tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post5546390765234000481..comments2024-03-28T22:08:48.577-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: Suicide SquadronOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-80257376448344278382019-10-22T14:16:55.005-07:002019-10-22T14:16:55.005-07:00I can believe that.I can believe that.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-21104116391806343042019-10-22T14:16:17.021-07:002019-10-22T14:16:17.021-07:0018 miles? One can not be too careful. Just sayin&...18 miles? One can not be too careful. Just sayin'juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-2363641640548728872019-10-22T14:14:56.037-07:002019-10-22T14:14:56.037-07:00I wonder what the instant altitude gain was when t...I wonder what the instant altitude gain was when that Bad Boy was pickled. Ouch, indeed!juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-48254400033036200212019-10-22T14:14:02.928-07:002019-10-22T14:14:02.928-07:00I've read several books recently about the war...I've read several books recently about the war in the South Pacific. It definitely was a much different war than was fought in Central/Northern Pacific. Even more so than the war in Europe. I also discovered some interesting details that will be in a future post.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-10831215614094162662019-10-22T14:12:08.786-07:002019-10-22T14:12:08.786-07:00Thanks for the update. Since I read the book when...Thanks for the update. Since I read the book when Sarge was a teenager and I was barely old enough to read, I think I probably read the censored version. Think I'll look for the new one.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-27234729660205691312019-10-21T20:42:15.925-07:002019-10-21T20:42:15.925-07:00As an aside, today I learned that there were proje...As an aside, today I learned that there were projects undertaken to carry Grand Slam bombs with B-29s... and there are photos of one airborne, with a Grand Slam externally mounted under each wing.<br /><br />(Modified like the Lancasters were, with changes to the bomb bays, the B29 was capable of carrying the T-12... which was basically the Grand Slam, only ‘Merica sized to 43,000lbs...)<br /><br />Ouch.a bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871505359143633270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-84906291869961779392019-10-21T20:14:55.931-07:002019-10-21T20:14:55.931-07:00Great post and history lesson. Wallis was a genius...Great post and history lesson. Wallis was a genius, and the Brits were smart enough to give him the approval to do what he needed to perfect the various bombs. 5th Air Force did that in the south Pacific in 1942, using regular bombs to sink ships with B-17s, B-25s, and A-20 Havocs. :-)Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-9491127543676712432019-10-21T16:32:15.106-07:002019-10-21T16:32:15.106-07:00(Don McCollor)...at the Trinity test with a yield ...(Don McCollor)...at the Trinity test with a yield of about 21 KT, the VIP observers 32 km away came through fine without blast protection.Don McCollorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18028324869570493102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-30152622550387696992019-10-21T16:14:24.414-07:002019-10-21T16:14:24.414-07:00(Don McCollor)...I believe the old pictures show a...(Don McCollor)...I believe the old pictures show a Lancaster in flight with the wings perceptively bowed upwards carrying the weight of a Grand Slam...<br />Don McCollorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18028324869570493102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-25111165987927400762019-10-21T14:27:53.713-07:002019-10-21T14:27:53.713-07:00I've read the autobiography of Gibson which he...I've read the autobiography of Gibson which he wrote in 1944 before he was shot down during the same year. It was entitled Enemy Coast Ahead. Seems like an uncensored version was published in 2003 which included Gibson's views on fellow pilots and staff, air tactics and the deployment of Bomber Command. I think I need to reread this book but using the 2003 or 2019 edition.<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy_Coast_Ahead<br /><br />VictorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83705638009855532012019-10-21T12:05:11.596-07:002019-10-21T12:05:11.596-07:00Yep, without an efficient, effective weapons, an ...Yep, without an efficient, effective weapons, an accurate delivery systems, and brave warriors to deliver it, it becomes very difficult to win.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-31517362818922186692019-10-21T11:43:40.738-07:002019-10-21T11:43:40.738-07:00also we must mention professor Wallis, the man who...also we must mention professor Wallis, the man who without firing a shot has probably costed Germany more money and resources than any other man alive in WW2...<br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnes_Wallis<br />Tall Boy and Grand Slam were the original Mothers of All bombs... Paweł Kasperekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17636249014878876718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83298532510984506362019-10-21T10:15:33.539-07:002019-10-21T10:15:33.539-07:00I wonder if the Brit thought pattern was that the ...I wonder if the Brit thought pattern was that the Pilots would stay with it until the rest of the crew got out, then being deeper into the problem needed the added ummph to get out. One would hope that's the reason anyhow. The stiff upper lip image takes a beating if the driver's leave before the drivee's. Just sayin'<br /><br />Thanks PAjuvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-77329492602080118432019-10-21T10:12:28.660-07:002019-10-21T10:12:28.660-07:00Yeah, they did. But then, I've heard there we...Yeah, they did. But then, I've heard there were so many with them, there was a global brass shortage. Unfortunately, it seems to have abated (but not entirely) a bit lately.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-34118633030005039492019-10-21T10:10:43.825-07:002019-10-21T10:10:43.825-07:00I liked the way they achieved and maintained the p...I liked the way they achieved and maintained the proper altitude on the mission. Two spotlights mounted in the nose and tail. When there was only one spot on the ground, they were at the right height. Simple, but effective.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-38540399674978803542019-10-21T10:09:01.553-07:002019-10-21T10:09:01.553-07:00As are we, Beans, as are we. ThanksAs are we, Beans, as are we. Thanksjuvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-42521383336671361362019-10-21T10:08:38.553-07:002019-10-21T10:08:38.553-07:00I've never made it into that park. Traveled I...I've never made it into that park. Traveled I-40 nearby a few times and always thought the scenery was pretty nice. Those trips were always late spring or summer and we were trying to get somewhere. To the Pentagon (that was a slower trip) and from the Pentagon (couldn't go fast enough), now that the fear and loathing has abated somewhat, might be worth a trip.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-3673839112250701702019-10-21T10:04:43.149-07:002019-10-21T10:04:43.149-07:00With that much explosive, I'm not sure 60 klic...With that much explosive, I'm not sure 60 klicks is far enough. Be careful! :-)<br /><br />More to read. Thanks Pawel!juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-48108611483086864352019-10-21T10:03:31.778-07:002019-10-21T10:03:31.778-07:00Yeah, I liked the animation he had when talking to...Yeah, I liked the animation he had when talking to the various witnesses he had in the video. I think I'll check out those books. Thanks for the rec. juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-11339949199372672292019-10-21T10:01:40.375-07:002019-10-21T10:01:40.375-07:00The only air conditioning I had for the first 20 o...The only air conditioning I had for the first 20 or so years of my life used that principle. Worked like a champ!juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-76424326603142999412019-10-21T09:53:56.668-07:002019-10-21T09:53:56.668-07:00The dam busters is a fascinating tale from WWII. G...The dam busters is a fascinating tale from WWII. Giant brass ones they had.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-16070723247296417712019-10-21T09:39:01.077-07:002019-10-21T09:39:01.077-07:00Glad you did not need water or rescue. Good post....Glad you did not need water or rescue. Good post.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-69834080928983393422019-10-21T09:38:20.354-07:002019-10-21T09:38:20.354-07:00As to the Dambusters...
Always found their dam bo...As to the Dambusters...<br /><br />Always found their dam bomb sight to be one of the most intriguing uses of common sense in warfare ever. Nails and a board. How much simpler can you get.<br /><br />And the picture of the Tallboy answered another question that has always been itching in my mind. Tallboys and Grandslams tended to blow up above, proportionally, the explosive power of normal bombs. I mean, a normal 12klb bomb would not be as powerful as a Tallboy. And the answer is on the side of the bomb. Torpex. A more powerful explosive than standard bomb explosives, normally found in... torpedoes. Makes sense. Too much sense. This is England we're talking about. They're not supposed to make sense. These are the chaps that never developed an explosive round for the 2lb tank gun, and only grudgingly, because of US intervention, developed an HE round for the 6 pounder. And they really loved their 25 pound howitzer even though our 105mm was far superior in all aspects and they could have had them for basically free... And they go and do something sensible like use Torpex for megabombs to mega the bomb.<br /><br />Good post today. Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-39778509840049045842019-10-21T09:29:58.012-07:002019-10-21T09:29:58.012-07:00My favorite, and Mrs. Andrew's All Time Home-B...My favorite, and Mrs. Andrew's All Time Home-Best-Favorite-#1 National Park is Smoky Mountains NatPark. Love it there. Cade's Cove is a special trip into the past, and once you get off the heavily traveled roads, it becomes a magical journey into the past. Plenty of walking, biking, hiking, driving. And oh, so beautiful. Prefer the Townsend (western) side rather than the Gatlinburg (northern) side. We rented a cabin one year on the northern side right after Christmas, for a whole week to encompass New Years, prepped for snow, but only got frost, it was wonderful. Miss that park. Always wanted to go when it snowed, or right after the deep parts of the park opened after the melt (Cade's Cove is closed to visitors when it snows.)<br /><br />Ah, but for the grace of God and a big win with Publishers' or Lotto, we'll just be able to see it in our minds. Oh, well, that's life.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-59222416555155935332019-10-21T09:23:56.298-07:002019-10-21T09:23:56.298-07:00http://www.startribune.com/polish-authorities-mull...http://www.startribune.com/polish-authorities-mull-evacuation-after-wwii-bomb-found/560989932/<br />not long ago less than 60 klicks from me there was at least one tallboy found <br />it was presumably UXO from 1945 raid that sank the Lutzow<br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cruiser_Deutschland#Operations_in_the_BalticPaweł Kasperekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17636249014878876718noreply@blogger.com