Random Open Thread
Flt. Lt. Alastair “Sandy” Gunn was executed for his role in the “Great Escape” prisoner breakout. (Spitfire AA810 Project)
An extremely rare World War II Spitfire fighter plane flown by a pilot who later took part in the “Great Escape” has been recovered from a remote Norwegian mountainside. Specially equipped for long-range reconnaissance, the Royal Air Force Spitfire AA810 was shot down on March 5, 1942, during a mission to photograph the German battleship Tirpitz. The Spitfire’s pilot, Flt. Lt. Alastair ‘Sandy’ Gunn, bailed out from the plane but was captured by German forces. In 1944 he was part of the famous “Great Escape” breakout from the Stalag Luft III POW camp. Recaptured shortly after the breakout, the Scot was among 50 escapees executed by the Gestapo.
Gunn’s plane was a specially adapted Mk 1 Spitfire stripped of guns and armor and fitted with additional fuel tanks to extend its range from 575 miles to nearly 2,000 miles.
Read the entire article here: World War II fighter plane flown by ‘Great Escape’ pilot discovered on Norwegian mountain
Category: "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves", Historical, Open thread
Not first!
Jeebus….If you haven’t read the book The Great Escape …you really need to. Probably not so much if you’re a TAH regular…but get the know nothing SJW dickwads that don’t understand real suffering and the ability to improvise adapt and overcome the harshest adversity to read it.
Maybe they’ll understand what how ridiculous things have gotten. I dunno, fugggit.
Read about this the other day. The Spitfire AA810 Project plans to restore the plane to flying condition. I think that’s a legacy Sandy would approve of.
Did you see the pic? Maybe they can build a new plane and weld a piece of the original somewhere onto it. It looks like what was recovered can fill a VW Beetle.
I understand that 13 of the POW’s executioners were themselves executed after the war. I am forever amazed by what men–ordinary men, not sociopaths–can do to others under the pretense of “orders.”
It’s why we should staunchly defend the 2nd Amendment, all of the Amendments really, with as much vigor as we can muster.
No one reads Gulag Archipelago anymore to understand these words;
“And how we burned in the camps later, thinking: What would things have been like if every Security operative, when he went out at night to make an arrest, had been uncertain whether he would return alive and had to say good-bye to his family? Or if, during periods of mass arrests, as for example in Leningrad, when they arrested a quarter of the entire city, people had not simply sat there in their lairs, paling with terror at every bang of the downstairs door and at every step on the staircase, but had understood they had nothing left to lose and had boldly set up in the downstairs hall an ambush of half a dozen people with axes, hammers, pokers, or whatever else was at hand?… The Organs would very quickly have suffered a shortage of officers and transport and, notwithstanding all of Stalin’s thirst, the cursed machine would have ground to a halt! If…if…We didn’t love freedom enough. And even more – we had no awareness of the real situation…. We purely and simply deserved everything that happened afterward.”
― Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn , The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956
What he said
That’s true. There are many people still very much alive who were around for the Soviet labor camps and for the many atrocities committed during WW II. These things occurred in less than the blink of an eye ago in terms of world history. Ordinary men who had ordinary lives can become the greatest of monsters. The pre-war postman or factory worker or clerk or this or that, when given certain power and authority can become the cruelest bastards. It is altogether necessary, not merely an optional exercise, that we remain armed and able.
Willingly participate in becoming the cruelest bastards, that’s the fucked up part.
There was a special recently on regarding the Nazi workers at a concentration camp. There were a great many photographs showing smiling young people having a picnic, singing, dancing doing the things young coworkers do even today, all against the backdrop of industrialized mass murder. There were drinking and laughing after a hard day of murdering women and children wholesale.
If that doesn’t reveal humans for what we are I really don’t know what does. We, as a species, are not a wholesome beneficial lot. As a species we are something else entirely, an apex predator that kills for sport and resources far beyond any other predator on the earth.
Harry Turtledove’s Timeline-191 alternate history series (South wins the Civil War, US & CS fight both world wars against eachother, CSA becomes a nazi analog in WWII) has a character that shows what you speak of very well. Jeff Pinkard is a regular guy from Alabama who fights in WWI, goes through some personal issues, makes a successful career for himself, and seems like an all-around regular likeable guy. He seems this way even as he is shown for several books to be the guy in charge of a death camp, and the narrative pulls no punches in its description thereof. It’s really chilling that he still comes off as a regular guy even when you know that he’s a mass-murderer.
You think humans are the only animals that kill for sport? Ever watch a cat play with a mouse? We lost 20 or 30 hens one night after something got into the henhouse. I don’t think it was one of the sheep.
And what about killing because some other critter trespasses on your territory, something animals frequently do? Or females?
On the other hand, humans are the only animal that has taken measures to prevent such wanton destruction and killing. It ain’t perfect, but I’ll take it over any alternative I can think of.
All creatures are capable of murder. Humans are the only ones who bother to feel bad about it.
Cats are hardly an apex predator but I get your point…I was meaning lions and sharks and such where energy is required to make a kill and fucking around wasting energy is often a road to a short life span.
Also cats don’t organize other cats into camps and slaughter them by million, for a long in our history evil outweighed the good.
We still have places where humans are more or less simple chattel to be exploited by those with the means to do so. We are also one of the very few species to shit regularly where we eat spoiling our resources.
While there is good in this world because of humans, I’m not yet certain that the “good” is winning or is even in the running. Largely because the bulk of the world lives a miserable third world existence.
The Other Whitey makes a point about guilt, one could also make the same point about hope. We humans are full of hope, perhaps that hope for a constantly better outcome will be what raises all of us into a better life experience and truly limits the poor outcomes so many of our fellow humans experience.
The only way “good” could win in this world is if everyone would turn to Jesus…but….I read the end of the book, they won’t, they think they are better at deciding their fate than almighty God! And you wonder whats wrong with people LOL…
The capacity of ordinary people for evil is matched only by their capacity for good. On the one hand, you have the death camps, on the other you have examples like Franz Stigler or Castle Itter. It seems to me that the main difference between the two extremes is that evil tends to be easy, while good is risky.
“It seems to me that the main difference between the two extremes is that evil tends to be easy, while good is risky.”
Seems to me, too.
Not many people know about the battle at Castle Itter. Hell, I didn’t know about it (and I’m a history buff) until I stumbled upon the book “The Last Battle” in the Kindle store. If you have never read that book I highly recommend it.
Now you got me watching every youtube video I can find on the Battle for Castle Itter.
“Not by lynching and summary executions, but by the slow and relentless process of law. Twenty-one Gestapo were executed, eleven committed suicide, six were killed by air raids in the last days of the war; seventeen received long sentences of imprisonment, a handful were acquitted…” from Alan Burgess’ “The Longest Tunnel”, a very good ‘sequel’ to Brickhill’s book. Burgess really goes into how most of the 50 were killed – being driven back to camp, the Gestapo would suggest a nature break – then when the prisoners’ backs were turned, they were shot. Well worth reading, much untold detail. Another WWII POW classic is Reid’s “The Colditz Story”.
The article I read said they have restored Spitfires with less than what they recovered here. I hope they put up a website for the restoration process.
Here’s a link to the article:
https://www.foxnews.com/science/extremely-rare-world-war-ii-fighter-plane-discovered-on-norwegian-mountain
I suppose the question is how much original material needs to be used to call it a restoration.
The same applies to dental “restorations”. Except you can actually use dental “restorations”. I wouldn’t want to fly in some of those restored airplanes.
I would venture to say that they probably found the original aircraft data plate in the wreckage (showing aircraft type/model/series, serial number, date/location of manufacture, etc.), which enabled them to identify the aircraft as the Mk 1 Spitfire AA810 that was flown by Flight Lieutenant Gunn. As long as they have that original aircraft data plate, they can theoretically “restore” the rest of the aircraft around it, and if any of the remaining parts are still serviceable, they may choose to use them during the restoration as well.
I can remember hearing about Marine Corps and Navy aircraft crashes over the years where it was said that if they could find the aircraft data plate in the wreckage, they could rebuild the aircraft around it and it would be considered a repair rather than a new replacement aircraft (because the “repaired” aircraft would retain its original BuNo, so it wouldn’t be listed as a “new” aircraft).
They’re not rebuilding it for resale- the bird has enormous historical significance, and will be priceless when restored.
2/17, you ever read about the Stanford Prison Experiment? It takes surprising little for otherwise normal people to become sadists.
Yes. I recall that.
Im not an aviation engineer…..but looking at whats left of the aircraft, it blows my mind that they intend to piece it together to make it airworthy.
Well, aside from there being no wings, cockpit, fuselage, tail, or undercarriage, I don’t see what the problem with doing that might be.
I forget the engine. That’s missing, too.
What is that big chunk of iron sitting in the nose if it isn’t the engine.
A piece of an engine is my best guess.
Lets see, 76 years in a peat bog on the side of a mountain just outside the Arctic Circle. Surprised they have found this much but then when the area thaws out next year there may be more found buried in the bog.
Original manufacturing specs + 3-D Printer + 10 gallons of grey paint – Some Assembly required/smile
The FAA used to have a designation of “remanufactured” to cover aircraft which required some fairly large percentage of new parts to make it airworthy. Guess a remanufacture would be a restoration, but restorations are not all remanufactures?
If it’s going back to the UK, it won’t fall under FAA regs. Even if it comes to the states, my guess would be that whoever is doing the restoration would be able to get a waiver. I think the FAA would take special exception on this. Either that or you could try and get it designated as experimental, maybe.
That name “Gunn”
Microwave engineering basics. The “Gunn” diode opened the door to airborne radar and todays ECM suites. I would like to think he was related to the man.
J.B. Gunn was born to British parents in 1928 in Egypt according to Wikipedia. Apparently quite an interesting guy who just died 10 years ago, was quite a motorcycle and sports car racer. Looks like any connection would be very distant if any.
Late to the party today, buncha errands to run. Lot to catch up one.
FIRST (in honor of the only FIRST that matters, the Friday Weekend Open Thread ((earned, never given)) The Coveted FIRST that is listed in the Book of FIRST (((let it be said, let it be written))) still reigning since 30 Nov 18) I had to go see my pill pusher for a multiple refill on scripts.
(2) Had to take the Canine Fur Babies to the Doggie Doc. Up date shots & flirt with the doc & her helpers.
(3) Dinner (Southern for noon meal) at S&S Cafe, serving home cooking since 1937. I hurt myself on Country style steak over rice & gravy, creamed potatoes, baked squash with cheese, dinner roll (made fresh there yeasty), peaches, and homemade lemon pie.
(4) Vote in the run off. Sec of State & PSC. Hope my choices win, both are going up against career politicos that have sucked at the sugga teat way yonder too long.
In home or building renovation/ restoration, generally speaking, you supposed to have about 40% of original (for tax purposes, historic districts) For machines, one (1) original piece must be used, all the rest can be “other.”
Strange how the election fraud in North Carolina is not a subject worth talking about on this site.
Or all the evidence mounting against Trump and his family.
I am sure if the dems has committed blatant election fraud or a dem president and his family were involved is so many suspect activities you would have zero interest in discussing it as well.
Right?
Oh my goodness, Heeeee’s Baaaaaaaaaaack. Why am I not surprised.
I’m keeping my promise to you to not trash you. I just don’t see how posts like this achieve your stated goal of education. You’re trying to start a fight. I just don’t get it.
Trolls . . . well, they troll. It’s their nature.
It’s one of the few reasons Jonn would ban someone outright.
Was your question ever answered? I don’t even remember what the question was now, I was just remember being curious about what the answer would be.
If Lars was banned, and we’ve established that Cunthulu is the latest iteration of Lars, why is the moron allowed to continue to post here? Just curious.
Good question. His take on it is he wasn’t “banned”, he just had a gentleman’s agreement with Jonn to leave. Apparently now that Jonn has passed, the vainglorious ass has returned.
“You can’t fire me, I quit!”
Oh, good God! Don’t you have anything to do but make a nuisance of yourself and pick fights over nothing, Taylor?
For Pete’s sake, find a new hobby or go get laid or something.
Commissar’s hand must have refused to give him a pity jerk again.
Trigglypuff is late to the weekly “pegging party” again…
Which one? Never mind.
We do have other interests, this bunch of assorted miscreants have an amazing amount of knowledge and diverse interests. Now, if you look in the mirror, you’ll see a one-trick pony. Total tunnel vision, nothing matters outside your narrow perspective.
It must suck to live life like that.
Hadn’t heard about it. Here’s a link to that bastion of journalist integrity, the WaPo.
The Washington Post
And there you go. It’s under investigation, let the chips fall where the may.
Probably no more strange than the absence of discussion on CNN regarding how George Mitchel finds Trump’s recognition of China’s targeted and subsidized trade policies spot on and something Mitchell has been worried about since the first free trade agreement. Websites and news stations play to their audience, as with both you are always free to change the channel, or to bring up your concerns. Don’t be surprised when those concerns aren’t shared with the same zeal you have for them. I’m always interested in why everyone was so silent when the drone strike program increased by a factor of ten under a man who won the Peace Prize. I also wonder where all the anti-war signs went and what happened to Cindy Sheehan for eight years. If the war was wrong under Bush why was it okay under Obama, and more importantly in addition to the drone program Obama bombed three more nations, without a peep from anyone on the left. Perhaps I missed your extensive posts complaining about such things, in that case accept my apology for being misinformed. But if you were a voice against them you were pretty much alone on the left during those eight years. Some of us independent, libertarian sorts have been against the foreign entanglements for a long, long time. Some of us here also aren’t Trump supporters or Trump fans, but the majority are so the opinions reflect that. There are other sites where you can find your concerns expressed daily, Democratic Underground or its sister site Discussionist would be glad to hear your voice and you’d find some sympathetic ears at DU…Discussionist will provide some pro and con for your opinions. Most folks here don’t much give a shit how North Carolina decides to run its elections. It’s a state’s rights thing. Until a court imposes a different will on the process they can decide who and who isn’t eligible to vote as they please. So until a court of law reveals it as fraud it’s probably not making a lot of waves here or anywhere really. As for the… Read more »
And everyone said amen.
AMEN!
Yes, VOV, the media is batshit crazy about why we don’t take punitive action over homicide, but there was nary a peep out of them when The Lightworker ordered to the droning of two American citizens, one of whom was a minor. Did anyone in Commander 0’s admin have to come to Congress to explain why that happened and under what authority it was done? Nope. And Kashoggi was (A) not an American citizen and (B) no US person was involved in killing him. But somehow Trump is responsible, because Russia, muh Russia!!
Additionally, RGR769, it happened in a Saudi Embassy in Turkey. There is no realm of stretch that makes any of it our business. Add to that that the dead guy was a known terrorist supporter and sympathizer, and I really don’t care what happened to him.
Ditto, for me. The fact that he is a dead islamist makes him a good islamist.
BIG toothy smile!
Yep. A Saudi citizen killed by Saudis on Saudi territory. Not unlike the other Saudis killed for witchcraft, homosexuality, adultery, etc.
It’s curious that there is not much outrage by all those concerned people over the case of Israa al-Ghonmgham and her husband. Then again, she and her husband are only not journalists, just peasants like the rest of us.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israa_al-Ghomgham
“I’m always interested in why everyone was so silent when the drone strike program increased by a factor of ten under a man who won the Peace Prize.”
Whooee! I always thought that took the pure 24kt Gold Irony Trophy, myself.
(Fuggin’ Lars…)
All of what evidence? Do you have access to documents, photographs, recordings that the rest of us don’t have? Or are you relying on CNN for your information? What evidence are you talking about?
Clit the Cock, the resident SJW – STFU, Major Asshole!
It’s a site? I thought it was a board?
Why don’t you emigrate to a site that talks about things that interest you? You do have that inherent right.
Since there is not now, nor has there ever been any evidence to be found, other than that against Obama and Hillary and their operatives, and which was quickly shoved under the rug by the corrupt Mueller and his fellow criminals, not at all surprising that it isn’t discussed.
We already discussed the SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT election fraud found in North Carolina.
And the socialist dems have already been proven to have committed substantial election fraud. Move than half a dozen people in Texas are currently under indictment for it. Now whether or not anyone else is prosecuted as they should be remains to be seen. You obviously haven’t been paying attention Lars.
Lars is too CHEAP to pay attention lol
You are perhaps referring to the ballot fraud in California, where 100% one way swings occurred, we’ll past poll close, when unaccountable minions “harvested” a huge mass of zero chain-of-custody ballots, in manners 100% felonious in 49 other states.
Yeah. You are a -real- authority on ballot fraud.
We hang on your every word.
Were you this ineffective and histrionic on active duty? It boggles the imagination.
Nice of you to stop by and toss a flaming bag of shit on the bar.
Can we get you something warm to drink?
The WC is thatway.
Interesting that you’d bring up election fraud as a cause celebre, Poodle. I seem to remember you staunchly defending Al “Felon’s Choice” Franken’s election to the Senate, and insisting that there was no credible evidence of election fraud there.
After all, an incomplete check of selected precincts in two counties alone only found nearly enough votes cast by felons to provide Franken his specious “margin of victory”. And as I recall, those votes weren’t disallowed; they were found during an audit conducted after Franken had been certified as the winner.
Then again, being consistent has never been among your strong points while commenting here.
Crapthulu, do you try your damnedest to be such a flaming FOOL or does it come to you naturally? Given your lack of real smarts and common sense, I see a future for you as just another faceless Government Bureaucrat in some office cubicle!
“I am sure if the dems has committed blatant election fraud”
You have yet to mention what happened in California, hypocrite. You focus on North Carolina and at the same time ignore California. Gee, I wonder why that is.
To say nothing of certain counties in Florida.
“Strange how the election fraud in North Carolina is not a subject worth talking about on this site.” You just did, knucklehead. TAH should consult you first before posting articles, is that it?
“Or all the evidence mounting against Trump and his family.” There isn’t any that survives scrutiny. Go away.
It’s early in the morning, earlier than most TAH articles get posted, and way too goddamn early to have to deal with Commissar.
He’s like a little girl, a kid, who, instead of just writing about one or the other topics he just mentioned, he just tosses them out there for others to bite. He really is pathetic.
I have a new name for Cunthulu, lets call him Lars “Fucknuckle” Taylor. That ought to put his panties in a bunch in his mangina.
And speaking of ordinary people who I easily can see becoming a Brown Shirt and ordering others to do his dirty work for the Homeland.
…and one of the first to be lined up and made to dig his own grave, and then shot and buried in it.
Stalin left no turn unstoned in his efforts to remove any possible opposition to his demands. He executed senior Russian Army officers.
In July 2010, a mass grave was discovered at St. Petersburg, which contained the corpses of 80 military officers executed during the Bolshevik “Red Terror” of 1918–21. https://www.upi.com/Top_News/International/2010/07/19/More-red-terror-remains-found-in-Russia/UPI-26891279556579/
Tyrants gonna tyrranize. Lars just thinks he could be one.
Larsie dreams of being able to run an American version of the Lubyanka
He dreams of the day when he can openly prance around in black leather with a couple of runic S’s on the collar in public, instead of just on Friday nights at the Blue Oyster.
“I think I’m the most qualified person in the country to be president. The issues that we face as a country today are the issues that I’ve worked on my whole life.” Joe “The Moron” Biden speaking in Montana yesterday.
What a scream. Joe is 76 and if he’s been working on those unspecified issues his whole life, he must have been a genius baby and now be dead. If he has been working (whatever that means)on those issues (whatever they are) his whole life (did he die?) then he ought to give up trying. Of course, if by working on issues, he means he has worked to worsen them, then I would likely agree with him. What a ma-roon.
Plus, crazy ol’ Uncle Joe gives great advice on the defensive use of firearms.
There’s also his near perfect record of being on the wrong side of every policy decision for his entire time in office.
Joe Biden’s History of Making the Wrong Call
John Hudson
LINK- The Atlantic
Run Joe Run. Please, Please, Please Run Joe. I believe you may do worse than Hitlery.
Joe Biden, you asinine POS, YOU and YOUR KIND are the epitome of what is wrong with this country today. YOU and YOUR KIND are the cause of most of the problems we have. You created these problems, they fed off of you and your policies. You even had 8 years as a Vice President to get something done for the country. You got something done alright; you helped push our nation toward a socialistic shit hole. ESAD MOFO
And BTW; Ctuntapatooie, GTFO you Commissar f*&knuckle azzhole. Again, you don’t like it here, go away and stay away. When the Bitch of Benghazi has been investigated for the lying, stealing, traitorous, murdering whore from hell that she is, then and only then should any one else in the world be investigated. You accomplished your mission. You pissed me off, again. I hope all of these comments flash before your eyes when your beloved socialist take over and the drive you into the “showers” or put that .32 bullet into the base of your skull.
He’s been “working on them his whole life” yet never accomplished shit. Pretty much a disqualifier right there.
Since this is an open thread, I’m throwing in the roast I fixed yesterday.
I bought this 3.35 lb sirloin, all wrapped up neat and cozy, in a net. I put the potatoes, onions and carrots into the pot, plus the remains of a stalk of celery, and then added the seasoned roast. I did not take it out of its net before dumping it into the Crockpot, but next time I will do that because it was nothing but a rolled-up roast, and I could have opened it up, seasoned the inside same as the outside, and then rolled it back up for the pot.
Doesn’t matter. 6.5 hours later, I tucked into that thing and will not look back EVER.
Oh, yeah – IDC__SARC is a bacon picker and a bacon thief. 5 pounds of bacon are missing from my fridge and he’s the only one who mentioned bacon this morning.
Can we come to your house for supper? I promise to bring paper plates and sporks…
Plates? Sporks? You’ll get a cat dish like everyone else—and be happy about it.
If you come to my house for supper, you will dress properly (meaning wear clothing and shoes), and use real flatware and real china, and real glasses.
Next time, I’m making real Italian roast beef, the kind you get in Sicily.
They’re testing the tornado sirens right now. I guess that tornado swarm over the weekend down in south to central Illinois jiggled them awake.
I’ll bring a nice Merlot or Zifi with Meow Mix and Cat Nip.
Go easy on the catnip. Shit be powafull.
THIS JUST IN!!
“Man boinks woman in Santander ATM lobby”
It begs the question: Withdrawal or deposit?
(spanks typing finger)
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7865889/randy-couple-caught-having-sex-in-a-bank-by-shocked-bystanders-as-they-waited-to-use-atm/
“The amorous twosome can be seeing going at it hammer and tongs leaving people hoping withdraw cash lost for words.”
How about: Could you move away from the ATM? Some of us have errands to run, you know.
*snort* I commend your sang-froid.
Obviously putting his dick in crazy if she was down for that. Never put your dick in crazy.
Gotta be a sperm bank joke somewhere in there, not to mention the penalty for early withdrawal.
The difference between a sperm band and a regular bank: after you make a deposit into a regular bank, you *gain* interest.
“It begs the question: Withdrawal or deposit?”
And you beg the answer(s). What a straight line. Difficult to resist, but my innate modesty forbids reply.
Salutes/tears for Sully.
^word^ Who says they don’t grieve as we do? He’s probably grieving the most.
On this date in history, 04DEC:
1944 – USS Flasher (SS 249) sinks Japanese destroyer Kishinami and damages a merchant ship in the South China Sea. Flasher is the only U.S. submarine to sink more than 100,000 tons of enemy shipping in World War II.
1950 – While serving with VF-32 from USS Leyte (CV 32) during the Korean War, Lt. j.g. Thomas J. Hudner crash-lands his plane near the Chosin reservoir in an effort to rescue Ensign Jesse L. Brown, another VF-32 pilot whose plane had been shot down. Hudner is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions
TJ Hudner was an incredible breed of man, and proof of the human capacity for goodness.
I love the Hudner story. Also love that the Navy made it a rule after his rescue attempt that aircrews will not to that in the future.
I applaud the courage he had to do that, and understand why he felt it necessary, but he was deficient in judgement to do so. He destroyed another aircraft that was needed to support the ground forces in the Reservoir, and potentially got himself killed, wounded, and/or captured, thus depriving us of a valuable pilot. The domino theory shows that potentially more folks could have died due to this action.
Oh no, the dumbocrats are gonna go ballistic and ban Rudolph from TV as I was just sent a picture of Yukon Cornelius open carrying his 45 when he rescues Rudolph and the elf from the monster when they float away on an chunk of ice.
Maybe I should post a picture of my 7-year-old niece with a pink unicorn barrette on her hair and an M1 carbine slung on her shoulder.
Bounce them along with the rest of the bumbles.
Some SJW’s got all asshurt over “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” over the part where the characters are sitting at the table – and Franklin is besides himself. Little snowflakes screaming raycisst and crap…
Obviously the little cucks don’t know all about the Franklin character.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_(Peanuts)
Navy fighter squadrons are going to perform a 21-aircraft “missing man” formation flyover for President George H. W. Bush’s funeral sevice in Texas on Thursday.
From The Virginian-Pilot’s website:
“Virginia Beach jet fighters to honor President George H.W. Bush with missing man flyover”
https://pilotonline.com/news/military/local/article_63290a40-f7dd-11e8-bebf-03b80d35bf50.html
‘[…]
On Tuesday, 30 aircraft from Naval Air Station Oceana flew to College Station, Texas, Capt. Kevin “Proton” McLaughlin, commander of Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, said. Twenty-one of those will fly a “missing man” flyover in honor of Bush Thursday. The missing man formation is an aerial salute in which one aircraft flies off to signify the passing of an aviator.
Before they left, crews added Bush’s name and “41” to the cockpit area of the lead fighter jet, which McLaughlin will fly. The name of Bush’s wife, Barbara, and “First Lady” were added near the rear, where the weapons systems officer sits.
“In my entire career, I’ve never seen that done but it’s a small but fitting tribute to the president and the first lady,” McLaughlin, who joined the Navy during Bush’s presidency, said before taking off Tuesday morning. He will fly an F/A-18 F Super Hornet from VFA 103, along with the squadron’s executive officer, Cmdr. Patrice Fernandes, a naval flight officer.
In addition to VFA 103, the following squadrons are participating: VFA-143, the “Pukin’ Dogs;” VFA-32, the “Swordsmen:” VFA-83, the “Rampagers;” VFA-131, the “Wildcats;” VFA-105, the “Gunslingers;” VFA-31, the “Tomcatters:” and VFA-87, the “Golden Warriors.”
“Being selected to participate in this memorial is one of the highest honors a Naval Aviator can receive,” Rear Admiral Roy Kelley, commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic, said in a statement. “In addition to being our president, he was also one of our brothers, flying combat missions off aircraft carriers during World War II. His service to our Navy and nation merits a tribute of this magnitude.”
In 2009, Bush attended the commissioning at Naval Station Norfolk for the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier named in his honor, the USS George H.W. Bush.’
Very cool. Thanks for posting, Mick.
Gregory Tambone, phony veteran, on the Gregory Tambone thread:
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=79146&cpage=1#comment-3181428
ZOMBIE THREAD!!!!
I piled on giving him some love.
Left Greg some TAH love at the link provided.
Shout Out to 5th/77th FA, 2/17th Air Cav, 26Limabeans, OldSoldier54 and other Soldiers:
goarmybeatnavy
😎
HOOAH!
A FIRM
Yeah, another day closer. I’m saying again, this will not be a walkover for Army. No way. No how. Statistically, the teams are barely distinguishable. The early line has Army -7 and the season records don’t much matter when it comes to this game. I will be nervous. I will be glued to the screen. I will be nervous and glued to the screen.
Go Army. Beat Navy.
This may help:
If Army should l-l-l-lo-los–not be victorious, I’ll have some of that my damn self.
26Limabeans:
All I can say is:
😄😆😉
2/17 Air Cav:
Game could be a nail biter, just as the last AL-GA game.
Also possibly a tie.
Kinda makes the game more interesting…
Will not jinx our team, so I will leave it at this:
goarmybeatnavy😎
“Also possibly a tie”
There will be no tie.
GOARMY
Like your optimistic spirit, 26Limabeans..😉
goarmybeatnavy
BTW: Where ARE my Navy Buddies on this? Goat got their tongue?
Bbwawahahaha..
😎
They’re still in shocked disbelief over Navy’s 9-loss season. But their cheerleaders are upbeat. Here they are practicing for the Big Game:
AP where ya been Bro?, missed you & Congrats to you and all the ROLL TIDE ROLL fans, players,& coaches. Good game, now just go and beat hell out of Clemson (for sure) and anyone else for the National Title. RTR
No excuses for our loss. Georgia is still paying back for Jimmuuhh Carter. we understand.
My pall bearers for my funeral service will be 2 Atlanta Falcons, 2 Atlanta Braves, and 2 Georgia Dawgs; that way they all can let me down one more time.
goarmyWILLbeatnavy
5th/77th FA: The King of Battle and currently, the reigning WOT First! 🔱
Thank You for asking, Brother. Been under the weather with bad head cold…feeling a bit better today after a couple of days of rest, chicken soup and Daytime Nyquil.😊
It was indeed a great game. The Dawgs did very well…until that last play. Really thought GA was going to beat AL…and then when Hurt came into the game, well, what can I say? 🤗
Have to admit was disappointed the Bulldogs did not place in the Top 4. They are a pretty tough team.
Son-In-Law is a huge Falcons Fan. He’s been awfully quiet lately and I think I know why…but at least his College Football team is No. 1…rtr🐘
Have always been a Braves Fan from way back, as in before Ted Turner days.
Holding my breath about the National Title, especially after this last game. I remembered what happened 2 years ago…🙄
Only 2 more days until the next WOT…and 3 for one of the GREATEST College Football Games…!!!😉
goarmybeatnavy 😎
Get better. Try double shot of bourbon/whiskey, 2 dollops of honey, heated and poured over a cut, squeezed lemon. Rinse and repeat as needed. May not cure it, but it’ll make you not care how you feel.
When Hurt came on to the field, the GA Offense left and the Falcon’s offense came on. The playbook they used was a leftover from a former Arkansas Razorback coach.
Lost a whole lot of respect for Ted when he started f’ing Hanoi Jane. Had had a business relationship with him for awhile previous to that. Got a little more respect for him when he ditched the bitch and started saving Bison.
Tide will Roll on to the title no doubt. Just hope it’s on broadcast so I can watch.
May try for a repeat of my reign of FIRST on The WOT for Friday upcoming. My former High School Principal, Mr. Fred Johnson, (Alfred Ross Willingham HS Macon Ga) is a Pearl Harbor Survivor and is still alive. Maybe AW1Ed or one of the Admins can Google Fu and make a post about him. The local papers, Macon Telegraph, (macon.com) have run articles in the past, but I don’t have the ability to cut, copy, paste, post ect ect. He was a good guy. Tough but fair. Think he’s 104 yo +-
goarmybeatnavy
Whut? Y’all say sumptin? Sorry, can’t hear y’all over the awesomeness of
BEAT ARMY!
Now bless y’alls lil’ hearts.
Who knew that Ed could do a perfect imitation of Miss Scarlott…😉
goarmybeatnavy😎
Yeah, well, we all know how that turned out for her side.
Bbawaahahaha…😎
The four teams have been selected for the college football playoffs. Oklahoma is one of them. On 23 September, Army played Oklahoma at Norman. The Sooners were then ranked #5 in the country. Army was a 28.5 point underdog. In other words, for betting purposes, the score was 28.5-0 Army before the game began or, if you prefer, Oklahoma was down 28.5 points before the kickoff. So? So this. At the end of regulation, the score was…tied. Oklahoma prevailed in OT and in a great display, the Oklahoma stadium gave the Black Knights a standing ovation. My point? Anything can happen this Saturday, but it should be a whale of a game.
Anything CAN happen, but what WILL happen is ARMY.WLL.BEAT.NAVY and it won’t be a FIRST.
The Post Office will be closed tomorrow.
Lots of people will be pissed.
Seems to me the flag at the PO is at half staff more than it is raised. I don’t recall it being like that until recently.
Does anyone have a link (or more) for a complete list of American WWII POW’s during the war with Japan?
I have the name of the Marine, but I’m looking for more info (dates, places, etc).
I would appreciate any help or direction you all give me.
Thanks in advance.
Skyjumper:
Have you tried the National Archives site?
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/
Click on WWII. You will see over 100,000 records for POWs and about 29,000 for POWs of the Japanese.
Out of curiosity, may I ask the name of the Marine?
goarmybeatnavy
Here is another source, Skyjumper:
http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html
I clicked on the 1946 “All US POW ROSTER”. Looks pretty detailed to me.
Hope you find your Marine on that list. Please let me know if you need more assistance.
His name is “Pvt. 1st Class Daniel W. Goebel”.
I have an envelope with this info on it:
On the top right corner:
PRISONER OF WAR
NO STAMP
Under his name and rank:
U.S. Marine Corps Of Guam
c/o International Red Cross Committee
Geneva, Switzerland
He was born and raised in New Holstein, WI
I don’t know when he was released, but I do know he survived from the prison camp, which was no small feat considering somewheres around 40% didn’t.
Thanks for the link AnotherPat, I appreciate it. I’ll have to try it soon.
Thank You for the info, Skyjumper.
Am guessing this is him:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37256299/daniel-goebel
That’s him alright.
I was researching this for my son. Pvt. Goebel is his great uncle.
Thanks again AnotherPat, I owe you big time. (smile)
Try this one:https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/wora.html
Or:https://aad.archives.gov/aad/fielded-search.jsp?dt=466
Thanks UpNorth, I’ll try those next.
I just got a hit from one of AnotherPat’s links, but haven’t found anything as to date of capture & date of release.
Youse guys are the ginchiest! (grin)
Disregard the first link, it’s to Soviet Archives.
Skyjumper. Because his POW date was in 1941, that narrowed a search down quite a bit. Guam was taken on 10 December 1941 and Goebel, Daniel William, USMC, is listed as #214 of the 500+ US military and American civilians taken prisoner. The list comes with an account that details what the Japs did with their POWs, how long they were on Guam, as well as when they were sent to Japan on a hell ship that is named. It is a tough read. That man suffered greatly and, somehow, made it. Regards.
https://www.guampedia.com/wwii-prisoners-of-war-sent-to-japan/
https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/npswapa/extcontent/lib/liberation4.htm
The account includes a pic of the Argentina Maru on which the Americans, including 153 Marines, were transported to Kobe.
I should point out that for two days, the tiny American force on Japan, including the Insular Force of which Goebel was a member, put up a helluva fight but had scant weaponry and faced thousands of Japs.
https://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/japanese-seizure-guam
Correction: the tiny American force on Guam
Goebel, DW, Pfc, USMC is listed as a POW at ZENTSUJI CAMP, SHIKOKU 1942-45
http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camplists/osaka/zentsuji/amer-roster.html
On the site of the camp now sits a school. That does it for me. That should be all you and yours need to learn about the camp. (BTW: The ship Argentina Maru was converted to a makeshift aircraft carrier and had the shit bombed out of it in 1945 by American aircraft.)
In reading his obituary and this link, it looks as if he was a POW from 10 Dec 1941 to 10 September 1945 in Osaka, Japan:
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=466&mtch=1&cat=WR26&tf=F&q=Daniel+W.+Goebel&bc=sl&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=131052
Little Drummer Boy:
Who knew that a Civil War Drummer would be awarded the Medal of Honor at the age of 13:
“Medal of Honor Monday: 11-Year-Old Willie Johnston
DEC. 3, 2018 | BY KATIE LANGE”
https://www.defense.gov/explore/story/Article/1701137/medal-of-honor-monday-11-year-old-willie-johnston/
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/3208
“Medal of Honor
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Civil War
Service: Army
Division: 3d Vermont Infantry
GENERAL ORDERS:
Date of Issue: September 16, 1863
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Musician William “Willie” Johnston, United States Army, for gallantry from June 26 to 1 July 1862, while serving with Company D, 3d Vermont Infantry, in action during the Seven Day Battle and the Peninsula Campaign, Virginia.”
goarmybeatnavy😎
His grave is down the Road from me in East St.Jay.
Wow…Thank You for sharing, Sapper3307.
Sorry, I stand corrected.
The grave I always thought was our Lil Drummer boy is actually that of Ephraim W. Harrington. Another MOH recipient. All these years and never bothered to https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21146/ephraim-w_-harrington#google the grave.
It’s all good, Sapper.
Now we know about another Civil War MOH recipient.
Thank You for sharing that as well.
My Summer road trips for next year includes this little gem in the woods.https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2452518/rogers-rangers-gravesite# Yup! killed by wolves. Ranger missions are still hardcore but this is crazy.
Sapper:
Thank You for your link. A lot of history are in cemetaries.
Knew about “Little” Willie Johnston from way back. One reason his Commander and Lincoln wanted to award the MOH was to shame the grown men who had run. There are several other drummer boys that become heroes, but Willie was the youngest MOH. Shiloh rings a bell, but will have to dig thru my books.
Ironically, a 1958 (?) 30 minute episode of Gunsmoke, rebroadcasted on Monday 3 Dec alluded to little Willie as a more grown up young’un. The name was different, but in the story the young man had been a hero at both Antietam and Shiloh(in that order).
Hollywood, go figure. Mr. Dillon had befriended the lad and protected him from a pair of bullying teamsters.
Need to try an bookmark that site Another Pat, or you need to post it next week as a reminder. Good stuff there. Also, good stuff on the POW links. Thanks AP & 2/17 AC
goarmybeatnavy
Your are welcome, 5th/77th FA.
Mason has shared with us MOH stories as well. Hats off to Mason for doing this.😊
In the spirit of Christmas (Little Drummer Boy), thought it would be fitting to post Willie’s story.
Found out that in 1867, Willie competed for a position at West Point, but wasn’t selected.He then attended Norwich University in 1869 but is listed as a non-graduate.
Little Drummer Boy. Salute.
goarmybeatnavy😎
I’ll keep posting them. Thankfully this great country has no shortage of valorous men. 🙂
Bernie Sanders is big on climate change. “Climate change is a planetary crisis. Our task is clear. We must take on the fossil fuel industry that’s largely responsible for global emissions and accelerate our transition toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy sources,” he wrote. That was on October 10, while he was on tour. Yep. He’s a greener. We need to curb that fossil fuel usage. He doesn’t have to do that. He only wants us to do that. That’s why he spent millions on private jets, including the day he wrote what he did, and why he owns several homes, including a $600,000.00 lake from summer place. Not bad for a guy who never held a job.
Disingenuous hypocrites are the hallmark of a lefty. That half the country seems to think they’re worth listening to is shocking and disturbing.