The 1985 Sigonella Incident

The 1985 hijacking of the MV Achille Lauro led to an international dispute that almost drew NATO allies into armed confrontation. The History Guy remembers the five hour standoff at Naval Air Station Sigonella.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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Script by THG
#ushistory #thehistoryguy #sigonella

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

There were few images available in the Public Domain. The documents pictured were from the official FBI report on the incident.

[@patrickmcglonejr8163]

Good to know, crazy stuff brother, I never knew that 2 NATO allies almost had armed conflict twice in 2 days.

[@thevennuii9014]

Lol

[@thevennuii9014]

Thanks for this. I'm not sure if this is a coincidence but I was reading this story among others a few hours ago.

[@Cbabilon675]

My question to you, sir is how many people realize that the B-29 was not the last bomber to fly over Japan that there was a another. Bomber that was in the same field of Technology as it. Thanks for the great channel is always fun and entertaining to learn history. .

[@robertrabinoff6181]

@@patrickmcglonejr8163 I suspect that with Turkey becoming an Islamic dictatorship and meddling in Syria, that we may see (or may have already seen) a lot more of that. Turkey was supposed to be NATO's southern bulwark against Russian expansion, especially into the Mediterranean, but the Russians have leapfrogged them (possibly with their connivance) and are now ensconced in Syria, making Turkey of much less use to NATO, not to mention their unreliability as we confront Iran. It'll be very interesting to see how this all realigns in the next years.

[@minuteman4199]

You know you're getting old when "history that deserves to be remembered" is covering events that you remember like they were yesterday.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

34 years ago...

[@IanMadBrit]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I agree with Minute Man ... it's like it was yesterday.

[@johntabler349]

As Bill Gaither says I thought getting old would take longer than it did

[@Bugdriver49]

Was thinking the same thing!! lol.. I'm 70, groan

[@Bugdriver49]

was thinking the same thing!! I'm now 70..groan...

[@sithticklefingers7255]

“Pilots in the US and Italian jets exchanged colorful epithets.” Of course they did. Oh what I would do hear to hear that tape...

[@SiliconBong]

edited?

[@killian9314]

@@SiliconBong porbably a grammar mistake he corrected

[@killian9314]

same, there should be a movie.

[@NVRAMboi]

haha: "I wave my private parts at your aunties, you cheesy-leather, second-hand, electric donkey bottom biters."

[@freewill1114]

@@NVRAMboi "You lying dog face pony soldier!"

[@edmund0014]

Mr. Klinghoffer was a client of our brokerage firm, you've shed a lot of light on this, thanks.

[@tjsmith77777]

I never enjoyed history at school but as an old man (65), I can't get enough. Ignore history and you're destined to repeat it...

[@jonmcgee6987]

Great stories involve pirates. But even better ones have F-14 Tomcats.

[@LordEvan5]

Yeah it’s like VF-103 the jolly Rodgers

[@dragonsword7370]

@Romans 13:4 yes. When they flew tomcats they were featured in the movie "the final countdown". "Proceed flight. You have permission. Splash the zeroes. I repeat SPLASH THE ZEROES!" That clips floating around on KZbin somewhere lol.

[@gregboyington4896]

Yes like the time the USS Nimitz went back in time to Dec. 6th 1941 and took on the IJN! Splash the zeros repeat splash the zeros! Oh, that was a movie.

[@gregboyington4896]

@@dragonsword7370 I was commenting nearly the same thing. See below in replies.

[@puirYorick]

@@dragonsword7370 "Splash the Zeros." ~ Kirk Douglas (December 9, 1916 - February 5, 2020). He had a good innings.

[@matthewellisor5835]

If only you had a twin to teach journalistic ethics... It is difficult to present nationally, ethnically, racially, politically, religiously, or otherwise emotionally charged subjects in a fair and objective fashion. Thank you for consistently shining the best disinfectant while providing informative and entertaining content.

[@johncashwell1024]

Agreed! TheHistoryGuy, always does a great job of presenting all the known facts of a particular story without adding his own opinions; or worse, presenting only some of the facts in order to skew opinion or create a false narrative. Great job TheHistoryGuy!

[@sixmagpies]

What an excellently fitting comment.

[@bryanbrady877]

Imagine a world where it's not normal to just tell the truth. Oh, we live here, and this guy is the outlier.

[@ericmuschlitz7619]

Indeed, tHG consistently presents accounts of events without favor, Acknowledges areas of dispute regarding conflicted interests, and yet does so with passionate engagement. Journalism as it is disseminated on a "for hire" commercial basis seen the past fifty or so years has devolved into solely opinion/editorial sensationalist brands competing for hits rather than striving to uphold any sense of integrity. The History Guy as a brand is more accurate in reporting, though a bit delayed 😉, than the lion share of mass marketed "news" content across any platform. Students and future journalists should take note.

[@HiTechOilCo]

@@LegendLength - Aside from FOX News, the #1 leading cable news network for years, the media is dominated and controlled by the complicit, leftist/liberal/socialist/Democrats and has been for years. Sick.

[@divindave6117]

I was a Jet Engine mechanic while I was in the Navy, and I was stationed at Sigonella when this happened. None of us knew exactly WTH was going on, but we knew it a helluva lot more than what was being told on TV because there were some MAD officers running around. Thanks for this video. It was excellent, as are all of the others you do.

[@hexadecimal7300]

I think every story that hits the news hasa helluva lot more than on the TV. The News is just the story they are trying to sell.

[@hollyfoxThe]

I was at NAS 3 when it happened. And, yes, there actually was a NAS 3. It was a remote HF transmitter site.

[@lanswyfte]

Wow, I never actually thought someone here did experience it at the base

[@anthonyiocca5683]

Situations develop, escalation to war is preventable in carefully selected scenarios. America must not negotiate with terrorists, we put them out of businesses…

[@ThirdEye...]

Mad officers? Sure there where Americans who should not be there!

[@StephenCole1916]

On board the Achille Lauro when she caught fire in 1994 was entertainer Moss Hills, who was also onboard the Oceanos which sank three years prior. During the Oceanos disaster, the crew abandoned ship and Moss and the rest of the band helped evacuate the passengers. He was also helping with the evacuations three years later during the Achille Lauro disaster as well. Another bit of history, that deserves to be remembered.

[@ThirdEye...]

Not true!

[@TheDevilHydraProdsXXII]

​@@ThirdEye...It is very much true

[@v.e.7236]

I am a wheelchair user and this story is the main reason I will not get on a cruise ship. I remember watching horrified at the news reports about some poor soul tossed off the ship in a wheelchair - and this was just over a decade before I was injured. Since a motorcycle accident paralyzed me from chest down, I've been invited to join several cruises and each time I recall the Achille Lauro event and pass. Paranoid? Yup! I'm too easy a target.

[@LaGrandeBayou]

I hear you but the odds of 1.the odds of Pirates overtaking a carribean or Alaskan cruise ship is nill. 2. The oddd of them choosing you, out if 5000 cruise passengers is also nill. You should reconsider!?

[@v.e.7236]

@@LaGrandeBayou Nah, I'm OK w/o going on cruises. My second biggest reason for not going, besides the afore mentioned, is the uncleanliness of those cabins/rooms; I don't like staying in motel rooms for the same reason - I'm a bit of a germ-aphobe. As for pirates catching up to and boarding a cruise ship - easy peasy. I witnessed it happen in the Caribbean, while on a deep sea fishing boat out of Barbados. Me being in this wheelchair makes me a prime candidate, as I stand out, somewhat, from the other passengers. But you enjoy yourself on whatever cruise you take.

[@savage22bolt32]

@@v.e.7236 44 magnum in a chest rig. But check to see if libtareds run the state first or you will land in jail!

[@v.e.7236]

@@savage22bolt32 LOL!

[@savage22bolt32]

@@v.e.7236 ❤ It's really cool that you posted your original comment 2 yrs ago, and you saw my reply 2 years later.

[@juniorloaf12]

Can you do an episode on the 1971 Solar eclipse chased by a newly designed Concorde prototype, which was fitted with scientific instruments and outran the rotation of the earth to stay in the path of totality for 74 minutes? Its something that will likely never be repeated as it was a confluence of a bunch of unique events

[@nedcode]

Yeah, I think it will be interesting

[@paulsilva3346]

@The History Guy, I too believe I am Intrigued by the premise of this story.

[@juniorloaf12]

@@paulsilva3346 check it out! I remember reading about it when the 2017 North American eclipse was in the headlines and was fascinated. Never again will there be an opportunity for a Mach 2 airplane, big enough to house half a dozen precision scientific instruments and a dozen scientists, which required extensive modifications to the airframe and a very flexible and helpful coalition between two countries who had heavily subsidized the aircraft design, right when an eclipse with a path conducive to supersonic flight.

[@RCAvhstape]

@@juniorloaf12 It would be cool if NASA were to obtain a few B-1B bomber when the USAF retires them in the years to come; they have great speed and payload capacity anyway.

[@juniorloaf12]

@@RCAvhstape yeah the Lancer is an amazing rig... And the USAF had a history of giving NASA its decommissioned planes. Not quite fast enough, Mach 1.25 IIRC. Maybe the Valkyrie or Vulcan? Not sure what the Vulcans top speed is

[@theraven6836]

I remember the Achille Lauro incident well as it was covered extensively on the news but had no knowledge at all of the Sigonela incident, none at all. Wow. Thanks for sharing.

[@mconfalonieri]

I find it extremely interesting that most Italians only remember the confrontation between US and Italian troops of the whole Sigonella incident, while from most comments it seems that in the USA that episode inside the whole crisis was not known.

[@dovbarleib3256]

So the murder of Leon Klinghoffer meant nothing to them. *That is history that should be remembered.*

[@brustdiesel]

That is because, the Italians are, well, Italian...

[@brustdiesel]

@@dovbarleib3256 EXACTLY!

[@scronx]

Why bother? How many innocent Palestinians etc did Israel kill that day? Or today for that matter.

[@scronx]

What do you mean by that? Sounds anti-Italic.

[@ArchFundy]

I vaguely remember this incident, but had no idea of all the complexity involved. Thanks HG for rounding out my understanding of a moment in time that could have changed history. TG for "cooler heads".

[@robertclifton5795]

I also appreciate this and all his videos . Funny thing is these things happen all the time from one degree to another we have no idea about .....

[@wrightmf]

Yes, I clearly remember this incident and saw a booth at a air force base open house selling shirts. One of them a airliner surrounded by F14s "you can run but you can't hide." I remembered when the Italians released the leader of the hijackers and the complaints, but even in 1985 it was clear Italy could have been a close target for terrorists. Unlike the US which is an ocean away. However, I had no idea how close US and Italy were in a shooting war about the same time my favorite actress Gina Lollobrigida appeared on Falcon Crest (the only time I watched one of those Dynasty type TV shows because Gina was a guest star). Unthinkable both these countries would be at war with each other. Yes, I second that thank God for cooler heads.

[@chrishaynesusa]

I was on the flight line that night in Sicily, working on C-2's and T-39's for VR-24. The Delta force had come in 2-3 days earlier and crews assembled H-53's if I remember right. The Delta force commandos had taken over my hangar and set up their cots and proceeded to clean and lube their weapons and gear. Some time on the evening being reported, my Senior chief came out to the flight line and told all of the night shift to put our tools down and go to the ready room on the second floor of our hangar NOW!. we did. We were left in there for the remainder of the event. One Delta force guy came up during the early part of the evening and told one of my airman to call the base hospital and tell them to prepare for gunshot wound treatment. Our T-39 was indeed used by the General to keep track of where the Italian were going. The Italians tried to close the runway and not let our T-39 take off, but the General ordered our to pilots to use a service road adjacent to the runway and he then followed them to mainland Italy. SIDE NOTE:The picture shown of the T-39 was from VRC-30(VR-30) at the time, the actual squadron designation should have been of a T-39 with VR-24 marking and squadron designations. This report was spot on!! It was an interesting time to be sure, during the Reagan years. Especially since Carter had us run every time there was an engagement. AMH1 Haynes USN(ret) former member of VR-24

[@rhondamcphaill9718]

@harry b do you know anything about military history are about history itself and you would know that US special forces went after the people that killed our troops in Lebanon I know my husband spent 6 mounths tracking them down

[@lanswyfte]

That's good to know, never thought two people were there and would be in this comment section

[@westernjeep4015]

The bluejackets tell the real stories, like you. CTR2

[@mrgmmiller]

Awesome details from eyes on. Thank you for your service!

[@area415]

@chrishaynesusa Did you have a visual on the Egyptian aircraft from the hangar? Some have reported three "rings" of armed forces: Italians surrounded the plane, Americans surrounded the Italians, and a third ring of Italian surrounded the Americans. Do you have any recollection of that?

[@albertoamoruso7711]

09:35 I'd like to know how being surrounded by Italian carabinieri armed with SMG would have resolved in the Americans winning.

[@andreabolognesi9232]

Sti americani se devono guardà meno hollywood e giocà a meno call of duty..

[@albertoamoruso7711]

@Pierre LeDouche Carabinieri is not just a police or gendarmerie force, back then it was a proper armed force with the same heavy military equipment of the conventional Italian army (or, in many cases, even better). As a matter of fact we also deployed armored cars armed with .50 cal HMG on the airstrip. But even if we just had M12s, SEAL and Delta are not invulnerable bullet-proof supermen, they were so close to our muzzles that they would have been torn to shreds if we opened fire. Or do you believe that war is like a Rambo movie?

[@randomthoughts28]

60 seals surrounding 60 Italians, in turn surrounded by 450 Italians from 2 different battallions, armed with tanks and heavy machine guns mounted on armoured vehicles (notice that a battallion is 500 to 1000 men, so probably another 500 or more soldiers were on hand, not to count that on Italian territory, and with no way for their planes to take off again, the Americans would have had nowhere to go in any case). If the selas fired they would have been annihilated. Americans think Hollywood movies are real. And unfortunately our well-dressed host doesn't seem immune from it

[@lukarancini1630]

@@albertoamoruso7711 it wasn’t just back then. The Carabinieri are still a superbly trained special force, that deploys in almost every Nato war. Italian Special Forces are no joke.

[@JAKFLY28]

@@lukarancini1630 😂😂…ok…

[@danielhammersley2869]

My late Father was stationed at USN base in Naples as a SIGINT Chief Petty Officer. He co-ordinated the air to land/ air to sea communications here. I visited him there, the winter of '85-86. Thank you for this side of that story sir.

[@andrewhall6867]

Please do John Manjiro (John Mung). One of my favorite, and important, historical figures who gets very little attention outside of Japan. He was a Japanese fisherman castaway that was saved by a whaling ship, transported to Boston, educated, crossed the US in the gold rush, got wealthy enough to buy his own ship, returned to Japan, was made a samurai, became an influential court translator, became a naval navigator and captain that had a huge influence in naval tactics in the lead up to the Russo-Japanese war. Cool dude, and he deserves to be remembered.

[@jamesdolph437]

Dolph says do it

[@d-drizzle]

That guy sounds like a badass I'd like to hear his story

[@dragonsword7370]

I support this topic for a video inclusion. Please history guy, hear our plea!

[@tommy-er6hh]

that sounds like an interesting story, kind of like the story of the black samurai.

[@GrahamCStrouse]

Andrew Hall Wow! I concur!

[@whyyousobudu]

Amazes me that a people on youtube are consistently able to make videos about little known, very interesting , well produced shorts like this, while major broadcasters fall short.

[@ThirdEye...]

Manipolate dad is side! Not true at all!

[@mondodimotori]

Something I noticed is partially missing in this video, probably because there aren't many international documents about it, is the role of italian foreign office in the negotiation. Their intervention probably avoided a massive blodshed on that ship.

[@badlaamaurukehu]

I wish I had done a Med Cruise. We were trained differently specifically because of this very incident.

[@ThirdEye...]

Italian did what they had to do, the US military and government acted as Italy was one of their colonies!

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

​@@ThirdEye...This better be a joke.

[@darklight6013]

Funny how the US special force's commander talks about his "fear about a mistake that would lead to a lot of italian casualties" when, in fact, they where the one surrounded by an overwhelming italian force with even light tanks by its side... The cowboy must have seen too much western movies.

[@33moneyball]

Hundreds of Italian cops would’ve died in a actual firefight….so yes it’s a valid concern politically.

[@darklight6013]

@@33moneyball They were not "cops" but Carabinieri, which is an elite army corp, they surrounded the us soldiers and had machine guns and light tanks to their disposal... No doubt some of that carbinieri's would have died but... unless the americans had invulnerable skin to bullets... energy fields around their bodies... or any other superhero BS 😅 it would have been a MASSACRE for the american soldiers

[@era8dwain930]

@@darklight6013they had a whole air craft carrier as qrf and there where us jets on the other side of the airport since it was a nato air port

[@L.J.Kommer]

Well. That was a hell of a clusterfuck.

[@tonyzamiar2948]

1

[@tonyzamiar2948]

And

[@gilbertreeves2084]

Yes, It is a reminder that the USA will bend and respect allies.Even if they competely disagree.

[@simonrisley2177]

Whatever that might mean. (Can you speak English?)

[@johnjayforsberg]

One of your best, yet. As a teenager at the time, I remember that event well but had no idea it was as tense as it was. Amazing content, sir.

[@t.anthony3940]

(The History Guy) You are the BEST history teacher I have ever heard of!! Your delivery is spot on and just watching you tell the story. Your face lights up, even with a smirk on it.. Thank you for all your effort and time in these stories.......

[@docvolt5214]

Omg as an Italian I'm happy someone finally covered this

[@thecommentaryking]

@Libs Hate Montesquieu "sucking off". Yeah how about no. They stood up for ther sovereignty and tried the terrorists

[@flaviusbelisarius1408]

@Libs Hate Montesquieu terrorists who killed an american wheeled man, who cares?

[@carta8399]

@Libs Hate Montesquieu you have to understand that allie doesn't mean slave, if the prime minister said that you could not have the guy, then you don't get to have him

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

All while Emmitt Brown was finishing his modifications to his Delorean.

[@killian9314]

and he broke his deal with the lybians

[@Jaminhawk]

@@killian9314 Where did the Lybians get the plutonium in the first place?

[@justtime6736]

@@killian9314 Lybians??

[@EdwardRLyons]

Excellent episode. Thank you for a great, concise run through an episode that truly demonstrates the extreme complexity that all too often is glossed over in contemporary news reports and in histories written many years after the fact.

[@johnday7362]

Thank you, I vaguely remember this hostage incident. I very much appreciate the uninvolved manner in which you presented the facts. It is rare to hear an unbiased report on a historical event. And thank you again for bringing to our attention the significance of the countries involved.

[@fortunatoazzara]

A friend of my uncle, Massimo, still remembers that 12th of October like It was yesterday, 35 years later. At that time he was a 19 yrs old doing the draft, stationed at Syracuse. It was a saturday, their day off, so you have to imagine him and his section returning at their barracks half drunken and expecting to be punished because they were late. Instead they found their ncos screaming at them, saying they had to be ready in full equipment in 10 minutes. About an hour later they were at Sigonella blocking the entrances to the American sector of the base. What had happened was unexpected: the two tower operators had realized that the Americans where only telling half the story, only the civilian plane and the four f14s where authorized to land, the moment they saw two more planes landing, those carring the Seals, they informed their officer, who had the Egypthian plane parked in the italian sector and immediately informed the Commander of the base, the VAM (the security force of the base) and the Carabinieri (serving as military police). The rest Is history.

[@ECHOFOXTROT289]

Interessante avere anche il punto di vista italiano, grazie

[@fortunatoazzara]

@@ECHOFOXTROT289 di nulla

[@filippodifranco8225]

When we had a prime minister who was able to teach Americans that they are not the masters of the world and cannot do what the fuck they want, especially in the home of others.

[@Bkings7]

@vachiefno they don't lmao

[@bloodybones63]

@@filippodifranco8225 Ignorant boy, America let you live. you know what Seal Team 6 & Delta Force would have done to an Italian army? lololol

[@erictaylor5462]

7:40 FYI When a land based plane fails to make a landing it is called a "go around" not a wave off. That is only for planes landing on a carrier. A go around is not a big deal. In fact they happen quite often for any number of reasons. Most pilots will perform a go around even while still in training, aside from a preplanned practice go around.

[@stanfordholman5301]

I am blown away by this story! I am a naval veteran and a history nerd, how have I never heard of this????? Once again THG has knocked it out of the park! Well done Sir!!!!

[@goldenu2]

I love your videos: expert, concise delivery, brief but not lacking depth due to that brevity, and your personal deliver are all excellent. Thank you for your work.

[@garryturgiss8551]

I only recently discovered your channel. I absolutely love it. I binge watch it all the time. Thankyou for putting intellectual content on the web.

[@hollyfoxThe]

Yeah, I was in charge of the remote transmitter site that handled all of the fleet communications during this. It was a harrowing experience and the crew ran their butts off keeping transmitters on line and tuned to often called for frequency changes. We all received a letter of commendation from SECDEF for out support.

[@johndufford5561]

Way to go, hollyfoxThe. Looks like you all did your jobs very, very well. Thank you, sir!

[@hollyfoxThe]

@@johndufford5561 Thank you.

[@ThirdEye...]

Be shame on yourselves on how you acted! Deliberate invasion of a allied country!

[@lindasnow3960]

This one was frustrating. But you did a great job telling this bit of history. Thanks for all the hard work to bring this channel to the air. Great job folks!👍

[@chrisdominguez7485]

Great job on bringing the story to life! Your narrative made me relive the actual event!!

[@tinkmarshino]

you must work awful hard to come up with some of these stories! You never fail to amaze me.. thanks very much for all you do.. carry on!

[@goobfilmcast4239]

Wow, I was an enlisted sailor on the USS Saratoga when this went down... very dicey time !.... experienced the interception in realtime in the Combat Information Center working as a Data Systems Tech

[@mwhitelaw8569]

Ended up being quite the clusterf#!k One of my neighbors in NC was a Delta operator on that "job" His description wasn't far off of this

[@goobfilmcast4239]

@@mwhitelaw8569 Not to belabor the point (Delta Dude was spot on).....Italy was just a few years distant from the Aldo Moro incident and the activities of the Red Brigade (the Red Brigade was on the ropes but Italian authorities were afraid of a RB and PLO "convergence")....Italian leadership at the time totally wussed out....At the end of my career I was stationed at Sigonella (during the second Iraq war) and we couldn't take a pee without the Italian's permission....total BS

[@januszkowalski5345]

@@goobfilmcast4239 Come on ! The Red Bridage scare was a false flag US/NATO project , part of "Operation Gladio". There was a parliamentary investigation in italy on that. The NATO created special stay-behind forces in case of a Russian invasion;). As none was coming (how unkind of teh commies ;)and the security jobs could not be lost these trained killers were used by you know whom to dicredit the strong communist movement in western Europe by staging false flag operations like kidnppings, killings, bomb attacks etc. and ascribing them invariably to the communist units created ad hoc be the US/NATO brain trust. It was a bloody lie but it did work ...until the investigations found out the ugly truth behind the swinery organized by Uncle Sam. Of course , nobody was punished, jailed and executed for the NATO crimes ... Try to check things heard from the massmedia before believing anything.

[@goobfilmcast4239]

@@januszkowalski5345 I am not a "conspiracy person" but there was a botched Kidnapping by the RB of a US General Named Dozier....hmmmm.....food for thought

[@ceddavis]

@@goobfilmcast4239 Do more research. It was not "botched". The RB actually grabbed BG Dozier, and held him for a while (I'm sure the length is easily found on the internet). Eventually, the Italians located them and an anti-terrorism unit raided the apartment and freed Dozier. FYI, a few years later I met Dozier at a reception at Ft. Knox.

[@lord_scrubington]

My man, you provide an incredible service to this platform. keep doing what you do, it holds true informational value.

[@DeclanMBrennan]

Although I was aware of this hijaking I had no idea of these fascinating and complex machinations behind the scenes. Thanks for all your careful research and entertaining delivery.

[@JimmyDickens1]

I was stationed at NAS Sigonella for three years. Great duty! Awesome food, wine, people.

[@bendowden9453]

I was in Sig for two years, 2000-2001. Loved it! Best two years in the Navy.

[@JimmyDickens1]

ben dowden I just missed you: I deployed with VP-11 to Sig in 1993; then 95-98 pcs’d to TSC Sig. then I went to CVN 71 USS TR and did a Med cruise in 99. Then deployed with VP 16 in 2002 to Sig. just couldn’t get away. Now I’d like to go back!

[@bendowden9453]

@@JimmyDickens1 Nice! I was with PWD I was a Seabee 99-07. Left Sig and went to NMCB 133.

[@JimmyDickens1]

ben dowden Outstanding! A good friend of mine was a Seabee: CAPT Alex Stites. What I remember most about the Sig Seabees was their three-legged dog that ran loose around the base. I don’t know his real name, but we all called him Tri-dog!

[@hollyfoxThe]

Yes it was. Was Momma Mias still outside the gate?

[@hopefullylost4012]

What an incredible real story that was! Many times, sequence of international events becomes better story than any novels. The dramatic twists and turns are so good and even seem comical. Thanks for the story. Surely to be remembered.

[@conspiraciesarejustgreatst2059]

Ya know, I think your(The History Guy) the first KZbinr I'm gonna buy merchandise from! I think your taking a subject that most grade school kids find boring and turning it into an educational form of entertainment. That's huge. I wasn't interested in history until I was an adult...around 22. Your format makes it far more interesting because you give brief yet informative descriptions along with great pictures and clips. Thank you for that!

[@k9crazy974]

I remember the Achille Laro highjacking but never knew about all the other drama you detailed here. Well done, history guy! Keep up the great work.

[@Lndmk227]

I had no idea the Italians were so ballsy. Bravo.

[@easygoing2479]

I remember when this was happening back when... fascinating to learn of all the details! My question is: Why do people find so much entertainment in shallow movies and brainless television series, when there is more 'real' material to learn from history? Investigating and studying episodes like this would foster an understanding of how things really work (not fiction), and lead to a better informed citizenry.

[@Spawn-td8bf]

I remember this event as 1985 holds a particular significance to me, it was the year I got married. Thank you so much for shedding light on an issue that seemed to hold more components then the people of authority were letting on. Your work is invaluable in this age of misinformation. Take care and God Bless from Florida.

[@benhobe]

I recently found your channel - your presentations are wonderful. This is one of those "I was there" instances for me. Thanks for filling in details I never heard about.

[@TheMadMurf]

What an absolutely crazy incident. I was too young at the time to be aware of any of it, so thanks for helping us remember!

[@runekrane]

this is by far the best history channel on youtube

[@Sportwing1800]

Being present for some of the events you cover in your presentations, I am always amazed at how much more information comes out and the various perception of events from back then. It makes me wonder how historians yet to come will present events happening today. This has been a tumultuous year.

[@jcavenagh]

This is a particularly fine example of your craft. Thank you for publishing the video.

[@KMACKTIME]

That bow tie is bloody brilliant.

[@christopherarner8322]

Not everyone can wear a bow tie. This gentleman wears it well.

[@AA-xo9uw]

Reminiscent of Mark Russell.

[@robbabcock_]

Ah, the curse of living in interesting times! I remember well the hijacking of the Achille Lauro but I didn't know at the time just how complex an international incident it sparked. Thanks!

[@dat2ra]

How well you explained this very complicated event. Thanks, HG!

[@heatice77]

You always provide just the right amount of details, thanks

[@sandrastreifel6452]

Thank you for this memory. It’s an excellent point that the “Achille Lauro” was of Italian registry, and under the Law of the Sea, these crimes occurred in Italy!

[@loki2240]

I wonder if Italy would've prosecuted the PLF "negotiator" if the U.S. and Italy hadn't gotten into a dick measuring contest.

[@josephdestaubin7426]

Some of the crimes happened while in an Egyptian port. I don't know if this matters or not. But I would guess, and it's only a guess, that the law of the sea wouldn't apply. Edit: I just looked it up and it appears that Egypt did indeed have responsibility for criminal activity while at port in Egyptian territorial waters. UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/part2.htm

[@alexanderstrickland9036]

They murdered an American Period. The only real issue I have with American actions was the forced landing of the airliner in Italian territory without clearance.

[@sandrastreifel6452]

Alexander Strickland: International law applies to Americans, too!

[@loki2240]

@@sandrastreifel6452 - In theory. In practice, military and economic might make right.

[@fabiosemino2214]

Kudos for even mentioning this, I was aware of the fact but there were details I did not know about!

[@Rocdog]

I absolutely love these stories. As a retired Firefighter, SAC and Gulf War Veteran, I appreciate all these forgotten pieces of history. Some of which I’ve been part of. Thank you sir.

[@sortedsortof3474]

This was VERY interesting. Things are rarely as clear cut as they appear and this seemed to explain clearly. Thank you.

[@James-oo1yq]

As a 12 year old British kid at the time I remember this incident, especially vivid was the name of the ship. I didn't realise there was so much to the story of this hijacking, and how close Italy and the US came to "disagree". Thanks for this, I hope to see more videos of incidents from my youth

[@danielefabbro822]

There's the incident of Checkpoint Pasta, in Mogadisciu, one year prior of the battle the americans fought and lost in Somalia.

[@Michalis2m]

I was 15 and remember the news sighting the ship’s name but was completely oblivious to the politics of it, it was a time when hijackings and terrorism were all over the place and sort of desensitized me, only to be shaken by it as i grasped its gravity growing older. From 🇨🇾.

[@patrickmcglonejr8163]

A wise man once said "Every great story has pirates"

[@petej8556]

Was that Tony Blair or Gorgeous Gordon Brown who said that?

[@sidharthcs2110]

In this case one side had tomcats

[@54356776]

@@petej8556 He said wise man...

[@seanlehmann4235]

Great summary of that incredible episode in history. Thanks for your work.

[@skip123davis]

impressive! very well researched, and presented. i'm old enough to remember all that, but never in such vivid detail as you've offered. very well done sir, and i'm now a subscriber.

[@ihave1god]

Another great video. I would have loved to be a student of your in school, your teaching is outstanding and you make almost every thing interesting. I especially love the videos about the military. Thanks again and God bless.

[@Mixedpuppy]

The first time I heard about the armed stand off was from the book “Rogue Warrior” by SEAL Team 6 Founder Richard Marcinko in 1992. He described some detail about it but I never realized the magnitude of the incident and big picture until now. Great clip and breakdown of the incident.

[@ThirdEye...]

They should have been on martial court, occupying military an Italian airport ; shame on arrogant USA

[@KokkiePiet]

Fun fact, the Aquila Lauro was the former Willem Ruys, which was the ship on which my mother sailed to Indonesia in 1948.

[@learemington1700]

I really love your historical presentations.

[@skeeterhoney]

Interesting note about the fear of the lack of discipline on the part of the Italian troops. You showed the symbol of the Carabinieri as you said that, and from my own experience seeing them in action (even in a professional setting), I'd say that they're the most disciplined "regular" forces the Italians field. Crazy story... You presented it magnificently.

[@Happy-wb8gi]

Mate, as a Brit Italian, check out the Colmoskin, Italy were the first to have SF and are very underrated because people are ignorant and think of the 2ww. But Italians are second to no one, trust me.

[@anthonyiocca5683]

@@Happy-wb8gicapisci

[@Noname-xi7xi]

@@Happy-wb8gi It's called 9° Reggimento Col Moschin and it's part of the Folgore Brigade which took part in the WWII Battle of El Alamein, Africa. The Folgore Brigade received the honor of the arms from the allies because they kept fighting till they had only stones left to use against an enemy which was better equipped and in greater numbers. If you really want to be impressed then you should check out the COMSUBIN (Comando Subacqueo Incursori) which is the Navy SF and has a long and impressive tradition.

[@Noname-xi7xi]

@skeeter honey Well said and I totaly agree with your statement regarding the discipline and professionalism. I wouldn't consider the Carabinieri as "regular" forces though since they have an important place in the Italian history which brought them today as an indepedent Armed Force completely separtated from the Army to which they belonged in the past. The Arma dei Carabinieri is a very rich and powerful resource which has been used throughout the centuries to control the entire Italian territoty. If you think about it in every town in Italy, even the smallest one and less known you will always find three important figures: The Mayor (Sindaco), the Priest (Prete) and the Marshal from the Carabinieri (Maresciallo dei Carabinieri). Every Italian citizen has a file which is kept in the hands of the Carabinieri, if you need to have information on any local citizen you need to ask the local Carabinieri station (Stazione dei Carabinieri) and you can be sure that they'll pull out a file on whatever person you're looking for. Last but not least they are very well equipped and totaly independent and can carry out operations by land, sea and air without any problems.

[@anthonyiocca5683]

@@Noname-xi7xi Carabinieri files have dirt placed in them, just like here in America…

[@davidchristensen2970]

Your ability to refrain from editorializing is impressive.

[@cheddar2648]

That's why we have the Comments Crew. :}

[@thomasschwartz555]

He did editorialize - the same sneaky way Walter Cronkite would criticize Reagan and still call it journalism

[@titan126]

Great video - no one delivers a history lesson like The History Guy!

[@Mike7O7O]

I remember this, as well as the film footage of Leon Klinghoffer being thrown off the ship. I had no idea until now, of all the behind the scenes machinations. Huge thanks for sharing.

[@davidwdorr6636]

I was in the Navy, on station in Beirut during the hijacking of TWA 847 in June of that year. We had to stay there a very long time, and it was hot as hell itself.

[@johnjacobs1625]

Thanks for your service buddy! JJ VF-142 75-79 AE3

[@BlasphemousBill2023]

I remember the incident on the News at the time. nice to know the full story! Thanks !

[@jimhill2087]

Great video! This is one of my favs now! I grew up as and 80s teen, and never knew about most of this. You, sir, are a national treasure!👍🏻

[@jerryking7146]

My family was stationed in Sigonella when this happened. I remember it well, especially since my father was leading the team of NIS Agents when they forced the Egyptian airliner down in Sigonella. Good job covering this! I never knew if the US public was aware of all that went on with this incident.

[@ThirdEye...]

Sigonella at the time was an Italian Base, not even a NATO manage! So, before telling craps on us Italians, we had our rights and acted normally! You all should be ashamed on how USA acted!

[@jameslukac6951]

I remember that incident; or at least the little we were told about it in Australia. Great explanation. Thank you.

[@mandywalkden-brown7250]

James Lukac - your memory appears to be failing. We were constantly informed of the events unfolding!

[@jameslukac6951]

@@mandywalkden-brown7250 Yeah my knees are also failing. I remember the constant coverage of the ship side of things, and a little about the flight, but this is the first I have heard about the stand off between the US and Italian military; or for that matter the political tensions which accompanied the matter.

[@Gnashes]

Just sat down with my morning coffee only to see a video published 1 minute ago. Must be my lucky day!

[@DanaX09]

Many of your stories happened in my lifetime, and yet time and time again I find myself asking….why haven’t I heard about this before now? Good job on covering historical events, as I wholeheartedly subscribe to the adage that “those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.” In an age where history is actively being obscured and judged by standards that did not exist at the time of the event…it’s refreshing to hear the story told with factual honesty and explained intelligently.

[@I_am_a_cat_]

Glad to see your channel doing so well :)

[@firstconsul7286]

Coming to this after watching the pilot of the lead F-14 (who spooked the pilot with his lights and forced him to turn to Sicily) tell his story. Probably should have watched it the other way around, but it was cool knowing just what he knew, then learning the whole story.

[@ThirdEye...]

Doing what ever you wanted to on Italian territory? Thanks god us Italian didn’t shot down your planes flying on Italian territory!

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Superb overview of the Sigonella incident. An excellent video illustrating the complexities of diplomacy.

[@ThirdEye...]

Diplomacy? You tell things totally wrong and on US sides!

[@terryrussel3369]

ANOTHER EXCELLENT TUTORIAL ! Trivia: My husband was a member of Saratoga's crew that year. When the crew returned home from that cruise many had T-shirts stating " U.S.S. SARATOGA : When it absolutely positively has to be their overnight." ( I sure wish I knew what happened to it ! His sister was supposed to put it in a shadow box frame as a memento.) That was certainly for us another scary time in the history of my sailor's career.

[@yeoldescratch3345]

Seriously impressed with your memorabilia collection behind you

[@jhcarp]

The Italian government was very upset that they could not close Sigonella to air traffic. While it is nominally an Italian base the US controls most of it including local air traffic, the airport tower, most of the aircraft ramps and the crash crew. Subsequent to the Achille Lauro event the Italians based an armored Carabinieri unit in Catania, near Sigonella, with the express purpose of rolling armored vehicles on to the runway to prevent aircraft operations if required.

[@ThirdEye...]

Ease an Italian base controlled by Italy, not even a NATO one , as it is now! So, stop acting as Italy is and was one of your colonies!

[@johngalt2506]

The F14s may not have been carrying missiles but the magazines for their Vulcan cannons were certainly loaded.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Kevin Storms in fact, with all tracer rounds. One issue that has still not been clarified is whether they had been authorized to shoot the plane down.

[@razor1uk610]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I'm sure a few warning bursts ahead & across the the nose of the airliner, of 20mm could've been allowed, or plain ignored and overlooked if needed due to the craft making a sudden movement... Even if the 20mm rounds were inert practice tracer rounds, are still more than to damage an civillian bird, if not outright cripple its flying ability outright. Luckly as it was indicated he/it was 'boxed in' seemed enough for the pilot - let alone stop the oboard terrorists/activists not attempting to take over control of the 'craft itself from the pilot.

[@jeffg.8924]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannelHaving all tracers would make for one hell of a light show (with implied threat) for the pilot of the plane carrying the terrorist.

[@sadwingsraging3044]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel This is Reagan we are talking about here,,, authorization would have been known by the ships captain already and I think we all know what would have been the answer if it came to letting the terrorist go or knocking the plane out of the sky. Ask the French ambassador to Libya......

[@mattbuchanan2580]

You beat me to it! 20mm cannons go through commercial airliners like tissue paper if authorized. Great show, presenter and channel. Thank you!

[@twosocks8088]

Remember the incident, but knew none of the facts. You make me realize how far modern journalists have sunk. Thanks for making journalism great again.

[@fourthhorseman4531]

I remember that incident very well, I was 14 at the time, but I never heard about any of the inter-state tensions and standoffs. Great video! Thanks!

[@falloutlover5443]

Ah, good ol' American military. "We're surrounded; all attempts to avoid combat will be taken, opponent casualty rate would be unfortunate."

[@Ciborium]

"We're surrounded by the enemy. We got them right where we want them." -- Delta Force or SEAL Team 6, probably

[@jimgolab536]

Baylor Blackwell Most likely, all statements were exactly true.

[@theshocker4626]

"We really dont want to wipe out all these spaghetti benders...so tell them to behave."

[@OmarTheAtheistAziz]

...not even their "opponent"...they were worried about their Allies, the Italians...that they might have to hurt them

[@thomasparker8449]

i spent 2 years in 89 and 90 in sigonella working with the italian military, He wasn't lying they would of massacred the Italians, they were a joke.

[@lopezalehandro1666]

"Pilots on board the US and Italian jets exchanged colorful epithets over the radio about their respective intentions, family heritage, and sexual preferences." Wikipedia - Achille Lauro hijacking

[@007ejt007]

Another great history lesson! I love your channel... Please keep them coming!

[@scootermom1791]

Wow! I remember the 1985 TWA hijacking, being scared to death for the passengers, and waiting on pins and needles every day for them to be released. But, i don't even remember seeing this on the news. I watched this after doing a search for the TWA 1985 hijacking because I wanted to watch old news clips about that. Glad you posted this! I just subscribed to your channel for, hopefully, non-biased accounts of historical events. 🙂

[@1369buddy]

I remembered Leon klinghoffer & the Cruise ship incident.... I never heard the rest of this story till I saw this I'm amazed the Mossod didn't kill these terrorists, years later

[@mokalhor]

When I was I kid I kept hearing "achille lauro" on the news on TV that my father was watching. Only the name of the ship stuck in my head. Now I know the whole story.

[@brycestacker9282]

Stellar episode mate. Well done.

[@stevegirard817]

I love history! And now I love this channel! This is great! Thank you!

[@RickG151]

I was in college when they hijacked that ship and killed that man. I remember it .

[@kevinaustin5342]

Didn't they shove his body overboard while still in his wheelchair?

[@jlselc]

@@kevinaustin5342 yes

[@RCAvhstape]

I remember it also. I really couldn't care less if some Italian or Egyptian politician gets bent out of shape over it; those bastards murdered an American citizen and I'm fine with the Navy and other services hunting them down and bending the rules to do it. We must never forget, and they must have no safe haven.

[@bruce2357]

Sounds like you are close to my age so I'm sure you remember Robert Dean Stethem.

[@dukecraig2402]

Frederick Gundlach We must be the same age because I was in the Army at the same time it happened.

[@crowman5936]

If I remember right they rolled that guy in his wheelchair overboard to kill him by drowning.

[@rutabagasteu]

Yes. A cowardly act.

[@MartinSolomon]

They shot him twice, then threw him over.

[@fukpoeslaw3613]

@@rutabagasteu how should they have done it less cowardly?

[@TonyRule]

I've only recently found this channel but I have to say I love the content, especially since "The History Guy" actually interacts with the commenters on his videos. He's clearly passionate about the subjects rather than just the income.

[@rwburdett]

Best history on KZbin. Detailed, engaging, but also often quirky (as human's are).