What have you learned about WW2 recently?

I didn't know until tonight that the name Chindit originated from the Burmese word for lion. Very appropriate given their important role in WW2.

 

Wild story from official document.

 

Please don't take the pi$$

But I always thought the idea of a fighter plane firing its machine guns through the propeller blades was 'poppycock'. I've since learned that it was common place in WW1 and the Germans used a synchronised system on some of their earlier WW2 MEs

Best.
John.

 

With you all the way John.

My pop told me (as a child of the jet (invention) age) that jets were invented to stop so many propellers being chopped up by the 'planes own guns.

He was my pop, so I believed him. Hook, line, sinker, and propeller. You can guess how it was received in the infants playground

Kind regards, there's some freaky Corsican Brothers synchronicity going on here, always (but not with the guns!).

Jim.

 

Haven't looked at the link, Owen, but the article probably should read "modified" the torpedoes. IJN had a few, ready to mod, at that time.

Just me being nit-picky. (1991 was a good year for Pearl Harbor material.)

 

The interrupter system was a major advance in WWI. Cam on the engine blocked the trigger mechanism for a brief moment. Synchronization gear - Wikipedia

 

You can imagine the alternative pronunciations American GIs gave them.

 

Was ist das?



M4 with unidentified attachment on stern. Picture found in unit history of 48th Engineer Combat Battalion.

 

Random thoughts.

On the Sherman: The crew would probably have to get out to deploy that dingus.
The half circle looks to be trailed behind the track.
When employed the half-loop would be accessible when the track was submerged to the level of the turret at least, but not much higher.
The supports would impact the rear hull in a few more minutes of arc.
No obvious electrical connections. (So no listing for pings like with mine sweepers.)

Conclusion: PFM

 

Despite being a recovering ‘Essex Boy’, I never knew that this Mulberry caisson was in the Thames estuary, and if you are game, you can use the Broomway to walk to it - but do take a guide!

Mulberry Harbour guided walk. (3 miles, 2 hours). Please read descript
Google Maps

 

This is new to me ,and I used to live in Romford. Circa 1938

 

The lady with the flag caused a flashback memory of a Russian weight-lifter leading his country's contingent into the Olympic Stadium (forgot the year). He was carrying the flag one-handed, arm stuck straight out. You could almost see him sweating, that trick ain't easy and he did it for the full circuit of the track.

 

only today I was told by the daughter of a German 14 year old boy working in a local POW camp in 1941 that he traded apples and other fresh fruits from his parents farm for chocolates from British officers.
I met this boy 74 years later in 2015, but he did not tell me at the time.
Stefan.

 

I've mentioned before/elsewhere that my mother traded with the enemy in WWII. She was a teenager during WWII and there was an Italian POW camp not far from her home in Arkansas. She would take fresh fruits and veggies to the camp, walk right up to the fence and swap the fresh food for hand-carved items made by the Italians. The guards would lean on the rails of their watch towers as this teenaged girl cut deals. Salad sets were popular, she sold them or traded them at the Saturday swap meets in town.. It was the only cash money her parents, sharecroppers, saw during the war.

She related to me that the camp commander said he could have kicked all the Italians out of the camp after breakfast and they'd be back for supper.

 

Some years ago I was privileged to carry the Regimental Colour in the presence of the then Prince of Wales, a Colour with its Cloth of Gold is no light weight and the Royal Salute is given by dipping the Colour with one arm ,I spent the previous month practising with a heavy lead weight in a six foot pole

 

7Ps. Prior proper planning prevents piss poor performance. But you knew that. :tup:

 

Who would want to be a german General in WW2........

Hitler lost 136 of his Generals during the war, averaging 1 every 2 weeks.

110 German Divisional Commanders perished.

Add to that, he executed eighty-four of his generals, mainly for involvement in plots against him.

 

Visited practice Trenches at Castlecoole, Enniskillen last week.
Did not know about them previously.
Also found some names written in 1940s which I am now researching.
Seems that there is always something more to find!