Fifty Years Ago Today, December 8, 1965

McNamara Outlines Defenses Shakeup

Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced today actions that will reduce the U.S. long-range bomber force to about a third of its present strength, but hinted that a new advanced plane may be built.

Lighter Poncho

The increased need for ponchos in the wet, tropical conditions of Viet Nam has started the Infantry Board at Fort Benning testing a new lightweight poncho. The test poncho is the same size and shape but weighs half as much as the present 2.6 pound poncho.

Phenix By-Pass

The Phenix City By-pass will stretch forward another 4.8 miles after machinery gets rolling Dec. 17 to let contracts. The new extension will begin at Broad Street and Seale Road, travel (parallel) to Seale Road, go under the Bypass between Seale Road and Sandfort Road, continue south and come back into Highway 431 a mile below the city limits.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Fifty Years Ago Today, December 8, 1965 ."