World War II Documentaries Worth A Damn: Lancaster – Above and Beyond

Lancaster – Above and Beyond

 

The Avro Lancaster was a British Heavy Bomber used extensively during WW2 to take the war into Germany.

This documentary dives deep into both the history of the aircraft itself and the amazing crews that flew them into battle.

The Dambuster Operation of 1943, aka Squadron X led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, is discussed in exacting detail.

The saddest part of this Doc is how Churchill and the British Government turned their back on RAF Bomber Command and the Lancaster Bomber Crews after the War and the only memorial that exist to RAF Bomber Command today was self-financed by the Bomber Crews themselves.

The interviews with the surviving pilots and crewmembers, most of them all well into their 90’s is a TREASURE in itself.

Don’t miss this one, it’s a good one.

Know Your WW2 History: Axis vs AA Guns

AXIS VS. AA GUNS: HISTORY OF AMERICAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS

 

Even from the first moments of America’s sudden involvement in World War II, U.S. anti-aircraft (AA) gunners were in the thick of the fight. John W. Finn, US Navy Chief Aviation Ordnanceman, won the Medal of Honor during the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

As Japanese planes attacked his post at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, he fought back from an exposed .50 caliber machine gun stand. He hammered away at the strafing and bombing Japanese aircraft.

 

From Longbows to Spitfires – Nine Weapons that Made Britain Great

“Part of the country’s edge in its history of conflicts has been superior technology by land, sea, and air.” By Douglas Brown THE UNITED KINGDOM has seen its share of armed conflicts. In fact, few… The post From Longbows to Spitfires – Nine Weapons that Made Britain Great appeared first on MilitaryHistoryNow.com.

From Longbows to Spitfires – Nine Weapons that Made Britain Great — MilitaryHistoryNow.com

De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito Color Photographs Part II

Beautiful machine.

Part I Photo’s HERE.

Inch High Guy

A beautiful in-flight photograph of a Mosquito B Mk. IV. DK338 was later issued to No. 105 Squadron.

This is NT181, a Mosquito FB Mk. VI assigned to No. 620 Squadron at East Wretham.

NT181 again, from the front. The wear to the spinners and nacelle is interesting and would pose a challenge to the modeler.

Rockets proved especially effective against shipping. The armorers here wear leather jerkins, each man is attired slightly differently.

A Mosquito is “bombed up” with a little canine assistance. Compare the appearance of the bomb fins with that of the bomb bodies.

A South African Air Force FB Mk. VI of No. 60 Squadron photographed at Bari, Italy, September 1944. Note the spinners are different colors.

Another view of the same aircraft, serial number HP968.

One of the more attractive Mosquito schemes is the overall PRU Blue, as seen here worn by PR Mk. XVI…

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Bad Ass Files: Major Henry Elrod, USMC

MAJOR HENRY ELROD, THE BILLY BAD ASS THAT SANK A DESTROYER AND LED AN INFANTRY CHARGE

 

One of the Old Breed cut from a Generation we will most likely never see the likes of again.

Semper Fi.