Latest news with #WorldWarII-era
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hill Air Force Base's Mazer Chapel reopens after 2 years of renovations
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah () — Mazer Chapel, one of Hill Air Force Base's oldest buildings, reopened today for event use. Built in 1942, the chapel, now located at the Hill Aerospace Museum, has experienced decades of heavy use, which led to an expansive renovation project over the past two years. Renovations included a new roof, siding, windows, and carpet, along with pew repairs, freshly painted walls, refinished wood, as well as modernized restrooms, sound systems, and HVAC. 'We are thrilled about this renovation project,' Museum Director Aaron Clark said in a press release. 'Renovating and preserving a World War II-era Army Air Forces chapel ensures the vital stories of local and national history are not forgotten over time.' This is not the first time the chapel has undergone renovations. In 1945, a major fire forced renovation, and in 1948, it was remodeled. A new Base chapel replaced it in 1964, but it remained in use as an education building and extra office space, until it was declared excess in 1984, which led to it being scheduled for demolition. PREVIOUSLY: Detonation season is starting at Hill Air Force Base – and you might hear a boom or two However, rather than allowing the building to be demolished, the Hill Air Force Base Cultural Resource Program worked with the Aerospace Foundation of Utah to help relocate the chapel to the museum grounds and begin restoration work. It became a permanent fixture of the museum's Memorial Park upon its rededication in 1989. 'Visiting the Mazer Chapel offers guests a unique, immersive way to connect with history,' Clark added. 'As a space where service members and installation personnel once gathered during the world's most destructive conflict to rejoice in faith and hope for victory, or mourn the war's impact, it fosters reflection on the courage, unity, and sacrifice of those who came before us. It will bridge the gap between the past and the present.' The chapel will be fully open to the public in two weeks. Visit the to book an event. Cedar City man arrested for allegedly sending sexual photos to officer posing as 12-year-old Charges filed against Utah man who allegedly messaged missing 15-year-old before her disappearance Weber County School District considering tax increase Hill Air Force Base's Mazer Chapel reopens after 2 years of renovations Man Labs Skincare tops our Father's Day must-have list Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Buyouts likely for six Florissant homes due to radioactive contamination
FLORISSANT, Mo. – The owners of six homes in Florissant are likely to be offered buyouts due to radioactive contamination. City officials have been made aware of a potential planned buyout of six homes in Florissant's Cades Cove subdivision, according to a statement from Florissant Mayor Timothy Lowery. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers previously told city officials that six homes are currently the only area of concern, according to the mayor's office. According to FOX 2's news partners at the St. Louis Post Dispatch, federal officials have cited concerns about radioactive waste below the backyards of six properties. Removing the homes is likely necessary because of the contaminated soil lies close to and may impact the foundations. Watchdog group calls for St. Louis Sheriff's removal over alleged misconduct Homeowners are in the process of gathering necessary paperwork. The federal government hasn't made any offers just yet. Over the last few years, national reports have surfaced suggesting that the federal government downplayed and failed to fully investigate the risks of nuclear waste contamination that stemmed from the Manhattan Project, a World War II-era uranium production effort that occurred in the St. Louis region. When leftover nuclear waste was later disposed, it found way into Coldwater Creek, a 19-mile tributary of the Missouri River that runs through neighborhoods, schools, and parks. On Friday, Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley – a longtime advocate for cleanup of radioactive waste in the St. Louis area – sent a letter to Lieutenant General William H. Graham, Jr. of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, calling for accountability. The letter raises concerns about the scope of radioactive contamination along nearby Coldwater Creek and questions why only the Cades Code subdivision is being considered for buyouts. 'It should come as no surprise that the community is extremely concerned about proposals for residential buyouts after USACE previously downplayed the potential risks,' said Hawley in the letter. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Meanwhile, a statement sent to FOX 2 on the potential buyouts from the Florissant Mayor's Office, in part, includes the following: 'For decades, both the city and our residents have received inconsistent and at times conflicting information regarding contamination, flood mitigation plans, and potential buyouts. This prolonged lack of clarity has contributed to confusion, frustration, and a sense of mistrust among those impacted. Promises of transparency, timely updates, and genuine engagement have not always been upheld, and our community deserves better moving forward. 'We are actively seeking more information about the scope and timeline of the potential buyout and are committed to working closely with all involved agencies to ensure that impacted families have the resources, information, and support they need during this process.' 'Florissant will continue to advocate for a fair, transparent, and consistent approach moving forward. We will share updates with the community as they become available, and we will not hesitate to hold the responsible agencies accountable for delivering clear and honest communication.' Any residents with concerns or questions are encouraged to contact Florissant City Hall directly at 314-921-5700. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Illinois man has spent 40 years rebuilding a WWII-era B-17 bomber in his barn
A man in Marengo, Illinois, is on a mission to fully restore a World War II-era B-17 bomber—a project he's been diligently working on in a roadside barn for the past 40 years. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, Mike Kellner began his journey in high school after hearing that a junkyard in Maine was looking to offload the abandoned remains of the historic bomber. The asking price was '$7,000 or best offer' for a collection of disassembled parts. Kellner loaded the 75-foot aluminum behemoth onto a house trailer (he had to extend it by about 10 feet) and hauled it halfway across the country with a pickup truck. It's lived in his barn ever since. Kellner shared the decades-long story of his restoration project with local outlet WGN earlier this week. And unlike many World War II-era roadside relics, this one isn't just collecting dust. Kellner has spent countless hours working to restore the plane to its former glory, performing his own repairs, adding finishing touches, and tracking down an array of rare and hard-to-find parts. Word of his efforts spread, attracting other aviation enthusiasts who have volunteered their time over the years to assist with the restoration. Kellner documents the entire process on a Facebook page, which features thousands of update posts dating back to 2010. He doesn't just want the project to be something pretty to look at—he wants it to fly. 'It is a piece of history, and I would like the opportunity to fly it,' Kellner told WGN. Popular Science reached out to Kellner for more details but has not heard back. The B-17 was the most iconic bomber used by the US military during the second World War. Its origin actually traces back a decade earlier to 1934, when the Army Air Corps approached Boeing with an ask to design and develop a massive plane capable of carrying bombs at 10,000 feet and for more than 10 hours. The military wanted a new breed of bomber that would be able to travel beyond enemy lines at great distances and drop bombs with precision. It needed to be able to reach altitudes high enough to fly outside of the range of enemy antiaircraft artillery. The eventual B-17 featured a state-of-the-art Norden bombsight to maintain accuracy even at extreme altitudes. Early versions of the B-17 entered production in 1937, but manufacturing ramped up significantly after the U.S. officially entered World War II in 1941. The bomber that eventually flew missions behind enemy lines featured four engines—a major upgrade from the then-standard two—and was equipped with a smattering of gun turrets, including ones in the nose, upper fuselage, and tail. This cornucopia of munitions, combined with the aircraft's mammoth size, earned it the nickname 'Flying Fortress.' The B-17 currently being resurrected in Kellner's barn reportedly carries two names. One, 'Desert Rat,' is painted in bold yellow lettering on the aircraft's exterior. The other, 'Tangerine,' was discovered later, scrawled somewhere inside the unclear how much longer Kellner will need to make his dream of flying the Desert Rat a reality. The task seems like a daunting one for someone working part-time on a shoestring budget but then again, few would have likely predicted he would have made it this far to begin with. You can keep up with all of Kellner's progress by following his official Facebook page here.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Kailashahar Airbase revival: Why a forgotten 1971 war airstrip might be key to India's NE strategy
Kailashahar airport in Tripura, which has remained non-operational since the 1971 Indo-Pak war, is set to be revived in the near future. This will become the second airport for the state, complementing Agartala's Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, and is expected to greatly enhance connectivity for Tripura's residents and businesses. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has initiated steps to revive the defunct Kailashahar airport in Unakoti district. Following a request from the Tripura state government, AAI Northeast Regional Executive Director M Raju Krishore, accompanied by Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport Director K C Meena, visited the site on May 26 to assess infrastructure, land availability, and visibility conditions. Meena told PTI that the AAI is exploring options to acquire either 75 or 205 acres of land to develop the facility and prepare a revival plan accordingly. Currently, the Kailashahar airport has a runway length of about 1,000 meters, which is insufficient for operating larger aircraft such as ATRs. The availability and safety of smaller planes that carry 16 to 19 passengers remain a concern, according to officials. The airport that sent alarm bells ringing The urgency to restart the airport comes amid reports that Bangladesh is receiving assistance from China to renovate Lalmonirhat Airport, a World War II-era airstrip situated approximately 132 kilometres from India's strategically critical Chicken's Neck corridor and just 15 to 20 kilometres from the Indian border. The airport is spread over 1,166 acres and it has a four-kilometre runway and large tarmac. Live Events The Chicken's Neck corridor is only 22km wide, it connects Northeast India to the rest of India and is considered vital for national security. 'There is a fear that this airport will be developed for dual use—civilian and military purposes. It could help China keep a tab on Indian activities whether civilian or military or help them gather intelligence near the Siliguri corridor,' said Sriparna Pathak, China Studies professor at O.P. Jindal University, as quoted by TOI. The importance of Kailashahar airport The airport, strategically located in Unakoti district, has been inactive for over 30 years. The airport is only a few kilometres from the Bangladesh border. It played a key role during the 1971 India-Pakistan war when the Indian Air Force conducted missions and surveillance from the site. Ironically, the Kilo Flight which became the first Bangladesh Airforce unit, commenced its operations from this very airport. They carried out missions using one Chetak, one Armed Otter and one Dakota against the Pakistani forces in erstwhile East Pakistan, according to a PIB press release. The airport is also meant to act as a deterrent to both Bangladesh and China, making it clear that India will respond decisively to any action that threatens its territorial integrity. While the revival of this airport is being portrayed as a measure to improve air connectivity, and promote economic development, it is also being viewed as an important measure to strengthen India's strategic preparedness in the sensitive 'Chicken's neck' border area. Officials have indicated that revitalizing Kailashahar Airport will facilitate faster movement of goods and personnel and contribute to strengthening infrastructure near the sensitive border areas. The development also reflects India's efforts to maintain and enhance its strategic posture in the northeast, particularly as neighboring countries develop their own border infrastructure with international partnerships. While the revival of Kailashahar Airport is currently in preliminary stages, authorities emphasize that it will primarily serve civilian purposes alongside supporting regional security needs.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Japan expands military build-up against China with US stand in doubt
Japan is stepping up efforts to deter China's military ambitions in the Asia-Pacific as Tokyo and other US partners seek clarity from the Trump administration about its plans to counter Beijing's power in the region. For the first time, Japan sent destroyers through the Taiwan Strait on two occasions in recent months, according to a person familiar with the operations, a sign of its willingness to directly challenge China over the waterway and the self-governing island it claims as its own. Japan has also increased its military budget and the tempo of its naval exercises as far away as the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, a region Beijing claims almost complete control over but which is a vital trade route for the global economy. 'When I was younger and even in the first decade of this century, we used to stay close to Japan's shores,' said Katsuya Yamamoto, a retired rear admiral in Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force. 'Now the world has changed, and the Japanese people accept that we can't just passively allow China's actions.' It's not just Japan taking note. China's assertiveness has alarmed many governments: Beijing has in recent years ramped up aerial and naval deployments around Taiwan, repeatedly confronted Philippine vessels around disputed islands and shoals and sent warships into international waters off the coast of Sydney. Those actions and the response in Asia will be one point of discussion for military leaders meeting in Singapore starting Friday for the Shangri-La Dialogue. The annual gathering typically includes high-level officials from China and the U.S. This year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to give a speech Saturday at the event. While Japan has for decades been wary of foreign military entanglements, in part due to a World War II-era constitution that bars the use of force to settle disputes, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a Chinese missile barrage over Taiwan in 2022 marked a turning point. Now Tokyo is doing more to boost defense ties with regional partners such as the Philippines and Australia just as Trump raises questions about the US commitment to historic alliances. The US president has said Japan and South Korea don't pay the US enough for basing American troops in their countries and has been ambiguous about his support for Taiwan if it came under attack. Chinese Warnings Japan can't afford that ambiguity. The most southerly of Japan's islands is just 70 miles (113 kilometers) from Taiwan, and Tokyo fears it could be drawn into any conflict over the archipelago that China views as its territory. Beijing regularly warns against Japanese military activity in the region. After Japanese news outlets reported the transit of a Japanese destroyer through the Taiwan Strait in February, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said: 'China respects the navigation rights of all countries under international law, but firmly opposes any country creating trouble in the Taiwan Strait, infringing upon China's sovereignty and security, and sending wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces.' Opinion polls show growing support in Japan for a more visible role for the Self-Defense Forces, as the military is known. Yet the scale of the challenge is daunting. While China's actual defense spending is unclear, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates it spent around $314 billion on its military in 2024, about half of all defense spending in Asia and Oceania. Largely in response, Japan is raising defense spending more rapidly than at any time in recent decades. In 2022, Tokyo pledged ¥43 trillion ($298 billion) to a military build-up that would span five years and lift defense spending to roughly 2 per cent of gross domestic product from just over 1 per cent. Total defense-related spending this fiscal year is set to reach ¥9.9 trillion, including funds to develop a network of satellites to improve the detection of incoming missiles. Japan has also begun taking delivery of 147 US-built F-35 Lightning II jets, the world's most advanced stealth fighter. Those F-35s will be equipped with long-range cruise missiles that could hit targets in China from hundreds of miles away. Tokyo is also developing long-range missiles that could be deployed at a string of military bases along its southwest island chain. So-called 'stand-off' missile capabilities are core to a defense strategy adopted in 2022 to threaten Chinese military bases that could be used against Japan. The same year, Japan was shaken when China launched missiles over Taiwan that landed in the sea in Japan's exclusive economic zone after a visit to Taipei by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The missiles added to anxieties that Beijing might target Japan and US military bases in the country as part of any attempt to seize Taiwan. 'Bitter Experience' 'The desire to avoid conflict after the bitter experience of World War II made Japan allergic to possessing weapons. More people understand now that simply having them can demoralize and deter the enemy,' said Misa Sakurabayashi, a security analyst based in Tokyo who has advised the government on defense issues. China says it wants to resolve the Taiwan issue peacefully, but hasn't ruled out the use of force. In addition to developing its own capabilities, Japan has been working with other Asian democracies to bolster collective deterrence. In 2023, it created a new category of foreign aid called official security assistance to fund military investments, primarily in Asia. On a visit to Manila earlier this year, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed to begin talks on sharing some basic military supplies. Last year, the two countries signed a deal to ease border controls to facilitate more military training. The Philippines and Japan are also discussing sharing real-time military intelligence in an arrangement similar to one Japan has with South Korea. On a visit to Tokyo in March, Hegseth said the US will 're-build' deterrence against China with allies including Japan. He pledged to follow through on Biden administration plans to establish a new military command center in Japan and said he'll deploy more advanced capabilities to the Philippines. At the same time, Trump has criticised the US-Japan Security Treaty, saying it's a better deal for Tokyo than Washington. Japan, meanwhile, has made its own calculation that it has to send a clear message to China, according to Kocihi Isobe, a retired lieutenant general in Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force. 'If deterrence fails, the price to pay will be very high,' he said.
