December 1923 Proceedings—In “Bombing Tests on the Virginia and New Jersey,” Lieutenant Commander H. B. Grow, U.S. Navy, examined the Army Air Services’ 1923 bombing runs against the decommissioned, anchored BB-13 and BB-16 battleships. “The only lessons learned were, that if an attacking force does succeed in registering one or two direct hits on a capital ship with heavy bombs that ship is doomed or at least crippled, but that if our fleet includes . . . an adequate and well-trained air force the chances of an enemy registering the necessary hits are small, if not remote.”
December 1973 Proceedings—In “Arms Control Since Hiroshima,” Air Force Lieutenant Colonel David R. Mets wrote, “Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger reported in August 1973, the Russians have definitely tested MIRV. This . . . will do little to facilitate negotiations. Recent progress seems to indicate that the third phase of post–World II arms control, the period of strategic equality, has not yet ended. The stability of strategic deterrence seems to remain intact. The failure of the superpowers to undertake ‘thick’ [antiballistic missile] systems and their recent arms control agreements indicate that neither power is intent on establishing a first-strike capability.”
December 1998 Proceedings—Former Blue Angels pilot Lieutenant Commander Mark D. Provo, U.S. Navy, looked at “Lessons from Out of the Blues.” “Most naval aviators are type-A, can-do personalities. When I arrived to the team in September 1994, however, I found a very different and refreshing philosophy at the debriefs. . . . These men all came clean on every faux pas that occurred on their flights. . . . Learning from each other’s mistakes made us better pilots. Coming clean every day helped us build a strong bond. . . . It improved our performance as a team. It also made us better people.”
A. Denis Clift
Golden Life Member