Saturday 11 February 2023
Balloon Shooting / Aces?
In the great period of WW I....fighters flew and would be given the mission of shooting down German observation balloons.
There are 77 pilots from this era....distinguished as 'aces' for their efforts to bring down the balloons.
Belgian Willy Coppens was the leader....with 35 shootdowns (of balloons).
So it brings me to ponder....as this gets to be a weekly thing and the Air Force pilots put on stand-by.....to shoot down Chinese balloons....will they discuss ace-status?
I can imagine the operations room....eight pilots with monster energy drinks in their hands....discussing whether this is wise to start up a ace-status.
Captain 'Stinky' (his pilot nickname) will suggest this is really stupid and he doesn't want to be called a balloon-buster.
Major 'Vegas' makes a stand about promotion elements, and that 12 balloons busted would guarantee him Lt Col status.
1Lt 'Marvelous' states the obvious that....his dad would be proud of a ace-status son in the family....even if it was just one single balloon.
LtCol 'Mad-Dog' suggests that balloon sizes might be an issue and if you only took on mini-balloons....it's not the same as weather balloons.
Captain 'Boom' says he's up for serious balloon action....while sipping his 4th monster energy drink in the last hour.
Finally, 2Lt 'Mutt' suggests that more training will be required out in Vegas....to properly certify guys for balloon-killing. He figures at least a month of extra training....enough time to perfect his poker skills at the casinos.
While in the back of the Ops room....sits Airman Jones, who is building a template for future medals for the pilots.....so that everyone gets a medal for each balloon action.
Sarge? He's just standing there....viewing all of this and shaking his head.....everyone is hyped up over stupid balloons, and expending a $350,000 missile per balloon. Then giving some kind of ace-status over balloons? It makes no sense.
Balloon Shootdown?
From what the gov't says.....the Air Force shot down a round 'thing' yesterday over Alaska.
Description given? Smaller than the previous weather balloon, silverish in color, size of two cars, and cylindrical in shape. Some report indicates it was up around 40,000 ft.
Did it come from China? No one says that.
UFO? Well....they leave wondering about what the heck was shot, and how it does not relate to the previous balloon.
If it was a UFO? I'm sure the Air Force is standing there over the wreckage and shaking their heads.
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