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Most Hated Man in Chantilly, Virginia (Circa 2023)

I will have to tell you more about one of my hobbies sometime. Today I will briefly mention that I use (present tense) a LOT of stamps and envelopes to write Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) requests for old, yet still classified documents from the U.S. government. For fun (and research purposes).* I also have a penchant for trying to find information to fill the gaps… in life, puzzles,…

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A Pointed Message to the East

This banner was seen atop one of the largest skyscrapers in Vilnius, Lithuania earlier this year (May 2023). I don’t know if it is still there… but I hope it is. Earlier this year, I had a member of the Lithuanian Armed Forces explain the situation to me – a relatively ignorant American – about his country’s “hate/hate” relationship with the Soviets/Russians throughout history. While I was only…

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Ring of Fire, Albuquerque Style

I was blessed to be home in Albuquerque (NM) on October 14, 2023 to see the Annular Solar Eclipse. Like any space geek, a ordered a “sun shield” cap for my telescope so I could view the sun’s surface. I also purchased a few of the solar eclipse glasses for my children, so they wouldn’t try to view through the telescope (yeah, I’m *that* serious about astronomy). After seeing enough warnings…

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Recycling Old Material

For the next few weeks I will be (re)posting old blog posts from Blogger on a variety of topics. I’m not really using the site (blogger or blogspot) anymore, and it seems to be a waste to just delete the account outright. I cannot say whether the old posts are crap or not – that is up to you, dear reader, to decide. Hopefully there is something of value – either informative or humorous – within…

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Holloman's Humble Beginnings

The magnificent Tularosa Basin has been home to Holloman AFB since its beginnings as a temporary base in February 1942.  Opened as the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range, the base was part of the British Overseas Training Program, an effort to help train aircrews of our beleaguered wartime ally. The tripartite (three-part) runway was one of the largest examples of the British influence on the…

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Upcoming Title...Fall 2023?

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History of the IRON HORSE system

History of the IRON HORSE system

In 1967 the United States SIGINT system (USSS) improved the speed of its support to air operations over Vietnam by a quantum leap. The older manual system, HAMMOCK, was replaced by IRON HORSE, a flashy new automated system which could deliver information in seconds rather than minutes. Designed by the National Security Agency, IRON HORSE simply linked the electronic output of an AG-22 intercept…

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FOIA Follies - Appeal for Hex-TUNITY records

FOIA Follies – Appeal for Hex-TUNITY records

Watch what I have to contend with, and how to respond. I’m sure there’s a dartboard in Washington, D.C. somewhere with my name, address, and photo on it. Maybe two dartboards, if I’m lucky… Original Denial Letter – See below for response Dear Sir or Ma’am, 14675 Lee Road Chantilly, VA 20151-1715 Dear Sir or Ma’am, This is an appeal for NRO FOIA Case F-2022-00153. On 25 June 2022, I…

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Onizuka AFS/AFB Talk at Sunnyvale Historical Society

Onizuka AFS/AFB Talk at Sunnyvale Historical Society

Ooh! Exciting Stuff, I know… and look at those font colors… Two days ago (20 June 2022), I spoke in front of an audience at the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum on the legacy of Onizuka Air Force Base/Station. I spoke to a mixed audience of interested community members, Society officers, and former Blue Cube workers for about an hour, and had a lengthy Q&A session afterwards. I was honored to be…

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A Six-pack of Corona (film buckets)

A Six-pack of Corona (film buckets)

My newest article is now posted on The Space Review: National Reconnaissance Program crisis photography concepts, part 1: A six-pack of Corona. At first glance, this reminded me of a KH-9 Hexagon satellite or an early concept of one. At the time this Six-Pack Corona was proposed, Hexagon was well on its way to being finalized. It was interesting in concept, but a latecomer in the decade since…

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Memory Musings: The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

Memory Musings: The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

In case you were wondering about the recent posts about space history and California, I’m scheduled to head to Sunnyvale in June to give a talk about Sunnyvale Air Force Station (aka Onizuka Air Force Base, the “Blue Cube”). I’ve been looking back at the historic material on the base and its operations to refresh my “old man brain”, yet I keep slipping down memory lane. Today’s chronological…

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Coming Soon! Schriever SFB Through Time

See the cover for the upcoming "Schriever Space Force Base Through Time" #spaceforce #ussf #americathroughtime #yetanotherspacebook #unitedstatesairforce #usaf

Okay, “coming soon” might be a bit of hyperbole since the publication date is scheduled for August 2022. But, hey, I was excited to see the cover *and* finish the final proofing of the manuscript this weekend. Since Falcon Air Force Station (now known as Schriever Space Force Base) was the successor in both legacy and operations to Sunnyvale AFS/Onizuka AFB, I thought it would segue nicely on my…

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Comments on "Have You Ever Heard of the Blue Cube?"

Comments on “Have You Ever Heard of the Blue Cube?”

On April 7, 2022, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) added a blog post titled “Have You Ever Heard of the Blue Cube?” about Onizuka Air Force Station. While I was excited to read something about the Blue Cube that was “new,” I wanted to punch my computer screen after I read it. So, in typical fashion, I wrote up a letter to the folks in Chantilly that provided a bit more clarification to…

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History of the First Strategic Aerospace Division (1 STRAD)

History of the First Strategic Aerospace Division (1 STRAD)

first-strategic-aerospace-division-history-1957-1961Download

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Ode to the Tech Controller

Ode to the Tech Controller

I’ll Clean This Image up later… I live in the heavens. I reside on mountain tops. I am at constant vigil over thee. I monitor thy righteous ways. Thy levels art mine to command. When thou art in trouble, I will help thee through distorted times. When thou art low, the touch of my hand shall raise thy spirit to the proper level. When thou are too high, I shall terminate thee with a swift stroke…

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Tilting at Windmills (Pt. 1)

Tilting at Windmills (Pt. 1)

RE: Copyright Fair Use of United States Air Force Emblem in Historical Book Dear Senator [———], My name is Joseph T. Page II and I’m an author, military veteran, and constituent who resides in your state. I’ve been given a cease-and-desist order by the United States Air Force Trademark Licensing division about the use of the United States Air Force Emblem in a pictorial history book. I’d like…

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A Roadrunner Trying to Stay Warm

A Roadrunner Trying to Stay Warm

A few years ago, I saw a bird like this sitting on a rock in my front yard. I’d lived in New Mexico most of my adult life, but I did not know which species it was… until s/he decided to run off to another sunspot in the yard. Holy cow… it was a roadrunner. I know the tail is a dead giveaway (now), but I think it is pretty cool to see the bird increase their feather surface area by fluffing them…