The Girl Guides Association is an association founded by Robert and (his sister) Agnes Baden Powell in 1910 to encourage the physical, mental, and spiritual development of girls. The three classes of members are Brownie Guides (for girls aged between 7 and 10), Guides (aged 10 to 15), and Ranger Guides (aged 14 to 20). Its counterpart for boys is the Scout Association. Research Girl Guides Association
The Colorado Ranger (or Rangerbred Horse) is an American bred of riding and cow-work horse standing between 14.2 and 16 hands high and occurring in many colours, often spotted. The breed originates from two stallions presented to General U S Grant in 1878 and subsequently lent out for stud. Research Colorado Ranger
John Paul Jones was an American sailor, pirate and notorious British traitor. He was born in 1747 at Scotland and died in 1792. He had been engaged in the merchant marine previous to his settlement in Virginia, shortly before the beginning of the American War of Independence. On the opening of hostilities he volunteered with enthusiasm in the service of America, was appointed first lieutenant, and made a number of successful cruises.
In 1777 he sailed to France. From Brest as a headquarters he conducted in his ship, the Ranger, a remarkable expedition to the British coasts, for which his old acquaintance with the localities had well fitted him. In St George's Channel he took prizes, landed at Whitehaven and terrorized the seaboard for a short time. He captured the British ship Drake, and his success led him in 1779 to start in command of a small fleet against the eastern shore of the island; his own vessel was the Bon Homme Richard. With this fleet he encountered off Scarborough a British convoy and ships of war. A fierce naval battle followed between Jones' vessel and the British ship Serapis on the evening of September the 23rd, 1779. The Serapis finally struck, but the American ship was completely disabled, and the losses in the close-range struggle were great. Jones received the thanks of Congress and a gold sword from Louis XVI of France. After the war he was a rear-admiral in the Russian navy, and died in Paris. Research John Paul Jones
Chuck Norris (real name Carlos Ray Norris) is an American actor and former karate champion. He was born in 1939. He is renowned for his martial-arts films and television series, playing the title role in the television series 'Walker Texas Ranger'. Research Chuck Norris
James Darren is an American actor and television director. He was born in 1936 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Best known for his role in the 1961 film 'The Guns of Navarone', he directed such popular televison shows as 'The A Team' and 'T.J. Hooker' as well as directing episodes of 'Beverly Hill, 90210' and 'Walker, Texas Ranger'. Research James Darren
Oliver Clark is an American actor. He was born in 1939 at Buffalo, New York. A prolific television actor he has appeared in epsiodes of 'MASH', 'St Elsewhere', 'Life Goes On' and 'Walker, Texas Ranger' among many others, in addition to appearing in numerous films. Research Oliver Clark
The Commando Ranger (known to the USAF as the Peacekeeper) is an American armoured vehicle built for the USAF as a security vehicle to patrol air bases. The Commando Ranger carries a crew of two plus six passengers protected by 7 mm thick armour in an air-conditioned truck based on a standard Chrysler truck chassis. The Commando Ranger is armed with one or two 7.62 mm machine-guns, and has firing ports for the passengers. A Dodge 360 CID V-8 petrol engine provides a top speed of 112 kmh and a range of 556 km. Research Commando Ranger
In November 1977 the Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta - Delta Force -, the USA's specialist anti-terrorist and hostage rescue unit came into being. The driving force behind Delta Force was Colonel Charles Beckwith, a Special Forces officer who had been extremely impressed by Britain's SAS during an exchange tour in the early 1960s. For several years he badgered the Pentagon into setting up a similar unit in the US Army. Selection for the new unit was very much SAS style, with hard physical, mental and psychological challenges weeding out nine out of 10 applicants. Once selected, the successful candidate is sent on a five month 'Operators' course, where he is introduced to the many and varied skills; than an anti-terrorist commando is expected to master. These include assault tactics, hostage management, communications, observation using the latest high-tech equipment, climbing, small boat work and parachuting.
Since the majority of Delta Force candidates are from Special Forces or Ranger units they already possess many of these skills, but even so they learn a lot before moving to their operational troop. Delta Force is organised into operational squadrons, each squadron is broken down further into troops. Marksmanship is a prime requirement in Delta Force and Force members train up to four hours a day, five days a week. Such intensive training leads to very high shooting standards: Delta snipers are expected to make nine first-round hits out of 10 at 1,000 yards, and score every time at 600 yards. Like other elite counter-terrorist units, Delta Force has built its own 'House of Horrors' which simulates various kinds of combat situations, from hostage taking to aircraft hijacks. Hijacks are a favourite terrorist activity, so Delta Force has practised assaults on airliners, and regularly runs training exercises at New York's KennedyAirport and at other large international gateways. Delta receives terrorist intelligence from US Government organisations such as the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the FBI, and from contacts with other anti-terrorist units around the world. Its members also make exchanges with the British SAS, Germany's GSG-9, the French GIGN and other similar units.
Delta Force was set up in less than a year, becoming operational in the middle of 1978. Just over a year later, the Force was alerted to a possible rescue mission as the US Embassy in Teheran was seized and the embassy staff held hostage. This was far from the mission they had trained for: penetrate hundreds of miles into hostile territory, making an assault in the middle of a major city and then getting clear with 100 or more freed hostages.
Months of intensive training went into 'Operation Eagle Claw' as the rescue mission was called, planned for the 25th of April. It was to involve Delta Force, Special Forces units from Germany, US Marine Corps helicopter Pilots, US Navy helicopters and ships and US Air Force air support. The mission was a disaster, although through no real fault Of the men who took part. Command and control of the many disparate parts of the rescue operation were shambolic. The big MH-53 helicopters could not cope with the desert sand, and there were not enough of them. After three had broken down the mission had to be aborted. To add to the whole affair, a collision at the 'Desert One' airstrip deep inside Iran killed eight men and destroyed a C-130 and a helicopter. Research Delta Force
The Bell Model 47J-2A Ranger is an American four-seater utilityhelicopter derived from the Bell Model 47 as a four-seater version and produced in both utility and deluxe furnishing. The Bell Model 47J-2A is powered by a Lycoming VO-540-B1B engine providing a top speed of 169 kmh and a range of 431 km. The Bell Model 47J-2A carries a pilot and three passengers seated behind, or a pilot and two stretcher cases plus a medical attendant, or cargo. Research Bell Model 47J-2A
The Fairchild AT-21 Gunner was an American five-seater advanced gunnery crew trainer aircraft of the Second World War. The Fairchild AT-21 was a mid-wing cantilever monoplane powered by two Ranger V-770-15 12-cylinder inverted Vee air-cooled engines providing a top speed of 360 kmh and a range of 1460 km. The
Fairchild AT-21 was armed with a flexible 0.30 inch calibremachine-gun in the nose and two 0.30 inch calibre machine-guns in a power operated turret aft of the wings. Research Fairchild AT-21
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Girl Guides Association
