Thank you, Wayne.
What those men went through to defeat a nation that was hungry for resorces and had no respect for people of other countries is almost unimaginal to us . I am currently reading Volume 2 of Jerome T Hagen' s three volume work War in the Pacific, and I am to his description of the taking of Iwo Jima.
Johnny
I just received this a few minutes ago, a bit late for Memorial Day, but it's so moving I have to pass it along.
If this doesn't break your heart, don't worry, you probably don't have one anyway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpt6Bvr2L-s
"Lest we forget."
54light15 Ike might have called it a two and a half ton truck but the GIs called it a deuce and a half. But you knew that.
Ike might have called it a two and a half ton truck but the GIs called it a deuce and a half. But you knew that.
Quite true. Some Marines were still calling the trucks "deuce-and-a-halfs" during my time, but that phrase was on the way out. The more common name was "six-by," as in 6 x 6, for the all-wheel drive capability.
Thanks 54, that's the first time I've heard it. Good song!
I'll tell you, I'm glad to see the C-47 and the Troop Carrier Wings being showcased, I had two uncles who served in the same.
I believe it was General Eisenhower who said the most important weapons in the American arsenal were the C-47, the "two-and-a-half-ton" truck, and the Higgins landing craft.
It would be nice a B-17 and B-24 made an appearance. Unfortunately, neither plane had enough range to cross the Atlantic without refueling stops. Goose Bay, Keflavik and Belfast were the stops on Dad's flight to England in 1944.
Stephen Ambrose gave the 8th and 9th Air Forces short shrift in "D-Day".
They are still being flown in Northern Canada in the winter as the guys that fly them haven't found another aircraft that can do the job as well.
Give a listen, you'll like this. When I was a kid, my father had an album of airplane songs by Oscar Brand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-5BF2PpV_c
Thanks for reminding me 54, I should have included the Navy / Marine Corps designator "R4D" as well, although that would have had some people scratching their heads.
The last versions of the DC-3, the "Super DC-3," were still in service when I was in the Corps in the '70s, however they were called C-117's. Very popular with the men who flew them, I might add. Everyone called them "Hummers," since having recip engines they "hummed" while the jets screamed and roared. Needless to say this was long before the "Hummer" vehicle came on the scene.
Speaking of the DC-3/C-47/R4D/Dakota, I was at a car show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania this past weekend and every day a C-47 flew overhead. Invasion stripes, too. Followed by a P-51 Mustang. Sweet music, life is good.
Daks over Normandy sounds awesome! I've been to IWM Duxford- you can fly in a Tiger Moth, a DeHavilland Dragon Rapide or a 2-seat Spitfire, all for a fee. Guess what I'm doing next year!
Thanks Sam! There was an article in the local paper about one of those aircraft, "That's All Brother," a week or so ago. "That's All Brother" is an actual D-Day veteran, bought as a hulk and restored to flying condition by the Commemorative Air Force organization.
The DC-3 / C-47. In my opinion due to excellence of design, the ability to handle any job given it, and sheer longevity (look how many are still flying, doing what they were meant to do) the greatest airplane of all time. For now.
At the risk of being the one who invited a skunk into the family picnic....
I found the following linked article @ https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-dday-75th-anniversary-squadron-trip-oxford-20190518-k535nyev55edna3rjgjhrzt6wy-story.html
"From Connecticut to Normandy, vintage planes help mark 75th anniversary of D-Day" By Jesse Leavenworth| Hartford Courant |May 18, 2019
FTA: "...vintage warplanes bearing the black and white invasion stripes of Operation Overlord are set to take off from Connecticut on Sunday for a return flight to Europe.
Placid Lassie, D-Day Doll, That’s All, Brother and other planes of the D-Day Squadron are to depart from Waterbury-Oxford Airport and leapfrog across the Atlantic to take part in Daks Over Normandy. The international gathering of volunteer pilots, crews and historic planes is to culminate on June 5 with a jump by about 250 paratroopers into the same drop zones used in the June 6, 1944 invasion..."
Seems like an event that is appropriate to mention in this Thread about "Historic Warbirds". Wonder how many 'other' WWII aircraft will make the journey to celebrate the 75th Anniversay of 'D-Day"?
Those photos are marvelous, like they were taken yesterday! Thanks for posting them!
OK, back to old airplanes- you've got to see these!
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2019/feb/25/the-second-world-war-in-colour-pictures
That's right, the "Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."
That's when the armistice took effect. I suspect Marshal Ferdinand Foch was being a little poetic. Then again, it would take time to get the word out.
And this veterans day take a little time out to remember those Doughboys, Marines, Sailors, and pioneer Airmen who fought that war. Now all gone down "The Long, Long Trail" but hopefully not forgotten.
switch7frg Bob, time and tide change things , but memories live on forever. Such as 11/18 -18.
Bob, time and tide change things , but memories live on forever. Such as 11/18 -18.
and wasn't it 1100 hr on 11/11/18 ?
I wonder if he ever encountered one of these rare Pfeils (Do 335):
Or more likely, an Me 262:
"Veteran pilot, 97, who flew 50 bombing raids over Germany during WWII fulfils lifelong dream of flying a Spitfire after a 70 year wait"
FTA:'...A Mosquito pilot who flew 50 bombing raids over Germany in World War Two has fulfilled his dream of flying a Spitfire after a 70 year wait.
Colin S Bell, 97, took to the skies again at Boultbee Flight Academy in Chichester, in a two-seater Spitfire TR9.
Mr Bell flew Merlin engine powered Mosquito bombers for the RAF's Pathfinder Group during WWII and said his Spitfire experience was 'better than I expected.'
He said: 'I have had this fantastic experience…flying in a Spitfire, something I've always wanted to do, and today is the culmination of that ambition…It was even better than I expected.'
Mr Bell, whose full title is Flt/Lt (Ret'd) Colin S Bell DFC AE FRICS IRRV(Hons) RAF (Ret'd) flew for 608 & 162 Squadrons, part of the Pathfinder Group - an elite, hand-picked bunch of the RAF's most skilled pilots and navigators.
Colin completed 50 such bombing raids - all of them over Germany and 13 over Berlin.
Boultbee Flight Academy invited the retired great grandfather-of-four to fly with instructor Chris in their two-seat Spitfire TR9..."
The article is complete with still photos, and video, for anyone interested it is linked @ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6366841/Veteran-pilot-97-flew-50-bombing-raids-WWII-fulfils-dream-flying-Spitfire.html
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
Firelock76 What do you say we get this back to classic aircraft? How's a restored, original, Hispano-Suiza engined SPAD XIII grab you? Direct from La Belle France, here it is... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_HhHSt7qlA
What do you say we get this back to classic aircraft?
How's a restored, original, Hispano-Suiza engined SPAD XIII grab you?
Direct from La Belle France, here it is...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_HhHSt7qlA
+1. No offense taken. I just wanted to put it in context.
765's not germane to this discussion, but no matter, no matter at all!
The glory of steam is welcome wherever it makes an appearance.
What a bunch of whimpy craft!
Here is 5 and a half minutes of engineering excellence, the epitome of beauty and adrenaline pumping power!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N82LCMQJ-r8
(And more in line with the purpose of this forum.)
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Here, this'll make up for it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl9HD01V704
It's ok Firelock. Been haunting me the last couple of weeks when this came up. All's well.
If I offended anyone by bringing up and posting "Panzerlied" I sincerely apologize. I wouldn't intentionally offend anyone here for the world.
Just trying to have a little fun, that's all.
And that's all I'll say about the matter, no explainations or rationalizations.
That is the order:
1. Puffs of smoke from the gun
2. Sonic "booms" of the rounds passing us
3. Rounds hitting the target
4. Sound of the gun itself firing.
He says that when you fire the gun the recoil makes the plane feel like you stomped on the brakes.
He's on I think his 8th? deployment over somewhere.
BOB WITHORN Tree, You know what it is when you hear it. God son is an A-10 pilot.
Tree,
You know what it is when you hear it. God son is an A-10 pilot.
For sure. What I found particularly interesting was that you could see/hear four different "events" when they fired the Gatling gun.
For the bombing portion, they were using dummy "flash/bang" bombs. We wouldn't have been watching from where we were if they were using the real deal.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
OvermodOvermod wrote the following post 14 hours ago: Firelock76 The only thing missing is some background music, like "Panzerlied." Here are the words that go with this 'tank song'.
Panzerlied is closely associated with the 3rd Reich, as it was written in 1933. It and other songs were removed from the current German Army (Bundeswehr) songbook in 2017. It is still used by Italy and France, however. Perhaps some of the older, traditional tunes are a better choice. https://youtu.be/HFEwH_a4Ark
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