Tanks, Planes, Boats, Military Stuff

[Rey]

Hey NWo, it’s been a while, eh? Nice to hear from you. I remember you bringing up the soldier that was buried there, and wondering what his story was. I’m glad you were able to look into it, and it looks like quite a story you found, and a sad one at that.

What struck me the most was the date that he died, in March 1945, and that is such a shame. A little over a month later and the war in Europe would have been over. Unfortunately he didn’t quite make it. Of course there were many, many others who didn’t make it also. In the end it’s really a shame the whole thing had to happen at all. I guess that is why I am so interested in World War II history. I’ve always wanted to know why it happened, and more importantly, how it happened. It just seems to me to be the most incredible thing that has ever happened. There are lots of crazy fellows around who might have an insane agenda for the world, but very few of them ever actually...succeed.

So I was thinking about things like that recently on Veterans Day, and also previously on Memorial Day. About people like William Donald Allies, and others like him, who fought and gave everything to have a better world. You hear about the baby boom that happened when the war was over and all the service men came home. And that’s all they really wanted, to stamp out the evil and get it over with, so they could get on with life and start new families in the new world they helped to make.

So it is important that we remember people like William Donald Allies. He was one of many who never got his chance to live this post war dream. But he died so that others could, so that the world would be a better place for everyone. We should never forget what these people did, and the sacrifices that they made. The world really was coming apart at the seams, like it never has since.

Of course there continues to be wars and conflicts. There is still unrest in the world, it seems like it will never stop. But it almost seems like an obligation to me, to remember those who fought and died, and to try and keep their vision of the world a reality. And really, how have we been doing? If William Donald Allies could come back today and have a look around, at the world he died for, what would he think? Would it have been worth it to him? Do we need to be doing a better job?

(A lot of what I talked about here was inspired by NWo’s post, and also the song “The Gunner’s Dream” by Roger Waters and Pink Floyd. This song is definitely worth a listen.)

[NWoBHM]

Hi Rey - yes I am glad I did the research, sort of brings them back to life, and recognises their sacrifice and bravery.
I was a little surprised he was a Brit pilot in a US Fortress (unless it was loaned to the RAF??), but I have also read of US pilots flying Spitfires on photo missions.
I do feel (with recent events in Europe, i.e. EU leaders parachuted unelected into Greece and Italy, and words like "we sometimes cannot trust elected politicians to make the right decision, so we have to do it for them", very worrying, especially as the citizens of Europe have never voted for what we have, and has become), that they would wonder about their sacrifice for freedom and democracy.
Well it looks as though the EU and Euro will collapse anyway - they talk of 10 years hard austerity ahead of us!!
Funny you mention the tragedy of the timing of his death, that was what my brother said, and also the world we now live in - my father died in 1986, and we were thinking about working life in his day - big mainframe computers to do the trial balance, typing pools, memos with carbon paper (before NCR No Carbon Required paper), one telephone per office (which only the manager could use, and generally after 1.00 pm for the cheaper rate), and now PC`s, lap tops, Internet, and an insatiable consumerism for everything now, and paid for on credit (EU 22 Trillion debt, US £15 Trillion) ouch.....

[Scythe Matters]

Hello guys. Remember that L1011 manual I found that belonged to my Grandfather? If anyone would like to have it, I'd like for it to go where it's appreciated.

If you're interested, send me a PM.

[VincentUlyssis]

(11-27-2011 06:54 AM)NWoBHM Wrote:  Hi Rey - yes I am glad I did the research, sort of brings them back to life, and recognises their sacrifice and bravery.
I was a little surprised he was a Brit pilot in a US Fortress (unless it was loaned to the RAF??), but I have also read of US pilots flying Spitfires on photo missions.
I do feel (with recent events in Europe, i.e. EU leaders parachuted unelected into Greece and Italy, and words like "we sometimes cannot trust elected politicians to make the right decision, so we have to do it for them", very worrying, especially as the citizens of Europe have never voted for what we have, and has become), that they would wonder about their sacrifice for freedom and democracy.
Well it looks as though the EU and Euro will collapse anyway - they talk of 10 years hard austerity ahead of us!!
Funny you mention the tragedy of the timing of his death, that was what my brother said, and also the world we now live in - my father died in 1986, and we were thinking about working life in his day - big mainframe computers to do the trial balance, typing pools, memos with carbon paper (before NCR No Carbon Required paper), one telephone per office (which only the manager could use, and generally after 1.00 pm for the cheaper rate), and now PC`s, lap tops, Internet, and an insatiable consumerism for everything now, and paid for on credit (EU 22 Trillion debt, US £15 Trillion) ouch.....

Did you see the recent documentary about the Spitfire converted spy planes assisted by hollywood, and the center set up in the English coutryside to interpret the data? So interesting. They uncovered the nazi V2 rocket projects that would have been the demise of many English cities.

[Scooter Britches]

I saw that...talk about some ballsy pilots! Great stuff there. Made a HUGE difference in the war! And the PIs...man, what an exhausting job trying so hard to pick up any sort of useful speck of info. I have so much respect for WWII vets...truly the Greatest Generation (IMHO).

[Rey]

(01-27-2012 11:35 AM)VincentUlyssis Wrote:  Did you see the recent documentary about the Spitfire converted spy planes assisted by hollywood, and the center set up in the English coutryside to interpret the data? So interesting. They uncovered the nazi V2 rocket projects that would have been the demise of many English cities.

What was the name of the documentary? I could look it up.

(Scythe: Can't really use the manual myself, not really sure who might, maybe an airplane museum?)

[2Beers]

It was a "heavy day" for our Firefighters.. nasty accident that required the call for Flight For Life helicopter. Hubby says that there is 1000 gallons of water in the truck.

[smoker guy]

Watching Wings of The Red Star about th IL-2 Shturmovik. It hit me that if the US and USSR had stayed allies after WWII, we wouldn`t have hadd to waste so many years in a pointless cold war that in all reality never truly ended. It makes me sad to think that ideology on both sides have made SO MANY mistakes. I guess this is why I have 2 tattoos on my forearms in my own handwriting in Russian. The right tanslates to AVENGER, the left translates to FOR THE MOTHERLAND. I`ve had to explain this repeatedly as being a "Citizen of the world", sorry for the b latant quote, but really, aren`t we all just children of the same planet? I really despise the sad fact that we as humans can not get past ideology or race and just try to make this world a better place for all people. I want to say that incluude myself at times of this failing...but I continue to try, but sometimes I just want to go away to an unnamed place and hide. Sorry for this complainig, I guess I just will never understand it all.

[Rey]

(02-05-2012 11:01 PM)smoker guy Wrote:  Watching Wings of The Red Star about th IL-2 Shturmovik. It hit me that if the US and USSR had stayed allies after WWII, we wouldn`t have hadd to waste so many years in a pointless cold war that in all reality never truly ended. It makes me sad to think that ideology on both sides have made SO MANY mistakes.

Yes, it was quite a temporary alliance, wasn't it? In fact, towards the end of the war Hitler could not believe such an alliance would work. Around the time of the Battle of the Bulge he was hoping the western allies would join him to fight against the Russians, which he believed was the true enemy of everyone. Seriously. Of course it didn't quite work out for him that way... But you are right, after the war allies became instant enemies, why did it have to happen?

ALSO: Great shot of the fire engine 2 Beers. I like how the copter was captured in mid flight in that position. I kind of dig emergency vehicles. There is a big emergency vehicle car show every year in the Chicago area, with lots of fire engines and antique police cars. They have a helicopter that lands, demonstrations of police dogs, vehicle crash rescues, and swat teams. Its a pretty good show.

[Boomer]

ONLY in Wisconsin would a fire truck actually have FLAMES on it.

Ok....maybe not?