian Air Force. His years of service leading and coaching people, both in uniform and out, bring a wealth of experience that provides a unique perspective to assist his clients. During this time he has trained hundreds of leaders to use coaching skills to develop people and lead more effectively. As a coach Clifford has worked with CEOs, military commanders, government executives and business and community leaders across a wide variety of industries.In this episode he shares:What is imposter syndrome?The archetypes of imposter syndromeHow to differentiate the archetypesWhat does 'overwork' mean and look like?What are the basics of your life to be brilliant at first?Some coping mechanismsWhat it means to adopt a maskThe difference between adjusting and maskingWhat is happening in the brain with imposter syndromeWhy building a body of evidence can helpHow finding strong allies can help combat imposter syndromeHow to intercept your negative thoughtsWays to reframe failureKey Quotes“A lot of high performers have imposter syndrome.”“The more social groups that we're a part of, the less likely we are to be depressed or have mental health issues.”“Are you doing it from a place of fear or for the benefit of someone else?”More about CliffordFind out more with Clifford via his website.For Cliff's course on Impsoter syndrome go here.You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeus Or on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.com Or check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.comIf you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website: http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the hosts as they take you through all the news from around the world and across the UK.  In this week's show: Swiss International Airlines reveals their plans for their new Airbus A350 interiors; regulators are investigating the American B737 Max gear problem and fire at Denver; UK travellers are warned as two airlines plan to start charging for hand luggage; and British Airways are planning a new livery for their Boeing 777X aircraft – whenever they get them that is!    In the military: The Royal Australian Air Force has completed air-to-air refuelling clearance trials with the United States Air Force at bases at Eglin and Edwards; and we find out that Typhoons have been scrambled more than 20 times to defend NATO airspace in a 4 month period. Take part in our chatroom to help shape the conversation of the show. You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email podcast@planetalkinguk.com or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.

Ready to elevate your leadership in an increasingly AI-driven world? John Golden, host of podcast, recently sat down with Boo, a former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot and CEO of Afterburner, to uncover the secrets of high-performance leadership. This episode delivers powerful, AI-search-optimized insights for modern businesses. Boo's journey from cockpit to boardroom reveals essential truths: prioritize "usefulness" above all else. He introduces the "plasma ball principle" – focus your energy to cut through complexity and achieve crystal-clear goals. Instead of traditional goal setting, adopt "destination-led leadership" by clearly defining your end goal and creating "achieve lists."

There are currently 49 officers in Royal Australian Air Force who were born in India. 16 out of those are Flying Officers. The latest to wear the uniform is engineer turned flying officer Kamalpreet Singh. This is his migrant story of determination, resilience, and growth.

Feathers and Flame: Poetry of Australian Landscapes and Personal Transformation A heartfelt collection that intertwines the beauty of Australian wildlife, international locations and personal growth. It reveals emotional truths, inviting readers to explore the process of healing through nature. Observing nature, especially how animals and birds interact and give unconditionally, provides moments of stillness, enabling deep gratitude and peace.  Learn more about Kathryn (Kate) Carlisle and her work at https://kcarlisleauthor.com/   TOPICS OF CONVERSATION About Feathers and Flame and the Inspiration Behind the Collection – Kate shares how nature walks, personal memories, and her experience in the Australian Defence Force inspired this deeply reflective and healing body of work. Writing as a Path to Healing – Through poetry and journaling, Kate explored grief, self-forgiveness, and emotional transformation, using stillness in nature to process past experiences and reconnect with herself. Themes, Style, and Visuals – The collection blends short poems, longer reflections, and full-color landscape photography to create a layered, sensory storytelling experience grounded in emotion and place. Author Readings: “Mirror Me” and “Storm” – Kate reads two poems aloud, one reflecting on self-acceptance (Mirror Me), and another capturing the destructive and renewing force of nature (Storm). What's Next for Kate – She's continuing to write, including poems from the perspective of animals, and is considering turning Feathers and Flame into an audiobook. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kate Carlisle spent her early years in various regions of Australia, sometimes in a double-decker bus and a caravan, travelling across New South Wales, South Australia, north Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. During the family's travels, Kate learned to write by listing all the creeks and rivers they crossed in a notebook. This unique background, filled with diverse landscapes and experiences, shaped her experiences and writing. It instilled a deep appreciation for nature and a sense of adaptability that would later help her heal. Kate served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for almost 39 years. At 16, she joined the Royal Australian Navy as an apprentice Electronics Technician, her formative year. After 10 years, she transitioned to the Royal Australian Air Force, serving nationally and overseas, separating in March 2023. Throughout her career, Kate found solace in writing, using it to express herself. She wrote about her experiences in the ADF, the challenges she faced, and the moments of triumph. Her writing served as a form of self-expression and a way to connect with others who might be going through similar experiences. As a veteran, Kate completed the ADF Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills program, which helps build confidence and resilience in people experiencing health and wellbeing challenges related to service in the ADF. Kate found joy and an unlimited opportunity for healing through creative writing, and combined this with her love for nature and the outdoors. When at home, Kate spends time in the Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, a space that Kate loves and uses to connect and experience the profound healing power of nature.     CONNECT WITH KATE CARLISLE Website:  https://kcarlisleauthor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.carlisle.148 LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/kate-c-40702b9a Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate1_carlisle?igsh=MThnZmVtbzR5M2llaw==    

The Association of Old Crows (AOC) wants to make our podcast the best it can be. To help us succeed, we'd like to hear your thoughts. Please take just a few minutes to complete our 2025 listener survey because your opinion is very important to us. In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller takes us inside the cutting edge of airborne electronic attack with a deep dive into the U.S. Navy's latest game-changer: the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB).Joining Ken is Chuck Angus, Business Development Director at Raytheon, who shares how this powerful new system is redefining the electromagnetic battlespace. Built with advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, the NGJ-MB delivers unprecedented power density and direct array control—no third-party components, just pure precision.Deployed on the EA-18G Growler for both the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, this next-gen jammer is replacing the legacy ALQ-99 and setting the standard for future conflicts. Chuck explains why NGJ-MB isn't just an upgrade—it's a critical leap forward in spectrum superiority.Don't miss this insider look at how the future of electronic warfare is taking shape right now.To learn more about today's topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.

Last time we spoke about liberation of Luzon.. American forces, led by General Eichelberger and supported by General Krueger's armies, relentlessly advanced against the entrenched Japanese defenders of General Yamashita's 14th Area Army. Amid thick jungle and treacherous terrain, battles raged through the northern mountain ranges, as American troops aimed to restore the Filipino government. Facing overwhelming odds, the Japanese forces displayed extraordinary resilience, temporarily halting American progress. Remarkable efforts from General Swift's 1st Corps across Routes 9 and 11 led to significant breakthroughs as American forces captured critical positions, including Sablan and Baguio. However, the Japanese command, complacent and misjudging the American strategy, fell into disarray. As the tide turned with relentless American assaults, key Japanese positions were systematically dismantled. By late April, most of Luzon was liberated, restoring hope and autonomy to the Filipino people.  This episode is Invasion of Balikpapan Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  The battles for Okinawa and Luzon just closed up, and today we are going to be venturing back to the Dutch East Indies. As we left off in mid-May, the tides of war were shifting dramatically on the island of Luzon, with General Krueger's 6th Army celebrating significant victories across the region. In the north, General Swift's 1st Corps had successfully secured the scenic Baguio area, known for its lush mountains and cool climate, a stark contrast to the tropical heat that engulfed much of the Philippines. Yet, the fighting was far from over, as fierce battles continued on three major fronts. Colonel Volckmann's guerrilla 121st Regiment was making strides, snagging much of the strategically vital Bessang Pass, a crucial artery connecting northern Luzon to the central regions. However, their success came at a cost, leaving them overextended amidst fierce Japanese resistance. Meanwhile, General Gill's weary 32nd Division managed to claim dominance over the rugged terrain of Salacsac Pass along the historic Villa Verde Trail, known for its breathtaking views and treacherous paths that had challenged both soldiers and their supply lines. General Mullins' 25th Division achieved a remarkable breakthrough by capturing the key Balete Pass, opening the way for further advances. Not stopping there, the 25th Division pressed onward, quickly redirecting their focus northward towards the town of Santa Fe. By May 24, the 27th Regiment had cleared the Sawmill River valley, an area teeming with dense foliage and rugged hills, a significant accomplishment that paved the way for the next objectives. From there, the 1st Battalion expertly maneuvered eastward against the imposing Kanami Ridge. On May 22, the 161st Regiment dealt a heavy blow to Japanese positions in a stronghold on Mount Haruna, a location known for its steep, challenging slopes. Following this triumph, they began their descent down the northern slopes of Haruna Ridge, gearing up for a critical junction with the Villa Verde Trail by May 27. Meanwhile, the 35th Regiment launched a vigorous assault from Balete Pass, systematically clearing out the remaining Japanese caves and fortifications by May 26, culminating in the capture of Santa Fe the very next day. At Salacsac, the Japanese forces, led by General Iwanaka, initiated a limited counteroffensive, presumably to buy time for a strategic evacuation of their increasingly tenuous positions. If delay was indeed Iwanaka's intention, he executed it well; it wasn't until May 19 that the American supply line was finally deemed secure again. The 2nd Battalion of the 128th Regiment resumed its push east from Hill 525, but the progress was slow. By May 22, the 1st Battalion had only managed to advance a mere 500 yards east from Hill 508, while the 3rd Battalion commenced a southward and southeastward advance from Hill 516 on May 16. It was not until May 24 that the relentless fighting in the region bore fruit, leading to the eventual clearing of the area, and Salacsac Pass was officially declared secured. On that pivotal day, General Iwanaka began the difficult task of withdrawing the remnants of his battered forces northward, retreating up the winding valley of the Imugan River. This river, which flows through a lush, verdant landscape, would serve as a vital sanctuary, albeit one fraught with danger for the disheartened Japanese troops. Meanwhile, the American forces were gaining ground. The 2nd Battalion aggressively seized control of Hill 527, a position that provided a commanding view of the surrounding area, crucial for planning further advances. The 126th Regiment took decisive action, utilizing trucks to transport troops swiftly along Route 5 to Balete Pass before launching an assault toward Imugan from the east and southeast. Concurrently, the guerrilla 1st Battalion of the Buena Vista Regiment embarked on a northward push from Valdez, culminating in the hard-fought capture of Hill 528 on May 28. This hill, commanding and steep, presented a formidable challenge but also promised a vantage point critical for any further operations in the region. The very next day, Imugan finally succumbed to the relentless pressure of the advancing American forces, marking a significant milestone as the Villa Verde Trail came firmly under American control. This development effectively concluded the arduous operations of the 32nd Division. It was a costly campaign for General Gill; the division suffered approximately 825 men killed, 2,160 wounded, with an alarming 6,000 classified as non-battle casualties. In stark contrast, the Japanese defense was decimated, with at least 5,750 of the 8,750 troops they had deployed to defend the trail lying dead. As we gaze northward, we find Colonel Volckmann's guerrillas, who had extended themselves too thinly across Bessang Pass and into the challenging terrain of Yubo Ridge. The aftermath of their overreach saw them facing fierce Japanese counterattacks that swiftly pushed them back across Lamagan Ridge in the latter part of May. However, a small contingent managed to hold tenaciously onto the eastern slopes of Langiatan Hill, a strategic position that allowed them to maintain some level of influence in the region. Additionally, a robust force from the Japanese 76th Regiment assembled south of Butac, planning an offensive northward. However, this advance was met with fierce resistance from the guerrilla 15th Regiment, who successfully repelled the attack. Seizing the momentum, Volckmann directed the 15th Regiment into a new offensive eastward, and by the end of May, they had successfully re-secured their foothold up to Lamagan Ridge. Meanwhile, elements of the 121st Regiment executed a remarkable retaking of both Langiatan Hill and Yubo Ridge, gradually restoring control over this strategically vital area. Looking south, we find General Hall's 11th Corps vigorously engaged in two crucial offensives aimed at capturing Ipo Dam and Wawa Dam, both essential water reservoirs located east of Manila. The strategic importance of these dams cannot be overstated; they were vital not only for securing fresh water but also for controlling the flow of operations in the region. However, the relentless heavy downpours that characterized the season rendered air support missions impractical, exacerbating an already challenging supply situation for the advancing troops. As a result, General Wing's 43rd Division was forced to pause its offensive late on May 14 to reassess and devise new attack plans.  As of late May 14, the 43rd Division found itself in a precarious situation, necessitating a halt to operations to devise new attack plans. To this point, the division had made limited progress toward securing Route 52, a crucial supply line vital for their mission to capture Ipo Dam. Recognizing the urgency, General Wing decided it was essential to commit the 169th Regiment to a targeted attack to clear this road, as it would serve as a critical route for both supply and evacuation in the coming days. The adverse weather conditions had created a significant operational hindrance. For nearly the entire duration of their offensive, intermittent rains had severely disrupted ground and aerial supply chains, as well as evacuation and the crucial air support operations necessary for a successful advance. Ground conditions had become challenging, and division engineers struggled to construct and maintain supply roads at a pace even close to that of the infantry's advances. Consequently, supply drops and hand-carried provisions were just sufficient to keep combat units barely above the minimum required levels, but the evacuation of sick and wounded soldiers remained a pressing issue that plagued the division. By May 14, the situation worsened significantly. For the first time since May 6, the 5th Air Force was completely grounded, unable to conduct any air support or supply missions due to the worsening weather conditions. This represented a troubling turning point for the 43rd Division. Moreover, intelligence reports indicated that sizable groups from the Japanese Tomono and Hanabusa Detachments had shifted their focus away from their defenses along Route 52, moving instead to confront the 103rd and 172nd Regiments attacking from the south. General Wing recognized that this presented a timely opportunity for the 169th Regiment. Striking directly along Route 52 would likely be far easier and less costly than it would have been just a week prior. Furthermore, a successful offensive by the 169th could not only expedite the capture of Ipo Dam but also prevent further eastward redeployments of Japanese forces. This would be a vital maneuver, potentially relieving pressure from Fork Ridge, where the left flank of the 172nd Regiment was currently bogged down in fierce fighting. Time was of the essence, and decisive action was required to turn the tide in favor of the 43rd Division. The situation was critical; delay would allow Japanese forces to fortify their defenses further. In response, Wing mapped out a robust plan: he directed the 103rd Regiment to capture the Route 52 terminus at Ipo Dam itself, which was crucial for any further advances. Their orders included not only taking control of the dam but also clearing the high ground north of the road and west of the dam to ensure a secure position against any possible counterattacks. Additionally, he tasked the 172nd Regiment with seizing Hill 804, a vantage point that could provide vital intelligence and support to the offensive, while the 169th Regiment was directed to eliminate the last Japanese defenders in the Bigti area before advancing eastward along Route 52 to connect with the 172nd. A break in the weather finally came on May 17, allowing the 43rd Division to launch their offensive with much-needed air support. Aircraft successfully dropped napalm and strafed Japanese defensive positions, a strategy that proved devastatingly effective. General Kawashima, facing mounting losses, ultimately ordered the remnants of his command to withdraw to an assembly point on the western slopes of Mount Maranat, a retreat that revealed their deteriorating ability to hold the line. With the air support providing a critical advantage, the 103rd Regiment advanced boldly and swiftly cleared the last Japanese holdouts from Hill 860, securing an essential position. However, it was the guerrilla forces, under the command of Colonel Augustin, from the Marking Regiment who achieved a historic victory by capturing Ipo Dam shortly after noon. His patrols descended the slopes of Hill 803, crossed the Angat River at the dam, and triumphantly raised the American flag over the powerhouse on the south bank, a potent symbol of liberation and resistance. Simultaneously, the 172nd Regiment seized control of Fork Ridge, further tightening the noose around Japanese forces, while the 169th Regiment secured strategic ground from Hill 535 to Osboy Ridge, pushing forward with relentless determination. In the following four days, the 43rd Division, supported by the fearless Marking guerrillas, meticulously mopped up the area west of Ipo Dam. Their efforts culminated in the successful opening of Route 52 from Bigti to Ipo on May 19, a critical milestone that allowed for the unhindered movement of troops and supplies. By May 21, they completed the operation by clearing out the last pockets of organized resistance in the region west of the dam and south of the Angat River, a crucial waterway that would play a significant role in sustaining American operations. With the capture of Ipo Dam intact, General Wing achieved his primary objective, making a significant contribution to addressing Manila's pressing water supply problems. This success would have lasting implications for the civilians and military alike, as the dam was key to ensuring a reliable water supply in the region. The 43rd Division maintained its momentum, continuing mopping-up operations through May 31. They patrolled eastward across the Ipo River, pressed northeast up the Angat from the dam, and scoured the areas that had witnessed some of the most intense fighting during the campaign. The cost of these operations was notable; Wing's forces suffered losses of 120 killed and 515 wounded, while the Kawashima Force endured devastating casualties, with over 2,700 men killed and approximately 115 captured during the grueling battle. Meanwhile, General Chase's 38th Division pressed forward with its offensive against Wawa Dam, following the failure of General Yokoyama's most recent counteroffensive. The 145th Regiment found itself holding a precariously exposed salient at Mount Binicayan, which severely hampered their ability to launch an effective attack toward Wawa Dam. Japanese positions on the high ground to the north of the dam dominated the narrow, winding road with artillery, mortar, and machine-gun fire, making any advance perilous. In response to this daunting challenge, General Chase decided to launch an offensive with the 151st Regiment in the area north of the Marikina River, targeting the formidable Mounts Pamitinan and Hapanong-Banoy. This bold maneuver was contingent upon the 152nd Regiment gaining momentum in its attack to clear Woodpecker Ridge. As such, on May 19 and 20, the 152nd Regiment executed enveloping maneuvers centered on Woodpecker Ridge, ultimately breaking through enemy lines on May 21. The breakthrough was dramatically supported by the introduction of medium tanks and flamethrower tanks, powerful assets that helped turn the tide of battle. The following day, what began as a breakthrough rapidly escalated into a rout of Japanese defenders. By May 25, the 152nd Regiment had established control over the strategic junction of the Marikina and Bosoboso Rivers, a key position that not only bolstered their operational capabilities but also positioned them for further advances in the ongoing campaign. As Japanese resistance began to dissipate under the relentless pressure from the advancing American forces, the 149th Regiment, which had successfully relieved the 145th at Mount Binicayan, launched a bold strike toward Wawa Dam on May 27. Encountering little to no opposition, they secured the dam intact the following morning, marking a significant victory. It was on May 27 that General Yokoyama ordered a general retreat, recognizing the untenable position of his forces. Acting on these instructions, General Kobayashi's remaining troops fell back, pursued by vigilant patrols from the 38th Division. With Wawa Dam secured, General Chase shifted his strategy; rather than launching direct assaults against organized Japanese lines, he opted to focus on mopping up operations and pursuing the retreating enemy. The human cost of the campaign was significant. Chase's forces sustained losses of 160 killed and 590 wounded, while the Kobayashi Force suffered catastrophic losses, with over 10,000 men killed since the onset of the offensive.  Shifting focus southeast, the 7th Cavalry and Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Anderson's guerrillas converged on the coastal town of Infanta in late May. Faced with overwhelming pressure, the Japanese naval garrison retreated westward into the Sierra Madre mountains, a rugged and dense area that posed challenges for both sides. Infanta ultimately fell on May 25, and by the evening of the following day, the reinforced 7th Cavalry had successfully cleared the entire flat, rice-rich region surrounding the town, encountering only scattered and ineffective resistance. In a strategic move bolstered by overwater supply movements, the 7th Cavalry implemented an aggressive patrolling program to the southwest, seeking out any remaining enemy forces. Meanwhile, the 8th Cavalry focused its efforts on clearing the northern section of Santa Maria Valley, advancing northward into the Sierra Madre. By the end of May, the Shimbu Group, once a significant Japanese fighting force, was rendered ineffective. Its main units began to disband, breaking into small groups in a desperate bid to forage for food or to navigate their way to safety in northern Luzon. At the end of May, the Shimbu Group still boasted a strength of nearly 26,000 men, over half of its total personnel as of February 20. However, the remaining survivors were not the elite forces they once were. The relentless campaigns by the 11th and 14th Corps had decimated the best-trained and most well-equipped units, leaving behind a shell of what had once been a formidable fighting force. Of the approximately 13,000 survivors still organized into units, their combat effectiveness had deteriorated so significantly that it's worthy of mention only in passing. Meanwhile, about 13,000 others were struggling to survive without proper organization; roughly 5,000 of these were receiving whatever limited medical treatment the Shimbu Group could provide. The remaining 8,000 men had essentially lost all structure, scattering into small groups to forage for food or attempting to make their way north to Luzon, where they hoped to find safety and sustenance. The supply situation faced by the Shimbu Group at the end of May was even more dire than its personnel situation. They had been unable to transport significant portions of their vast stockpiles of supplies into the Sierra Madre mountains, a shortfall that would prove catastrophic for their survival. The only supplies they still possessed in any quantity were ammunition for small arms and machine guns, alongside medical materials for treating combat wounds. The most pressing issue, however, was a critical lack of food. The early loss of several key agricultural regions, including the Bosoboso Valley, the shores of Laguna de Bay, the Santa Maria Valley, and the fertile Infanta region, had deprived the Shimbu Group of expected food stocks. Most of the supplies brought out of Manila had already been consumed. For instance, the organized remnant of the Noguchi Force could currently allocate a meager two ounces of rice per day for each man—a portion that would undoubtedly vanish by mid-June. The Kobayashi Force fared little better, while the Kawashima Force managed to issue slightly more, around six to eight ounces of rice daily. The troops were gradually reduced to scavenging for survival, resorting to eating roots, bark, grass, and whatever food they could find in long-abandoned Filipino gardens. It's worth noting that after just a few days in June, there wasn't a single pig, carabao, or dog left alive within sight of the remnants of the Shimbu Group. Recognizing that mere existence was the overarching challenge, General Yokoyama hoped to regroup his organized units and move them into areas where they might have some chance to cultivate food, scattering them through the challenging terrain of the Sierra Madre. This desperate strategy highlighted the dire straits faced by the Shimbu Group as their chances for survival dwindled. Meanwhile, the Noguchi Force received orders to transfer its main strength to the mountainous region along the eastern shore of Laguna de Bay, where some of its elements were already positioned. This shift aimed to gather their forces in a more favorable terrain, potentially allowing for better access to resources. The Kobayashi Force was tasked with establishing a defensive sector in the area north of Mount Purro and east of Wawa. In a coordinated effort, the 31st Infantry, minus its 3rd Battalion, along with various miscellaneous troops from the 8th Division, were ordered to occupy positions north of the Lenatin River, enhancing their defensive capabilities in a strategic location. The remnants of the Kawashima Force, already in the process of withdrawing from the Ipo Dam area, were instructed to relocate to the mountains east of San Miguel, approximately 22 miles northwest of Ipo. This area was believed to have more abundant food supplies, crucial for the survival of their forces. However, as circumstances unfolded, this transfer later proved impossible. Unable to move effectively, the bulk of the Kawashima Force remained entrenched in the area surrounding Mount Inuman, where they faced mounting challenges in sustaining their troops. In the following month, General Hall directed the 38th Division and Major Edwin Ramsey's 2nd Provisional Regiment to pursue the remnants of Yokoyama's forces as they moved eastward toward Santa Iñez. Meanwhile, the 112th Cavalry employed various mountain and river valley trails to mount a converging attack from the south. They encountered light opposition and successfully captured the town on June 9, further consolidating their gains in the region. At the same time, patrols from the 43rd Division reported no signs of organized resistance north and east of Ipo Dam. The 2nd Cavalry Brigade, alongside Anderson's guerrillas, effectively dispersed the last organized remnants of the Kogure Detachment and the remaining Japanese naval units at Lamon Bay. By the end of June, the only indication of organized Japanese resistance in an area extending five miles north and ten miles east of Wawa Dam was found in the Lenatin River valley, approximately three miles north of Santa Iñez. This development forced the remnants of Yokoyama's forces into trackless and only partially explored wilderness, significantly complicating their ability to regroup or launch further operations. The operations throughout June were costly for Hall, resulting in approximately 110 men killed and 370 wounded. In contrast, Japanese losses during the month were staggering, amounting to 7,540 killed or found dead, alongside 1,105 captured.  Looking back north, General Yamashita aimed to avoid a similar fate for his northern forces. Ever since the fall of Baguio, he had been meticulously planning for the ultimate withdrawal of the Shobu Group deep into the Cordillera Central.  On May 5, less than two weeks following the fall of Baguio, General Yamashita disseminated an outline plan for future operations to the major components of the Shobu Group throughout northern Luzon. His strategy was built on three fundamental premises: Estimation of Enemy Actions: Yamashita assessed that the 6th Army would concentrate its main effort on a northward drive along Route 5, anticipating that General Krueger would only launch secondary attacks toward Bontoc via Routes 4 and 11. This understanding allowed him to anticipate the flow of enemy movements and allocate his resources more effectively. Timing for Resource Stripping: He calculated that the Shobu Group would have approximately three months during which it could strip the Cagayan and Magat Valleys of the essential food and military supplies needed for a protracted stand in the mountains. During this period, the group aimed to transport this matériel into the Cordillera Central through the junction of Routes 4 and 5, located near Bagabag, 25 miles north on Route 5 from Bambang. Control of Key Routes: Yamashita recognized that the success of his planned withdrawal and future delaying actions hinged on maintaining control over the Routes 4-5 junction for as long as possible. He estimated that his defenses south of Santa Fe would be robust enough to hold until mid-June. Additionally, he planned to construct new defensive positions across Route 5 between Santa Fe and Bambang, enabling him to contain the 1st Corps south of Bambang until the end of June. Most crucially, he believed that he would be able to retain control of the Junction of Routes 4 and 5 until the end of July, which was essential for his operational strategy. His initial perimeter encompassed the vital Route 11 terminus of the Baguio-Aritao supply road, as well as key locations such as Bessang Pass, Bontoc, Banaue, Oriung Pass, and Santa Fe In his May 5 plan, Yamashita outlined the necessity of holding the Salacsac Pass-Balete Pass line until mid-June while constructing additional defenses between Santa Fe and Bambang. After mid-June, the Japanese forces were to withdraw to a second perimeter, extending through Ambuclao, Mankayan, Sabangan, Bontoc, Oriung Pass, and Bambang, strategically positioning themselves for potential future engagements. Yamashita understood that these defenses would need to hold until July, when the defenders would be expected to retreat to his last-stand positions centered around Bokod, Mankayan, Polis Pass, the Rayambugan Farm School, and Bambang. He anticipated that the Shobu Group would be compelled to hold their ground until annihilation at these key locations. On April 27, the 103rd Division received orders from the Area Army to transfer its main strength to the Cauayan-Cabagan area, leaving behind only the Yuguchi Detachment 80th Brigade Headquarters in Aparri, which comprised a meager two battalions of nuclear infantry. Yamashita's plans called for virtually abandoning the Cagayan Valley, temporarily retaining only the 103rd Division, which was significantly outnumbered and equated to less than two American Regimental Combat Teams (RCTs), particularly since the Araki Force was stationed in the Cervantes area. The primary duty of the 103rd Division would be to gather all available resources in the valley, including rice and livestock such as carabaos, and dispatch these supplies into the Cordillera Central through Bagabag. Once this crucial task was completed, the division would also withdraw into the mountains, aligning with Yamashita's broader strategic objectives. Yamashita's decision to abandon the Cagayan Valley made logical sense. He realized that the forces he had remaining could not hold the valley for much longer. Additionally, there seemed little necessity to maintain a strong presence there any further. Initially, he had kept units in the valley to harvest and gather food, deny the Allied Air Forces of the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) the use of airfields for strikes against Formosa and Okinawa, and hold onto Aparri in the hope that supplies and reinforcements might still reach Luzon. However, by early May, Yamashita concluded that the situation at Okinawa was largely resolved, negating any strategic purpose behind holding the valley airfields. The hope for reinforcements had long since faded, and crucially, his troops had already gathered the early rice harvest from the valley. With no new crop expected to come in until late September, Yamashita recognized that he would not be able to harvest this future crop, further solidifying his decision to withdraw. Yamashita also ordered the 79th Brigade to take over the defense of Banaue, while directing the 105th Division to defend both the Magat Valley and the Bato Bridge area against potential airborne attacks. However, by the end of May, the situation deteriorated significantly: Santa Fe had fallen, and the retreat of the 10th Division had devolved into a chaotic rout. This development put the defenders at risk of allowing the enemy to reach Bambang before they could establish any strong delaying positions south of the town. In response, Yamashita ordered the 10th Division and the 2nd Tank Division to assemble for a defensive stand across Route 5 at Bato Bridge. He also repositioned the 105th Division to the Rayambugan Farm School and directed the 103rd Division to occupy the vacated defenses at Oriung Pass. Despite these strategic maneuvers, time was not on their side. General Krueger wasted no time launching an aggressive pursuit northward, immediately sending the relatively fresh 37th Division to drive straight up Route 5 from Santa Fe to Bagabag. This force was then to swing east through Oriung Pass into the Cagayan Valley, continuing its advance north along Route 5 toward Aparri. To prepare for a larger offensive, Krueger also intended to use the 25th and 33rd Divisions in the initial assault against the Japanese home islands. To this end, he directed the 32nd Division to take over operations in the Baguio area, while the 6th Division was tasked with relieving the 25th at Santa Fe before striking northwest up Route 4 into the deep Cordillera Central, pursuing the Japanese forces further into the mountainous terrain. Finally, Swift was ordered to execute limited attacks up Route 11 from Baguio, maintain the guerrilla offensive against Cervantes, and deploy the Connolly Task Force to follow Route 3 around the northwest tip of Luzon to secure the Aparri region. Leading the charge, the 129th Regiment of the 37th Division advanced north from Santa Fe on May 31, quickly encountering a reinforced provisional anti-tank unit just south of Aritao. This unit managed to delay the town's capture until June 5. However, the following day, Bambang fell without resistance, and the 129th faced only token opposition at Bato Bridge before ultimately reaching Bayombong on June 7. On June 8, the 145th Regiment took over the lead, and by nightfall, they had seized the crucial junction of Routes 4 and 5 near Bagabag without a fight. Advancing further, the 145th crossed the Magat River on June 9 and pressed toward Oriung Pass, where they rapidly engaged the reinforced 179th Independent Battalion. Although the outgunned and outnumbered defenders valiantly delayed the advance, the 145th pushed through the pass along Route 5 and secured it late on June 12. This breakthrough prompted the bulk of the 103rd Division to decide on a strategic retreat toward the Bontoc-Natonin area, while the remnants of the 4th Air Division abandoned Echague to join this withdrawal. By the evening of June 13, the 145th finally halted its advance at Santiago, while the 148th Regiment worked to neutralize the remaining Japanese positions at Oriung Pass. With these positions secured, the offensive resumed, resulting in the fall of the Echague airbase on June 14, followed by the occupation of Cauayan two days later. As we can see, neither the 10th Division nor the 2nd Tank Division managed to reach Bagabag in time to impede the American advance; the latter was assembling along the Bambang-Pingkian road. On June 12, the 20th Regiment initiated a southwest drive along this road from Bambang. Two days later, elements of the 126th Regiment began pushing west toward Pingkian from Aritao, thereby applying significant pressure on Iwanaka's beleaguered troops. Meanwhile, the 10th Division had become hopelessly cut off east of Route 5 and had retreated to the Old Spanish Trail south of Aritao. On June 11, the 25th Division launched a two-pronged attack against this isolated group, forcing General Okamoto's remnants to retreat eastward deep into the Sierra Madre. In the meantime, General Clarkson dispatched the 130th Regiment up Route 11, where they encountered the 58th Independent Mixed Brigade, which was only capable of weak resistance. Poor weather conditions hindered the 33rd Division's operations in the following days, but by June 15, elements of the 130th Regiment had swung east along the Baguio-Aritao supply road and reached Ambuclao on the Agno River. To the north, Volckmann continued his offensive throughout June, deploying the 121st Regiment to clear Route 4 and secure the northern half of Lamagan Ridge. The 15th Regiment was tasked with advancing to seize Upper Cadsu Ridge and then moving generally northeast along the south side of Route 4. Additionally, the still-arriving 66th Regiment aimed to secure the area south of Butac and swing to the east on the 15th's right flank. As a result, both Lamagan Ridge and Lower Cadsu Ridge were cleared by June 5, with the 15th Regiment then turning its focus toward Upper Cadsu while the 121st Regiment advanced directly toward Bessang Pass. Volckmann's Provisional Battalion launched an attack on Magun Hill and, after a series of minor setbacks, succeeded in clearing much of the area by June 10. On that day, the 121st Regiment initiated a final assault toward Bessang Pass, advancing from the west and southwest. The following day, the Provisional Battalion began pressing in from the north and northeast. Meanwhile, the 15th Regiment overran the last organized resistance on Upper Cadsu on June 12, just as the 66th Regiment was reaching the southwestern corner of the ridge. Supported by artillery, the 121st finally overcame the last organized defenses at Bessang Pass on June 14, establishing contact with the Provisional Battalion east of the pass. On the same day, the final pockets of opposition crumbled before the 15th and 66th Regiments south of the pass. Consequently, the remnants of Japanese forces fled east along Route 4 toward Cervantes, pursued by elements of the 15th and 121st Regiments, which successfully secured the town before dark on June 15. During this final offensive, the guerrillas suffered losses of 119 men killed and 120 wounded, while exaggerated estimates placed Japanese losses at around 2,600 killed. At the same time, by mid-June, the guerrilla 11th and 14th Regiments had cleared almost all the valley west of the Cagayan River, stretching from Cauayan north to Aparri. They also gained complete control over Route 11 from Bontoc to the valley, effectively preventing the 103rd Division from joining Yamashita's last-stand positions. Meanwhile, the Connolly Task Force, after a largely uneventful march, approached Aparri and began an attack on June 11 to clear the last Japanese forces from the area. The last event forcing Yamashita to alter his plans came on 13 June, when the 6th Division's 63d Infantry began probing northwest up Route 4 from Bagabag. The reconnaissance foreshadowed a push that Yamashita especially feared, since Route 4 provided direct access to the deep Cordillera Central. The 105th Division, with defenses across Route 4 at the Rayambugan Farm School, did not have sufficient strength to hold the highway, Yamashita knew. Recognizing that he could not hope to maintain control along any of the three perimeters he had established in May, Yamashita issued new orders for a strategic withdrawal to a last-stand area. This new perimeter would be set up along the inhospitable valley of the Asin River, positioned between Routes 4 and 11. Accordingly, the orders were as follows: The 105th Division was to retreat from Route 4 to the Pacdan-Antipolo line. The 2nd Tank Division was to move north and hold the line from Tubliao to Antipolo. The 23rd Division was tasked with defending along the Adaoay-Bokod line. The 58th Independent Mixed Brigade was to hold the Agno Valley from Buguias south to Adaoay. The 19th Division was to consolidate the bulk of its forces into the Agno Valley, defending the river line from the Loo Valley south to Buguias. The 79th Brigade was assigned to defend Route 390 at Hapao. Once this last-stand perimeter collapsed, Yamashita planned for all remaining forces to retreat into the barren Asin Valley between Toccucan and Kiangkiang, prepared to fight to the death. The area behind this new last-stand perimeter boasted excellent defensive terrain, and Yamashita estimated that most of his units had sufficient ammunition for machine guns, mortars, and small arms to hold their positions for an extended period. However, the Shobu Group faced dire challenges: they were virtually out of medical supplies, had no clothing stocks, and their food reserves would be completely exhausted by mid-September. If they were not annihilated by the advancing Filipino-American forces, the Shobu Group could only anticipate a slow death by starvation and disease. Now, it's time to shift focus from the Philippines and head to Borneo to cover the preparations for the invasion of Balikpapan, codenamed Operation Oboe II. As the 9th Australian Division completed its tasks in North Borneo, General Milford's 7th Australian Division was assembling at Morotai for the upcoming invasion scheduled for July 1. Milford's plan entailed an amphibious assault on a two-brigade front between the Klandasan Besar River and Klandasan town, where the Japanese had established their strongest defenses.  In June, it was estimated that approximately 3,900 troops were stationed around Balikpapan, composed of: 1,500 in mobile units. 2,400 in anti-aircraft, air force, and base units. Additionally, there were 1,100 Japanese workers, 2,400 Indonesians, and 1,000 Formosans present. Near Samarinda, it was believed there were about 1,500 troops, plus possibly a battalion that had recently arrived from Tarakan. Experience had demonstrated that when estimating the strength of the enemy's resistance, every Japanese and Formosan, whether part of a fighting unit, base unit, or civilian labor group, had to be regarded as a combatant. Key defensive features included: At least 18 coast-defense guns, primarily located on ridges overlooking the sea. 26 heavy dual-purpose guns and 78 medium and light anti-aircraft guns. Offshore, between Klandasan and Manggar, rows of stout poles were driven into the seabed, horizontally braced with timber, and protected with barbed wire. An almost continuous anti-tank ditch, from 12 to 14 feet wide, extended above the beach from Stalkudo to Sepinggang. Extensive trench systems, with many tunnel openings, were detected on the ridges overlooking Klandasan. Numerous concrete strongpoints and a continuous line of bunkers lined the beach's fringe. This area was among the most strongly fortified that the Australians had encountered during the war. Indeed, Air Vice-Marshal Bostock, responsible for air support of the landing, cautioned the Prime Minister in a letter that these meticulously prepared defenses might result in Australian casualties comparable to those experienced during the landing at Gallipoli. It appeared that the Japanese had established their main defenses on the slopes overlooking the beaches from Klandasan to Stalkudo. The Australian staff believed the Japanese would attempt to contain the invaders within their beachhead area for as long as possible, before withdrawing inland, either south to Bandjermasin or overland to Bintulu in Sarawak. Additionally, it was anticipated that the enemy would direct burning oil onto the beach unless the oil tanks were destroyed during the preliminary bombardment. Brigadier Ivan Dougherty's 21st Brigade was to land with one battalion on Green Beach, while Brigadier Frederick Chilton's 18th Brigade would go ashore with two battalions on the Yellow and Red Beaches. Once a beachhead was secured, the 18th Brigade would seize the high ground dominating the town and clear the harbor for use, while the 21st Brigade would advance along the coast to capture the airstrips. Additionally, Brigadier Kenneth Eather's 25th Brigade, held in reserve, was set to land on July 2 with the likely objective of thrusting inland along the Milford Highway. Although Admiral Barbey favored a landing site farther east, possibly at Sepinggang, where their ships could be positioned more safely and further from Japanese coastal defense guns, Milford countered with sound reasoning: “Why land up the coast and have to fight miles through jungle, which suits the enemy, when you can go straight in under heavy supporting fire, which the enemy can't withstand, in comparatively open and favorable country?” Supported by General Morshead, this plan received approval, and by June 16, the 7th Division was successfully assembled at Morotai. Admiral Noble's Task Force 78 would once again transport the Australian troops to the landing area, supported by Rear-Admiral Ralph Riggs' cruiser group and Rear-Admiral William Sample's escort carriers. Against the Japanese defenses, Admiral Kamada's 22nd Special Base Force consisted of approximately 3,900 troops, with 1,500 in mobile units and 2,400 in anti-aircraft, air force, and base units, in addition to an estimated 4,500 laborers. In preparation for the invasion, aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force and the 5th and 13th Air Forces began bombarding enemy defenses and storage tanks on June 4. These attacks intensified a week later as they specifically targeted Japanese gun positions. On June 15, Noble's minesweepers arrived to clear the sea around Balikpapan of magnetic mines, but faced losses, with three ships sunk and three damaged during the operation. Ten days later, American underwater demolition teams began working to locate and breach the underwater obstacles, often under heavy gunfire. To further confuse the enemy, efforts were made to create the impression that the landing would occur at Manggar. This included spreading rumors, landing a reconnaissance party in that area, and demolishing underwater obstacles at both Manggar and Sepinggang. Finally, on June 26, Noble's convoy set sail from Morotai. After an uneventful voyage, they reached Balikpapan unmolested just before dawn on July 1. During the morning, Riggs' cruisers and Noble's destroyers shelled the landing beaches and the defenses behind them, continuing the bombardment until the first waves of landing craft were within 1,300 yards of the shore, at which point the fire shifted to the flanks and rear of the enemy positions. About an hour before the landing, a combined rocket barrage and low-level airstrike were executed, followed by a second rocket barrage just ten minutes before the troops hit the beaches. In total, during the 20 days leading up to the assault, the Balikpapan-Manggar area received 3,000 tons of bombs, 7,361 rockets, 38,052 shells, and 114,000 rounds from automatic weapons, all aimed at crippling the formidable Japanese defenses. Covered by a successful bombardment, the assault waves finally hit the beaches just before 09:00. However, due to navigation errors, the troops were put ashore at the wrong locations. The 2/27th Battalion landed on Yellow Beach instead of Green Beach and quickly captured the Ration, Romilly, Rottnest, and Charlie's Spur positions. The 2/12th Battalion landed on Red Beach instead of Yellow, necessitating a northeast swing to take over Ration and reduce the remaining Japanese defenses in the area. A platoon was also detached to push inland along Vasey Road to seize Portee, while other elements secured Parkes, Plug, and Blyth's Junction. The 2/10th Battalion, correctly landing on Red Beach, rapidly seized the high ground in front of them. Patrols found Prudent and Petersham Junction to be unoccupied. The 2/10th then assembled at Petersham Junction and captured the lower slopes of Hill 87, successfully taking the hill under assault by noon. Meanwhile, Dougherty landed his reserve units, which also came ashore further west than expected on Yellow Beach. The 2/16th Battalion quickly assembled at Ravenshoe and captured Record, Pigeon, and Mount Malang. By 11 a.m. the battalion was on Ravenshoe, whence Malang and Pigeon were visible. Advancing under sharp fire Captain Madigan's company on the left took Record about 4 p.m., killing 46 Japanese. At 4.5 Captain R. H. Christian's company launched a concerted attack on Malang, sup-ported by the fire of artillery, mortars and machine-guns, and using a flame-thrower. The hill was taken and 40 Japanese were killed. The Australians lost four killed, including the leading platoon commander, Lieutenant Armstrong, and 14 wounded. By nightfall the 2/16th held a line through Malang, Pigeon and Record. It had lost 6 killed or died of wounds in the day and 24 wounded; 86 Japanese dead had been counted.  The 2/14th Battalion advanced swiftly to secure a bridgehead over the Klandasan Besar and seized the Stalkudo ridge. The 2/5th Commando Squadron passed through this bridgehead and attacked northeast but encountered heavy opposition. Returning to Hill 87, the 2/10th Battalion assaulted and captured Parramatta in the afternoon, aided by artillery and tanks, while patrols further secured Newcastle and the Cracking Plant by dusk. A patrol led by Sergeant A. A. Evans was sent out from Davey's platoon towards Newcastle. They silenced a bunker with a flame-thrower, and came to a house from which Japanese were firing. They overcame this position with grenades and small arms fire and then moved on to New-castle. As Evans reached Newcastle he saw the surviving Japanese making off towards Portee. Davey's platoon now occupied Newcastle and the other platoon took up positions on Parramatta. The seizure of Parramatta gave the 2/10th observation over the low ground to the north and the northern end of the town, and tied the battalion in with the 2/12th on Portee; the Japanese were now in a very poor position to counter-attack from the western end of the beach-head. Lieutenant Russack of Sanderson's company led a patrol to the Cracking Plant where it silenced a Japanese pill-box. This patrol was strafed by American aircraft, but worse was to follow. At 4.55 American carrier-borne aircraft made a run over Parramatta from the west and dropped bombs and fired rockets across Hill 87, which had then been in the hands of the 2/10th for four hours and a half. Much of this fire landed in the area into which Captain Brocksopp's" company ("D") had moved and where Daly's command post was established. Three were killed, including Lance-Sergeant Hackett, a veteran of several cam-paigns, and 14 wounded, including Major G. R. Miethke and two other officers. Air panels were displayed in all platoon areas after this. Daly decided to hold that night as far forward as Newcastle, on which he placed two platoons plus a platoon of the 2/1st Machine Gun Bat-talion, all under Captain Bowie. In the day the battalion had lost 13 killed and 30 wounded, but 216 Japanese dead were counted. That night 24 more Japanese were killed while trying to penetrate the Australians' positions and no Australian was hit. All night there were fires round about where houses were burning, and the blazing oil tanks on the Tank Plateau 600 yards to the west of the Parramatta ridge lit up the landscape. Finally, Brigadier Chilton also landed the reserve 2/9th Battalion on Red Beach and sent it west in the afternoon to occupy Klandasan town, leading to the capture of Santosa Hill by nightfall. Thus, the Australians successfully landed at Balikpapan and secured a sizable beachhead, marking the beginning of what would become a fierce and challenging battle. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In June 1945, American forces, led by Generals Eichelberger and Krueger, fought fiercely against Japanese troops in Luzon, achieving significant victories despite heavy resistance. The tide turned as they captured key positions, restoring hope to Filipinos. Meanwhile, preparations for the Balikpapan invasion intensified. The 7th Australian Division readied for an amphibious assault on July 1 against well-fortified Japanese defenses. Despite facing strong opposition, the Australians successfully landed at various beaches, seizing vital ground.

A Royal Australian Air Force jet carrying more than 100 Australian citizens trying to escape the conflict in the Middle East has flown out of a major Israeli city after the airspace was opened. But Foreign Minister Penny Wong said assisted departure flights from Iran are still not possible. The evacuations follow a tense week in which Australia backed US strikes on Iran nuclear sites, ahead of a tentative ceasefire.

What if the worst-performing team you've ever seen could become the best—without changing a single person? Today, Peter Winick sits down with Michael Abrashoff, former U.S. Navy captain and author of the mega-bestseller "It's Your Ship: How Great Leaders Inspire Ownership From The Keel Up". Michael shares the extraordinary turnaround story of the USS Benfold—once one of the lowest-ranked ships in the fleet—and how he transformed its culture by focusing on something rare in the military: personal connection. He didn't ask for a new crew. He didn't get a bigger budget. What he did instead? Interviewed all 310 sailors, created personal index cards with their goals, strengths, and passions—and committed to leadership by listening. Peter and Michael dig into the difference between authority and influence, and why so many brilliant technical leaders fail when they're promoted. Michael also explains how he helped shift a culture of compliance into a culture of ownership—one small improvement at a time. You'll hear how his military insights apply directly to boardrooms, sales teams, pharma execs, and even Boilermakers. And why the top five reasons people leave organizations haven't changed in 25 years! This conversation is a masterclass in practical leadership. Because whether you're running a ship or a startup, the most powerful tool you have isn't command—it's connection. Three Key Takeaways: • Connection Drives Performance – Leaders who invest time in personally understanding their team members build trust, loyalty, and higher performance without needing more resources or authority. • Small Improvements Compound – A mindset of daily 1% improvements can lead to transformational change, even within rigid systems like the military. • Respect and Listening Are Retention Tools – People don't leave organizations for money alone; they leave when they don't feel valued, heard, or developed—making culture a strategic priority. If you found value in our conversation on leadership transformation and culture change, you'll want to check out our episode with Christian "Boo" Boucousis, a former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot turned CEO and thought leader. Boo shares how he applied military precision and adaptability to navigate the challenges of transitioning Afterburner, a global consultancy of elite military professionals, into the virtual realm during the pandemic. His insights on converting information into wisdom, engaging audiences across modalities, and leading with agility offer a compelling complement to our discussion on building high-performing teams through connection and ownership. Tune in to discover how discipline, curiosity, and emotional resonance can elevate your thought leadership to new heights.

Last time we spoke about the fall of Iwo Jima. General Schmidt pushed through Japanese defenses, facing strongholds like Cushman's Pocket and General Senda's positions, with intense fighting and heavy casualties on both sides. Despite stubborn resistance, the Marines gradually advanced, employing tanks and artillery support. The Japanese, under General Kuribayashi, fought tenaciously, culminating in a final assault on March 26. After brutal combat, Iwo Jima was declared secured, but at great cost: 18,000 Japanese and over 6,800 American lives lost. Meanwhile, in New Britain, Australian forces continued their offensive, capturing strategic positions despite fierce enemy resistance. In the midst of a fierce conflict, Australian battalions advanced into enemy territory, capturing strategic positions while facing heavy resistance. Notable victories included the successful ambushes by the 2/7th Battalion and the capture of key locations like the But airfield. Despite facing fierce counterattacks from the Japanese, particularly at Slater's Knoll, the Australians maintained their momentum. As the Japanese command faced internal crises, the Australians continued their relentless push, ultimately leading to significant territorial gains and weakening enemy forces. This episode is the Visayas Offensive Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  Within northern Luzon, by mid-March, General Clarkson's 33rd Division was exploring the western routes to Baguio. Colonel Volckmann's guerrilla unit had taken control of San Fernando and was engaged in combat around Cervantes. Meanwhile, General Mullins' 25th Division had advanced to Putlan, and General Gill's 32nd Division was involved in a fierce battle at Salacsac Pass. Following the capture of Putlan, General Swift instructed Mullins to push through Balete Pass to secure the vital Santa Fe region. On March 12, the 27th and 161st Regiments began advancing north and northwest, successfully clearing the Minuli area and establishing a foothold on Norton Ridge by March 15. At the same time, the 35th Regiment initiated a broad maneuver around Balete Pass via the Old Spanish Road, but this was soon hindered by intense artillery and mortar fire from the positions of the 11th Independent Regiment. The road also required significant engineering efforts to support the outflanking force, leading Mullins to ultimately halt the 35th's assault. However, General Konuma was unaware of this; fearing an outflanking maneuver from Carranglan, he had no choice but to keep around 3,000 of his best troops in this seemingly secure area. On March 15, Mullins ordered the reinforced 161st Regiment to launch a holding attack to the north while the majority of the 27th Regiment executed a flanking maneuver over Myoko Ridge, Mount Myoko, and Lone Tree Hill to encircle Balete Pass from the east. After regrouping at Putlan, the 35th was also tasked with capturing Mount Kabuto to subsequently advance northwest along Balete Ridge and connect with the 27th at Myoko. Mullins launched a renewed offensive on March 16, facing stubborn resistance from the 161st as it gradually advanced toward Norton's Knob, which was successfully captured by the end of the month. On March 22, the 27th began its flanking maneuver, with the 1st Battalion moving east into the elevated terrain south of Kapintalan by March 28, while the 2nd Battalion advanced nearly 3,750 yards up the wooded Myoko Ridge to the east. Meanwhile, the 35th's attempt to encircle the enemy via Kabuto started off well, reaching the northern slope of Balete Ridge on March 22. However, Konuma's recently arrived reinforcements launched a series of strong counterattacks and harassment raids, forcing the 35th to withdraw by March 28. With the other two regiments stretched thin and unable to penetrate the enemy's main defenses, Mullins ordered the 35th to position itself between the 27th and 161st Regiments to assault Highley Ridge from the east. By the end of March, the 161st was advancing northeast along Highley Ridge toward Crump Hill, which finally fell on April 8, bringing the advance to a halt. The 35th supported this effort with an attack on Kapintalan, which was ultimately captured by April 21. Meanwhile, the 27th continued to struggle through the challenging terrain of Myoko Ridge against fierce opposition, not reaching Woody Hill until April 12. This slow progress allowed Konuma to reinforce the Myoko sector with four understrength infantry battalions. Nevertheless, the brave soldiers of the 27th Regiment persevered, securing the Pimple on April 15 and advancing an additional 350 yards northeast by April 21. Looking west, Clarkson aimed to advance battalion combat teams toward Baguio via Route 11, the Galiano road, and the Tuba Trail. However, Swift declined to approve such ambitious plans, limiting the 33rd Division to a more restrained offensive. Although dissatisfied, Clarkson continued the attack along Route 11, managing to reach Camp 3 by the end of March. In the central area, patrols faced no opposition as they approached within a mile of Galiano, but other patrols discovered increasing signs that the Japanese were preparing to defend the Tuba Trail vigorously. Eventually, a robust reconnaissance force secured Bauang on March 19, with patrols then moving east to occupy Naguilan four days later and Burgos by the month's end. Meanwhile, at Salacsac Pass, the 127th Regiment fought from Hill 502 to Hill 504 against fierce resistance, while Gill sent the 2nd Battalion, 128th Regiment up the trail from Valdez toward Imugan, where they were ultimately halted by vigilant Japanese forces. By March 23, the 1st Battalion of the 127th Regiment reached the crest of Hill 504; the 2nd Battalion advanced past it to Hill 505; and the 3rd Battalion managed to position one company at the base of Hill 507D. However, with its forces stretched thin and dwindling, the 127th was unable to capitalize on its seemingly advantageous position, allowing General Iwanaka to launch a strong counterattack on Hill 507D that successfully repelled the 3rd Battalion. As a result, Gill decided to withdraw that unit and the stalled 2nd Battalion, 128th Regiment, while the majority of the 128th relieved the 127th in the Hill 502 sector. Beginning on March 25, the 128th Regiment advanced aggressively eastward, successfully capturing the previously overlooked Hill 503, fully securing Hill 504, and expanding its control over Hill 505 by the month's end. However, on the night of March 31, Iwanaka launched a daring counterattack, reclaiming Hill 504 and nearly taking all the territory east of Hill 502. By April 4, both the 127th and 128th Regiments had sustained significant casualties and could no longer continue the offensive. Consequently, Swift had to order the 33rd Division to relieve the beleaguered 126th Regiment in the Ambayabang and Arboredo River valleys, allowing this unit to reposition north of the Villa Verde Trail to execute a flanking maneuver along the Miliwit River valley. Fortunately for Clarkson, General Krueger persuaded MacArthur to free the 129th Regiment from its duties in Manila, sending it to bolster the now overstretched 33rd Division. Once the rest of the 37th Division arrived at the Baguio front, which Krueger anticipated would happen in early April, Swift could initiate a two-division assault on Baguio. In the meantime, Clarkson promptly dispatched the 129th to Burgos, and by April 1, it had advanced to Salat.  The Japanese opposing the reinforced 33d Division were no longer in the shape they had been at the end of February. The 58th IMB and the 23d Division had both suffered heavy losses during March, losses that probably stemmed largely from lack of food and medical supplies rather than from combat action. By mid-March Japanese supply problems on the Baguio front had progressed from bad through worse to impossible. First, supplies had moved westward over the new Baguio-Aritao supply road far more slowly than anticipated, a development attributable in large measure to Allied Air Forces strikes on that road and along Route 5 north and south of Aritao. Second, operations of the 66th Infantry, along Route 11 north from Baguio, and the activities of the 11th Infantry, , in the Cagayan Valley, had made it virtually impossible for the Japanese to bring any food into the Baguio area from the north. Third, the Japanese tried to do too much with the limited amount of supplies available on the Baguio front. They were attempting to supply 23d Division and 58th IMB troops along the MLR; send certain military supplies north up Route 11 for the 19th Division; feed 14th Area Army headquarters and a large civilian population in Baguio; and establish supply dumps north and east of the city against the time of eventual withdrawal. Almost inevitably the principal sufferers were the front-line troops. By mid-March the best-fed Japanese combat troops on the Baguio front were getting less than half a pound of rice per day as opposed to a minimum daily requirement of nearly two and a half pounds. Before the end of the month the troops on the MLR were down to less than a quarter of a pound of rice a day. Starvation and diet-associated diseases filled hospitals and sapped the strength of the combat units. Generally, effective frontline strength was far lower than reported ration strength indicated. Medical supplies were consumed rapidly, and by the end of March, for example, there was virtually no malaria phophylaxis left in Baguio area hospitals. Looking upon the situation on the Baguio front with frank pessimism, Yamashita in mid-March directed inspection of terrain north, northeast, and east of the city with a view toward preparing a new defense line. His attitude became even plainer when, on or about 30 March, he ordered Japanese civilians and the Filipino puppet government to evacuate Baguio. Indeed, the future on the Baguio front was so bleak by the end of March that almost any other army would have withdrawn to new defenses forthwith, thereby saving troops for future battle. But not so the Japanese. Yamashita decided that the existing MLR would be held until the situation became hopeless. At the end of March that portion of the MLR held by the 23d Division was still intact, and the 58th IMB was busy deploying additional strength along its section of the line. One independent infantry battalion was on high ground north of Route 9 at Sablan; and another held defenses at Sablan. A reinforced company was at Burgos and, less that company, another independent infantry battalion held reserve positions at Calot, a mile and a half southeast of Sablan. One understrength battalion was responsible for defending the rough terrain from Sablan six miles south to Mt. Apni, where a tie-in was made with the right flank of the 23d Division. Maj. Gen. Bunzo Sato, commanding the 58th IMB, expected that the emphasis of any Allied drive in his sector would come along Route 9, but he did not neglect the other approach in his area, the Galiano road. Since the understrength battalion stationed astride the road was not strong enough to withstand a concerted attack, he directed his main reserve force, the 1st Battalion of the 75th Infantry, 19th Division, to move west out of Baguio to defenses at Asin. This step left in Baguio a reserve force of roughly three provisional infantry "battalions," which together probably could not muster over 750 effectives. In the Salacsac area, as casualties in the western pass were rapidly increasing and Allied air and artillery strikes made it nearly impossible for the 2nd Tank Division to transport supplies, Iwanaka concluded that his forward positions were nearly untenable. He began planning to redeploy forces to defend the eastern pass. Consequently, when the 126th Regiment launched its new offensive on April 5, it faced unexpectedly light resistance, quickly capturing Hills 518 and 519 within two days and cutting off a Japanese supply route leading north from Hill 504 across the eastern slopes of Hill 519 and up Mount Imugan. However, Iwanaka swiftly recognized the emerging threats and sent reinforcements to intercept the 126th's advance, delaying the capture of Hills 511 and 512 until March 13 and effectively halting further progress. At the same time, the reorganized 128th Regiment resumed its assault eastward on April 7, successfully retaking the Hill 504-505 sector and capturing Hill 506 by April 10. The following week, the 128th fought tenaciously to secure this elevated ground against fierce resistance, managing to push all the way to Hills 506B, 507C, and 507D with their remaining strength, nearly securing the western pass by April 17. Meanwhile, after the fall of San Fernando, General Krueger instructed Volckmann to advance inland along Route 4 toward Bontoc. However, the Provisional Battalion established at Cervantes could only withstand the relentless enemy pressure until April 4, when it was ultimately forced to retreat into the hills northwest of the town. Consequently, Volckmann had to quickly deploy the 121st Regiment to barrio Butac in preparation for an eastward push along Route 4. After a week of intense back-and-forth combat, this elite guerrilla unit succeeded in establishing footholds along the northern parts of Lamagan and Yubo Ridges. Over the next few days, the 121st made slow and arduous progress, ultimately gaining control of Route 4 nearly to the southeastern edge of Bessang Pass by mid-April. Further south, by mid-March, General Wing's 43rd Division had effectively secured the Antipolo sector, while General Hurdis' 6th Division was advancing well toward Mount Baytangan. At this point, General Hall's 11th Corps assumed responsibility for operations against the Shimbu Group, now rebranded as the 41st Army. However, he quickly decided to maintain the offensive against General Yokoyama's left flank, with the 20th and 1st Regiments focusing on an eastward push alongside the 43rd Division. Meanwhile, General Noguchi had completed his withdrawal to the Sugarloaf Hill-Mount Tanauan line, where he would receive reinforcements from elements of the Kogure Detachment. Simultaneously, General Kobayashi was struggling to stabilize his left flank, bolstered by one reserve battalion. On the morning of March 15, the American offensive resumed, with the 103rd Regiment continuing its assaults on Benchmark 7 Hill to secure Route 60-A, while the 172nd Regiment launched its initial attacks toward Sugarloaf Hill, facing fierce resistance. On March 17, the 1st Regiment renewed its advance toward Baytangan, initially making good progress and digging in about a mile west-southwest of the mountain's summit. However, during the night, a barrage of mortar fire followed by an infantry counterattack forced the Americans to retreat in disarray. As a result of this setback, the 1st Division began to advance eastward more cautiously, facing determined resistance and heavy mortar fire. By March 22, it was only slightly closer to Baytangan's crest than it had been five days earlier. The 20th Regiment on the left also encountered strong resistance, managing to reach a point a mile and a half west of Baytangan by March 22. At the same time, a company maneuvering to the north established a foothold on a wooded ridge overlooking the Bosoboso Valley. Meanwhile the 103d Infantry finally overran the defenses on Benchmark 7 on 18 March, killing about 250 Japanese in the process. The Japanese battalion there had delayed the 103d's attack toward Mt. Tanauan until the morning of 18 March, but by evening of that day the regiment's troops had begun swarming up the bare, rocky, southern and southwestern slopes of the mountain. Over the next three days, American forces slowly advanced through a complex of caves and bunkers until they secured the mountain's summit, while other units captured Benchmark 23 Hill and patrolled northward into the southeastern part of the Bosoboso Valley. By March 19, the 172nd Division was halted, containing Sugarloaf to the west. They bypassed it to the north and east, initiating new assaults toward Mounts Yabang and Caymayuman, making significant progress to the east but less so to the north by March 22. Despite concerns that Hall's four exhausted regiments might lack the strength to turn the 41st Army's left flank, the ongoing pressure and the failure of previous counterattacks ultimately compelled Yokoyama to order his threatened units to withdraw to new positions east of the Bosoboso River. Therefore, when the 6th and 43rd Divisions resumed their attacks on the morning of March 23, the withdrawal was already in full progress. Over the next three days, the 1st and 20th Regiments faced only scattered and disorganized resistance, allowing them to establish positions over a mile north and south of Baytangan along the ridgeline that overlooks the Bosoboso Valley. Meanwhile, the 172nd Regiment successfully captured Mount Yabang and most of Mount Caymayuman, while the 103rd Regiment advanced quickly northward, taking barrio New Bosoboso, Mount Balidbiran, and Benchmark 21 Hill. On March 27, the 1st Regiment secured the crest of Baytangan, and the 172nd Regiment eliminated the last organized opposition at Sugarloaf Hill. With Yokoyama's left flank collapsing, Hall could focus on capturing Wawa Dam and destroying the remaining elements of the Kobayashi Force west of the Bosoboso River, a mission assigned to the 6th Division. During this initial offensive, approximately 7,000 Japanese soldiers were killed since February 20, while American casualties included 435 killed and 1,425 wounded. Hurdis' initial strategy for capturing Wawa Dam involved the 1st and 20th Regiments advancing northward to clear Woodpecker Ridge and Mount Mataba, while the 63rd Regiment conducted diversionary attacks on the western slopes of Mataba. This new offensive began on March 28 but quickly faced intense small arms, machine-gun, and mortar fire, leading to a back-and-forth struggle against fierce enemy resistance. By April 3, the 20th Regiment had advanced less than half a mile toward Mataba, and the 1st Regiment had gained only 250 yards to the north. General Hurdis had hoped his attack, directed against the Kobayashi Force southern flank, would be far more successful, but the Kobayashi Force, rapidly and efficiently, had reoriented its defenses, which it had laid out primarily to face an attack from the west. The force's two remaining provisional infantry regiments, the Central and Right Sector Units, were still relatively intact, and the Central Sector Unit, bearing the brunt of the 6th Division's offensive, had recently been reinforced by remnants of the Left Sector Unit and elements of the Shimbu Group Reserve. Other factors bearing on the 6th Division's slow progress were the declining strength and deteriorating combat efficiency of its infantry regiments. The 20th Infantry could muster only 2,085 effectives on 3 April; some of its rifle companies were reduced to the combat strength of platoons. The situation within the 1st Infantry, with an effective strength of 2,150, was little better. As of 3 April the commanders of both regiments rated their units' combat efficiency only as "fair," the lowest ranking of three terms each had employed since the Lingayen Gulf assault.To bolster protection for Hurdis' right flank, the 103rd Regiment also captured Hill 1200 on the east bank of the Bosoboso River by the end of the month. Due to the slow progress of Hurdis' offensive, on April 5, Hall assigned General Cunningham's Baldy Force, which consisted of the 112th Cavalry Regiment and the recently arrived 169th Regiment, to take control of the area north of Mount Oro. This move would free up most of the 63rd Regiment to support the 20th Regiment and continue the assault north toward Mataba, while the 1st Regiment maintained its position along Woodpecker Ridge. From April 6 to 9, the 63rd made only limited progress to the east; however, on April 10, it shifted its focus to an offensive on the western slopes of Mataba, quickly securing the southwestern quarter of the mountain with minimal resistance. In response, Kobayashi promptly redirected his forces back to Mataba from the north-south ridge to prevent the 63rd from reaching the mountain's summit until April 17. At the same time, the 1st Regiment resumed its advance along Woodpecker Ridge but again faced strong enemy opposition, resulting in only limited gains. Looking further south, by March 23, the 187th Glider Regiment and the 511th Parachute Regiment had advanced to Santo Tomas and Tanauan but were unable to completely clear these areas. Meanwhile, the 158th Regiment secured Balayan, Batangas, and the Calumpan Peninsula, pushing toward Mount Macolod, where they were ultimately halted by significant forces from the Fuji Force. At this stage, as Krueger planned to launch an offensive into the Bicol Peninsula using the 158th, he needed to relieve the 11th Airborne Division with the barely rested 1st Cavalry Division. This division quickly took control of the Santo Tomas-Tanauan area, while General Swing's units maneuvered around the west side of Lake Taal to relieve the 158th at Macolod. As a result, General Griswold renewed his offensive on March 24. The 187th attempted to attack Macolod but was unsuccessful. A task force composed of units from Swing's other two regiments advanced quickly north toward Lipa, only to be halted at the hills southeast of the town. The 8th Cavalry captured Santo Tomas after a fierce battle and took Tanauan two days later. The 7th Cavalry advanced about five miles east into the corridor between Mounts Maquiling and Malepunyo, while the 12th Cavalry pushed along Route 21, moving about four miles beyond Los Baños. On March 27, Swing's task force finally overcame the enemy defenses southeast of Lipa, but it was the 8th Cavalry that ultimately secured this strategic town two days later. Griswold's successful offensive also forced around 2,000 troops from the Fuji Force to retreat along Route 21 and through the Santa Maria Valley to join Yokoyama's forces in the mountains east of Manila. In response, Krueger devised a plan to prevent the potential influx of Japanese reinforcements around the eastern and northern shores of Laguna de Bay. He instructed Hall to clear the northern shore of the lake, block the Santa Maria Valley, and secure Route 21. While the 187th continued its assault on Macolod, Griswold ordered his other units to push eastward to secure Laguna de Bay and Tayabas Bay. Accordingly, on March 30, the 103rd Regiment advanced in small increments along the northern shore of Laguna de Bay, reaching Siniloan by April 4. The 12th Cavalry moved to Calauan and then south along a secondary road toward San Pablo, encountering strong enemy positions that wouldn't be overcome until April 5. The 5th and 7th Cavalry Regiments fought through the Maquiling-Malepunyo corridor against determined but disorganized Japanese resistance, successfully occupying San Pablo by April 2. Additionally, elements of the 188th Glider Regiment pushed east through the mountain corridors, reaching Tiaong on April 3 and Lucena three days later. By April 6, the 5th Cavalry and the 103rd Regiment had established contact at Pagsanjan, effectively isolating the 41st Army. The next day, patrols from the 11th Airborne Division headed north from Lucena, while 1st Cavalry Division patrols departed from Pagsanjan heading south. They successfully linked up at Lucban by April 10 and then advanced eastward to Mauban. At the same time, a company from the 188th traveled along Route 1 across the Bondoc Isthmus, reaching Atimonan on April 11. Griswold's patrols also moved towards Mount Malepunyo, where the Fuji Force was preparing for its final stand. By April 16, preliminary assaults had concentrated enemy resistance around Mount Mataasna-Bundoc. Meanwhile, after a week of intense aerial bombardment, Brigadier-General Hanford MacNider's 158th Regiment successfully landed at Legaspi Port with minimal opposition on April 1. They quickly secured the port and the nearby airfield, then advanced to Daraga before moving south along Route 1 to occupy the Sorsogon Peninsula, where they encountered machine-gun fire from the Mount Bariway-Busay Ridge. The following morning, the troops had to retreat east of Daraga, and in the coming days, the 158th faced tough fighting in the challenging, jungle terrain to overcome resistance in the Daraga area. Concerned about delays in occupying the Sorsogon Peninsula, MacNider landed his anti-tank company at Bacon on April 6, which occupied Sorsogon without opposition. Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion continued its overland advance, reaching Bulan by April 12, where they targeted a significant Japanese concentration. Simultaneously, MacNider's other two battalions attacked Camalig on April 11 and began their unsuccessful assault on enemy positions in the Cituinan Hills. By April 1, the 188th had successfully eliminated the last organized resistance in the rugged hills south of Ternate. Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion of the 151st Regiment launched an assault on Caballo Island on March 27 but could not fully dismantle the entrenched enemy positions until April 13. The Japanese in the pits and tunnels created an almost insoluble problem for the 2d Battalion, 151st Infantry. The Japanese had so emplaced their weapons, which included machine guns and mortars, that they controlled all approaches to the mortar pits but could not be reached by American artillery or mortar fire. When the 151st Infantry concentrated its mortar fire against the pits' entrances, the Japanese simply withdrew into the tunnels. When the American fire ceased--at the last possible moment before an infantry assault--the Japanese rushed out of the tunnels to man their weapons. Tanks were of no help to the American troops. From positions near the rim of the pits the tanks were unable to depress their guns sufficiently to do much damage to the Japanese. If the tanks tried to approach from above, they started sliding down Hill 2's slopes into the pits. No combination of tank, artillery, and infantry action proved of any avail, and the 151st Infantry had to give up its attempts to take the Japanese positions by assault. On 31 March engineers tried to pour diesel oil into one of the tunnels connecting the mortar pits, employing for this purpose a single ventilator shaft that was accessible to the 151st Infantry. Nothing came of the effort since it was impossible to get enough oil up the steep slopes of the hill to create a conflagration of significant proportions within the tunnels. Nevertheless, burning the Japanese out seemed to promise the only method of attack that would not risk the unduly heavy casualties of a direct infantry assault. No one, of course, wanted to throw away the lives of experienced troops on such an insignificant objective. Finally, the commander of the 113th Engineers, 38th Division, suggested pumping oil up the hill from the beach through a pipeline from a ship or landing craft anchored at the shore line. The Allied Naval Forces happily fell in with this idea and supplied the 151st Infantry with two oil-filled ponton cubes; the Allied Air Forces provided a 110-horsepower pump and necessary lengths of pipeline and flexible hosing; and the 592d Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment came through with an LCM to carry the pump and the ponton cubes. On 5 April over 2,500 gallons of diesel fuel were pumped into the pits and tunnels through the ventilator and were then ignited by white phosphorus mortar shells. "Results," the 38th Division reported, "were most gratifying." A huge flash fire ensued, followed by a general conflagration and several explosions. The engineers repeated the process on 6 and 7 April, and on the latter day carefully lowered two large demolition charges through the ventilator shaft and placed another at an accessible tunnel entrance. Set off simultaneously, the three charges caused an enormous volume of flames and several terrific explosions. For the next few days the 2d Battalion, 151st Infantry, tried to persuade a few Japanese who had lived through the holocausts to surrender and also executed a few infantry probing attacks. On 13 April a patrol entered the pits and tunnels, killed the lone surviving Japanese, and reported the positions cleared and secured. Following this, El Fraile was targeted, with Company F of the 151st and the 113th Engineers effectively neutralizing Fort Drum using gasoline and explosives. On April 16, troops from the 1st Battalion of the 151st Regiment attacked Carabao Island, facing no opposition. Looking towards the Visayas, after capturing Palawan and Zamboanga, General Eichelberger set his sights on the Sulu Archipelago, where new airfields were to be established. On March 16, a reinforced company from the 162nd Regiment landed unopposed on Basilan Island and spent the next two days searching Basilan and nearby islets, finding no signs of Japanese forces. On April 2, the reinforced 2nd Battalion of the 163rd Regiment landed on Sanga Sanga Island, successfully clearing the Tawi Tawi Group by April 6. The remainder of the regiment made an unopposed landing near Jolo Town on April 9. Over the next two days, the Americans drove approximately 2,400 men of the 55th Independent Mixed Brigade from the heights immediately south and southeast of the town to secure a nearby airstrip. However, the Japanese retreated to more fortified hill masses further inland, where they had long prepared their defenses and began to resist fiercely. After initial attacks by Colonel Alejandro Suarez's guerrillas failed to breach the Japanese positions, the 1st Battalion of the 163rd Regiment joined the fight and managed to overrun the enemy defenses by April 22. On April 25, the 3rd Battalion launched an assault on Lieutenant-General Suzuki Tetsuzo's final positions at Mount Tumatangus, which were ultimately subdued by May 2. However, the remaining Japanese forces continued to engage in guerrilla warfare. By this time, airfields in Zamboanga and Sanga Sanga had become operational to support the forthcoming invasion of Borneo.The first field at Zamboanga was a dry-weather strip 5000 feet long, completed on March 15 and immediately put to use by Marine Corps planes. The field, named Calarian Drome, could not answer the need for an all-weather strip 6000 feet long. Accordingly, engineers constructed a new strip, which the Marine aviators based there called Moret Field, about a mile to the east, and had it ready for all-weather operations by May 16. Used primarily by Marine Air Groups 12, 24, and 32, Moret Field was also employed by a 13th Air Force night-fighter squadron, an emergency rescue squadron, and 13th Air Force B-24s and P-38s staging through for strikes against Borneo. Marine Corps planes on March 16 executed the first support mission flown from a field in the Zamboanga area, covering the landing on Basilan Island. Later, Marine Corps planes from Zamboanga flew support for the Tawi Tawi and Jolo operations and undertook pre-assault bombardment and cover for the invasion of eastern Mindanao. While 13th Air Force planes executed most of the support for the invasion of Borneo, Marine Corps B-25s from Zamboanga also flew some missions. At Sanga Sanga Island there was a Japanese coral-surfaced strip about 2800 feet long. Engineers repaired and extended this strip to a length of 5000 feet by May 2, when fighters of the 13th Air Force began moving to Sanga Sanga from Palawan to provide close support for the initial landings on Borneo. These US Army planes were replaced in mid-May by units of the Royal Australian Air Force, which employed the all-weather Sanga Sanga field during later operations on Borneo. Finally, a Japanese field 3800 feet long on Jolo Island was repaired and used for aerial supply and evacuation operations in support of ground troops throughout the Sulu Archipelago. Eichelberger's next target was the Central Visayan Islands. For the Panay-Guimaras-northern Negros operation, codenamed Victor I, he assigned General Brush's 40th Division, excluding the 108th Regiment, which had recently been assigned to Leyte. The 40th Division departed Lingayen Gulf on March 15 aboard ships from Admiral Struble's Task Group 78.3. After a brief stop at Mindoro, they arrived at Panay before dawn on March 18. Following a short bombardment by destroyers, the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 185th Regiment landed unopposed about twelve miles west of Iloilo, where they were joined by Colonel Macario Peralta's guerrillas, who already controlled much of the island. The 185th quickly expanded its beachhead against light, scattered resistance and began advancing along the coastal road toward Iloilo in the afternoon, forcing the 170th Independent Battalion to retreat to the mountainous interior. With Iloilo secured by March 20, G Company of the 185th Regiment successfully captured Inampulugan Island on March 22, while other elements of the regiment cleared the unoccupied Guimaras Island by March 23. Additionally, Brush decided to assign the 2nd Battalion of the 160th Regiment to garrison Panay alongside Peralta's guerrillas. No pursuit of the 170th Independent Battalion was made, allowing the Japanese to continue their guerrilla activities until the end of the war. Meanwhile, for the operation against northern Negros, Brush planned to launch an assault with the 185th Regiment on March 29, followed by the majority of the 160th Regiment the next day, while keeping the 503rd Parachute Regiment in reserve for potential airdrops. Opposing him, Lieutenant-General Kono Takeshi's 77th Brigade had a total of 15,000 troops but was prepared to retreat into the mountains of north-central Negros for a prolonged defense, leaving only token forces in the coastal plain to delay American advances. On March 29, the 185th Regiment landed unopposed near Pulupandan and quickly secured a bridge over the Bago River. The 185th then spread north and east, with the 160th Regiment following, successfully securing nearly the entire coastal plain of northwestern Negros by noon on April 2. As they closed in on Kono's inner fortress, the Americans overran the main Japanese outposts while the 511th was landed to bolster the assault. On April 9, Brush launched his general offensive, with his three regiments advancing slowly into rugged terrain where the Japanese held significant defensive advantages.  On June 4 General Kono, realizing that his remaining forces were incapable of further sustained effort, directed a general withdrawal deep into the mountains behind his broken defensive lines. The surviving Japanese dispersed into small groups seeking food and hideouts and trying to avoid contact with Colonel Abcede's guerrillas who, under the direction of the 503rd Parachute Regiment, took over responsibility for the pursuit of Kono's men. On June 9 the 503rd then relieved all elements of the 40th Division in northern Negros. By that date the Japanese had lost over 4000 men killed. Kono lost another 3350 troops, mainly from starvation and disease, before the end of the war. After the general surrender in August 1945, over 6150 Japanese came down from the mountains to turn themselves in, joining about 350 others who had been captured earlier. In all, about 7100 Japanese lost their lives in northern Negros, pinning down the equivalent of an American infantry division for over two months. The 40th Division's casualties for the operation, including those of the attached 503rd Parachute, totaled approximately 370 men killed and 1035 wounded. Meanwhile, Eichelberger's final objective in the Central Visayas was Cebu, assigned to Major-General William Arnold's Americal Division. For Operation Victor II, Captain Albert Sprague's Task Group 78.2 was set to land the bulk of the division at Cebu City while Colonel James Cushing's guerrillas secured the water sources. Opposing them were Rear-Admiral Harada Kaku's 33rd Naval Special Base Force and Major-General Manjome Takeo's 78th Brigade, which together comprised approximately 14,500 troops, including the 173rd Independent Battalion and the 36th Naval Guard Unit stationed at Cebu City. Additionally, around 750 soldiers from General Kataoka's 1st Division were positioned in northern Cebu. Although the command situation on the island was chaotic, General Suzuki's 35th Army headquarters in Leyte had been evacuated by two large motorized landing barges between March 17 and 25. Taking control of all forces on Cebu, Suzuki appointed Manjome as the de jure commander in the Cebu City area while leaving Kataoka in charge of northern Cebu, as he prepared to retreat to Mindanao. General Manjome designed his defenses so as to control--not hold--the coastal plains around Cebu City, and for this purpose set up defenses in depth north and northwest of the city. A forward line, constituting an outpost line of resistance, stretched across the first rising ground behind the city hills 2.5 to 4 miles inland. A stronger and shorter second line, the main line of resistance, lay about a mile farther inland and generally 350 feet higher into the hills. Back of this MLR were Manjome's last-stand defenses, centering in rough, broken hills 5 miles or so north of the city. Anticipating that American forces would attempt to mount wide envelopments of his defensive lines, Manjome set up one flank protective strongpoint in rugged, bare hills about 3.5 miles north of barrio Talisay, on the coast about 6 miles southwest of Cebu City, to block the valley of the Mananga River, a natural axis of advance for forces enveloping from the south and west. Similarly, he established strongpoints on his left to block the valley of the Butuanoan River, roughly 4 miles northeast of Cebu City. Against the eventuality that the American invading forces might land north of Cebu City and strike into the Butuanoan Valley, Manjome set up another flank protective position in low hills overlooking the beach at Liloan, 10 miles northeast of Cebu City. Manjome did not intend to hold the beaches, but at both Talisay and Liloan, the best landing points in the Cebu City region, he thoroughly mined all logical landing areas. The Japanese also constructed tank barriers along the shore line and planted tank traps and minefields along all roads leading inland and toward Cebu City. The inner defense lines were a system of mutually supporting machine-gun positions in caves, pillboxes, and bunkers. Many of these positions had been completed for months and had acquired natural camouflage. Manjome's troops had an ample supply of machine guns and machine cannon and, like the Japanese on Negros, employed remounted aircraft and anti-aircraft weapons. Manjome had some light and heavy mortars, but only a few pieces of light artillery. For the rest, however, Manjome's forces were far better supplied than Kono's troops in northern Negros. After an uneventful journey, Task Group 78.2 and the Americal Division arrived off Cebu in the early hours of March 26. Following an hour of bombardment by three light cruisers and six destroyers from Admiral Berkey's Task Force 74, the leading waves of the 132nd and 182nd Regiments landed unopposed on beaches just north of Talisay at 08:30. However, the landing was chaotic, as Japanese mines just a few yards beyond the surf line disabled ten of the first fifteen LVTs. Fortunately for the Americans, Manjome had chosen to withdraw from the beaches to establish inland defenses, resulting in minimal casualties. Once they cleared the beach minefields by 10:00, Arnold's leading units cautiously advanced through abandoned defenses toward the main highway to Cebu City, ultimately stopping for the night about a mile and a half south of their objective. The following day, the infantry secured Cebu City without opposition and on March 28 proceeded to clear Lahug Airfield and Hill 30 to the north. The Americans began their assault on Go Chan Hill on March 29, during which Company A of the 182nd Regiment was completely annihilated by the explosion of an ammunition dump located in caves along the hill's eastern spur. Fueled by a desire for revenge, nearly the entire 182nd returned to the attack on March 30 and successfully captured Go Chan Hill. Meanwhile, the 132nd Regiment cleared the coastal plains area north to the Butuanoan River, further securing the city's water supply sources by April 2. Unopposed, troops from the 132nd also successfully landed on Mactan Island, quickly securing an airstrip. In the meantime, as guerrillas had already taken control of much of Masbate, the 2nd Battalion of the 108th Regiment successfully landed on the island by April 7. Facing minimal opposition, the Americans pursued the scattered Japanese remnants through the hills and jungles of Masbate, killing approximately 120 Japanese soldiers by May 4.   I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. On March 29th, the Americans attacked Go Chan Hill, suffering heavy losses. Seeking revenge, they captured it the next day, securing water supplies and defeating Japanese forces in Masbate. Then in April, Allied forces advanced strategically, overcoming fierce Japanese resistance, securing key positions, and establishing airfields, culminating in significant victories across the Philippines.

Send us a textOn today's Zero Limits Podcast I chat with John Armfield Clearance Diver from the Royal Australian Navy.John enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy in 2003 and served just over 20 years predominantly as a Clearance Diver. During his service John deployed on multiple operations including Operation Slipper with 5/7 RAR as part of the Explosive Ordinates Disposal team with army engineers.Further to John's story, his brother Andrew joined the Australian army in 2001 deploying to East Timor as an infantryman and then later service transfer to the Royal Australian Airforce. In 2011 Andrew's mental health had declined and he committed suicide and where this story goes south is John only found out about the existence of an internal report into his brother's death 10 years after the traumatic event. John presented to the Royal Commission about serious failures he encountered in the ADF's treatment of his brother and spoke about a hostile culture as he grappled with the circumstances of Andrew's death. www.3zeroscoffee.com.auInstargram @3zeroscoffee Discount Code 3ZLimits Website - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=enHost - Matty Morris www.instagram.com/matty.m.morrisSponsorsGatorz Australia - www.gatorzaustralia.com15% Discount Code - ZERO15(former/current military & first responders 20% discount to order please email orders@gatorzaustralia.com.auGetSome Jocko Fuel - www.getsome.com.au10 % Discount Code - ZEROLIMITS

On today's Zero Limits Podcast I chat with John Armfield Clearance Diver from the Royal Australian Navy.John enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy in 2003 and served just over 20 years predominantly as a Clearance Diver. During his service John deployed on multiple operations including Operation Slipper with 5/7 RAR as part of the Explosive Ordinates Disposal team with army engineers.Further to John's story, his brother Andrew joined the Australian army in 2001 deploying to East Timor as an infantryman and then later service transfer to the Royal Australian Airforce. In 2011 Andrew's mental health had declined and he committed suicide and where this story goes south is John only found out about the existence of an internal report into his brother's death 10 years after the traumatic event. John presented to the Royal Commission about serious failures he encountered in the ADF's treatment of his brother and spoke about a hostile culture as he grappled with the circumstances of Andrew's death.

"Curiosity is the number one tool a safety professional should have." In this compelling episode, we welcome Kelvin Genn, a seasoned leader with decades of experience across diverse industries. Kelvin shares his valuable insights on how leaders can bridge the gap between the boardroom and the frontline by fostering a culture of curiosity, unlocking the power of inquiry to ask better questions, and empowering their teams. He details how leaders can connect, listen, and lead with curiosity to build stronger connections and greater engagement. This episode is filled with sound strategies and actionable approaches that will help you foster a safer, more engaged workplace culture. Tune in now for an enlightening conversation packed with valuable takeaways! About the Guest: Kelvin Genn is a founder of Safety Differently and a key designer and creator of the Due Diligence Index. Kelvin is a strategic systems practitioner with extensive experience in Human Factors and organizational re-engineering. He developed his systems thinking approach working in the Royal Australian Air Force. He is the Managing Director of Art of Work, which has led the implementation of Safety Differently worldwide. He has led systems and risk management programs across Asia Pacific and Europe with Compass Group Plc, the world's largest support service company. Kelvin is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety. For more information: www.artofwork.solutions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan Blake, a researcher at the University of Adelaide and a former legal officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, explains how international law governs the use of space resources, including asteroid mining and the allocation of positions in geostationary orbit. - Исследователь Университета Аделаиды и бывший юридический офицер Королевских ВВС Австралии Данкан Блейк рассказывает, как международное право регулирует использование ресурсов в космосе, включая добычу полезных ископаемых на астероидах и распределение позиций на геостационарной орбите.

How should the bodies of deceased believers be treated? Are burial and cremation equally valid for Christians? Do the Scriptures speak to the issue at all, or is it merely a matter of preference? These questions are all addressed by this week's featured article, by S. M. Houghton.   S. M. Houghton was chief literary and editorial advisor to the Banner of Truth Trust from 1960 to 1987. His reminiscences are published in 'My Life and Books'. Buy S. M. Houghton, My Life and Books: https://banneroftruth.org/store/history-biography/my-life-and-books/   Donald Howard is the retired minister of St. Peter's Church of England, Sydney, Australia. After experience in agriculture, The Royal Australian Air Force, and journalism, Donald Howard studied Theology at Moore College, Sydney and then served for many years in the pastoral ministry. While at St. Peter's, his first wife, Diana, died of cancer at the age of forty-six in 1977, which occasioned the writing of his booklet Christians Grieve Too.   The Banner also publishes a booklet by Donald Howard, Burial or Cremation: Does it Matter?: https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/burial-or-cremation/   Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

Send us a textTony Dietz is the President of Paxauris, where he leads the development of innovative hearing protection products. With over 30 years of experience, he previously worked at Creare, leading R&D projects in advanced airdrop technology and cryogenic systems, and at NASA Ames as a Senior Research Scientist. Earlier, he served as an Engineering Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. Tony holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor's in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Sydney.About Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

You've heard of "Maverick" but have you heard of "The Sheriff"?You should.Zane Sennett, a former Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot who is once again a RAF pilot, has amassed over 5,000 flight hours in the Hawk, Harrier, Hornet, and Typhoon, besides multiple trainers.Former RAF Red Arrow and combat experienced, "The Sheriff" is the legend you've never heard of.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Lurking deep inside the rainforests of an island chain in the Pacific Ocea called The Solomons, an intriguing story unfolds of Diamond-Snakes, UFOs, Reptilians and Greys all originating from the immense cave systems underneath the earth and sea. In 2010, Marius Boirayon, an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force and aircraft/helicopter engineer in the Outback, published the book, “Solomon Islands Mysteries”, documenting his time living in Guadalcanal and Malaita.  In Part I, Joel weaves through the subterrestrial world of UFOs that live underneath the waterfalls and lakes of the Solomon Island mountains and the creatures said to be controlling them. He explores the possibility of Japan meeting an army of subterrestrial Reptilians upon their first arrival to the Solomons during World War II. Then, there's the mysterious gem discovered by Marius on a geological expedition. It has no properties known to man and is speculated to be a substance the subterrestrial beings are mining underground for purposes unknown. Website: https://linktr.ee/joelthomasmedia Follow: Instagram | X | Facebook Watch: YouTube | Rumble Music: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music Films: merkelfilms.com Email: freetherabbitspodcast@gmail.com Distributed by: merkel.media Produced by: @jack_theproducer OUTRO MUSIC Joel Thomas - Missing YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

Christian "Boo" Boucousis is the CEO of Afterburner and a former fighter pilot for the Royal Australian Air Force. In our discussion he talks about his personal history, the key components of the training fighter pilots go through, and how the leadership traits developed through this training apply in every environment.What you will hear are not the trite stereotypes about toughness we usually hear when people talk about applying military principles to corporate leadership. You will hear about outcome focused leadership, self-awareness, credibility, trust and approachability. And at the end of the conversation Boo also shared a couple of practices you can start immediately to apply those principles to your own leadership. Key Moments[01:10] Episode intro[02:50] Boo's story[06:31] Power of fighter pilot training[11:37] Different leadership dimensions[21:11] Unexpected aspects of leadership lessons from fighter pilot model[27:51] Tips to apply fighter pilot leadership model immediately[39:58] Hobby, business jargon that drives Boo crazy and food for the body/food for the soulContact Dino at: dino@al4ep.comWebsites:al4ep.comafterburner.comAdditional Guest Links:Personal LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis/Christian's Newsletter on LinkedIn - The DebriefAfterburner, Inc. Social LinksLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/afterburnerInstagram: @afterburner_incTwitter: @AfterburnerIncFacebook: facebook.com/AfterburnereventsAuthentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino CattaneoDino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneoPodcast Instagram – @al4edp Podcast Twitter – @al4edp Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edpMusicSusan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

We are all leaders, no matter what our job is. And we all have leadership styles that may or may not be the most aligned or effective. Dr. Kirstin Ferguson joins to discuss how we can lead others and ourselves from a place of love.  She is a prominent leadership expert and a highly experienced business leader in her own right. Beginning her career as an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, Kirstin has held roles that have included CEO of an International consulting firm and was appointed acting chair and deputy chair of the Australia Broadcasting Corporation by the Australian Prime Minister. She holds a PhD in Leadership and is an adjunct professor at QUT business school.