Is anyone interested in WWII?

[Mike Rotch]

Is anybody interested in WWII? If so, are you interested in any particular theatre of war or army division?

 

[Duke]

I was a big WWII buff back in the day. I haven't really read anything recently, but I used to read a lot of WWII history and build models, etc. I was interested in all of it; air, land, and sea, from both the ETO and PTO.

I can still identify almost every WWII-vintage military aircraft by sight.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by neon_duke
I can still identify almost every WWII-vintage military aircraft by sight.

Thats my area of interest - particularly, memoirs of B17 and B24 pilot. I've even started a mini library of memoirs. So many take what they did for granted.

Our military museum in Johanessburg has a Spitfire, a Hurricane, a Mosquito, a ME-109, a FW 190 and a ME 262. Apparently there are only 5 or 6 ME 262's left in the world, so it is pretty awesome to be able to see one. One day I would love to be on a flight in a B17. Aah man. One day.

 

[///M-Spec]

I'm a military history buff in general, and love watching History channel type programing on the stuff.

In WWII, I find the naval engagments in the Pacific most interesting.

I think its interesting to see a WWII war movie revival of sorts in the past few years. Too bad it culminated in the spectacularly bad Pearl Harbor.


///M-Spec

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by ///M-Spec

I think its interesting to see a WWII war movie revival of sorts in the past few years. Too bad it culminated in the spectacularly bad Pearl Harbor.


///M-Spec

That was a pity - I mean hollywood normally momkey's with facts, but that pieceocr*p was really in poor taste.

Have you read "The Cruel Sea" by Nicolas Monserrat?

 

[Duke]

One of my high school teachers was a B-24 driver. Also, a good friend of my father's was a P-47D pilot, who had seen action against ME-163s (the little tailless rocket-powered jobs). I listened to their stories any time I could get them to talk about it.

I've actually been up in a P51-D converted to tandem seating. On the ground, I've sat in a B-25J, a P-38, a couple different C-47s, an F4U Corsair, and an F3F Wildcat. Wright-Patterson AFB has an ME-262 in their museum as well. I've also been out to the Silver Hill facility, which is where the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum does their restorations and stores their aircraft that are not on display. They have some really rare and interesting stuff out there. I used to be a real airshow rat when I was younger, too.

I've never seen a Mosquito in real life but that's my favorite aircraft of all time.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by neon_duke
One of my high school teachers was a B-24 driver. Also, a good friend of my father's was a P-47D pilot, who had seen action against ME-163s (the little tailless rocket-powered jobs). I listened to their stories any time I could get them to talk about it.

I've actually been up in a P51-D converted to tandem seating. On the ground, I've sat in a B-25J, a P-38, a couple different C-47s, an F4U Corsair, and an F3F Wildcat. Wright-Patterson AFB has an ME-262 in their museum as well. I've also been out to the Silver Hill facility, which is where the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum does their restorations and stores their aircraft that is not on display. I used to be a real airshow rat when I was younger.

I've never seen a Mosquito in real life but that's my favorite aircraft of all time.

Wow, that Mustang must have been awesome


I would love to visit the Smithsonian one day. That and the Imperial War Museum in the UK. I envy all the experiences you have had in sitting in those aircraft

That Mosquito is a whole lot bigger in real life then I thought - those two engines are really big. I think they are the Merlins used in Lancs. The poor bombadier had to crouch on his knees the entire flight.

 

[milefile]

I used to be more interested in it than I am now. But then again it could be said my interest has only shifted emphasis. Although the technology of war is interesting and amazing, and I used to peruse books and marvel at pictures of rifles and tanks and planes, and build models of them, I'm now more interested in the historical implications of WWII, in particular regarding Russia and Japan. Ever since I saw Enemy at he Gate I've been more interested in the price nations are willing to pay for victory, and what the advantage or disadvantage of "victory at any cost" might be. Japan and Russia both fought with this mindset, but it only worked for one of them. I'm not trying to start a Hiroshima debate again. Let's mot spoil Mike Rotch's thread.

I've also noticed that since September the Eleventh, my desire to see or think about war machines has dwindled significantly.

If you haven't seen Enemy at the Gate, rent it. I think it's the best war film around, and it has nothing to do with America's roll.

 

[Frustrated Palm]

I am also a military buff. Im more into WWII and the Gulf War, and know most military equipment and machines. My area of expertice was the German Theater rather than the Japanese front, though I do know alot about that front.

When it comes to modern warfare my area of expertice is with strategy, and Military Machines (mostly whirly birds and fixed wing).

Just a note: I think its just a bunch of bull about an Apache being shot down by a farmers rifle. For one, you would have to be a good shot (or a lucky one), and it looked more like it had landed in the field, rather than emergency landing, or crash landing. Its just propaganda to raise moral for their forces and to make it seem like the Apache was weak, but both sides do it (the propaganda and moral boost that is)...

 

[THE GAME]

Originally posted by milefile
If you haven't seen Enemy at the Gate, rent it. I think it's the best war film around, and it has nothing to do with America's roll.

That is one of my favorite movies of all time.......

 

[240Z freak]

Originally posted by neon_duke
ME-163s (the little tailless rocket-powered jobs).

Ahhh, yes. Comets (bottom of picture). Ever seen the natter (a.k.a. viper)?

 

[Meglomaniac]

Yeh,WW2 stuff im into like all the weapons used by troops and all weapons altoghether, MG-42, Mp-40's, Steilhand grenades, P-51'S, King tiger tanks, Sturm tigers, Thompson sub-machine gun, Sherman tanks, P-47 thunderbolts, Gotha 229 flyin wing, yeh all that stuff I have been interested in it since the age of 10 so i do know some stuff about it. I only ever play military and war games apart from GT3.

 

[Tercel_driver]

I am interested but I wouldnt consider myself a fan. I have been a fan of guns, but I guess that is a very negative thing to be interested on. But hey, I you are interested in WW2 themes, there are some games you should play. Day of Defeat for PC, and the Medal of Honor series. Also, there are the Microsoft WWII theater flight simulator games. There is a lot of interactive multimedia stuff out there.

 

[Meglomaniac]

yeh, i play MOH and OFP and all that, yeh, well i am not exactly a fan, its just i enjoy reading a bit about them, its not like i actually want to kill people with them! i am intersted in thier history and there impact on our modern world.I also play Combat flight sim 3, i usally do some research on the net too, but not very often, i am game mostly.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Good ol' Lanc

 

[Mike Rotch]

Good ol' B-17

 

[///M-Spec]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch

Have you read "The Cruel Sea" by Nicolas Monserrat?

Nope. Worth picking up?


///M-Spec

 

[Duke]

Yes, it's very good. Another highly recommended title is "Das Boot", the book from which the movie was made.

 

[emad]

1.5 months in the making...3d model of the p-51 mustang D made by me. it was my first undertaking

 

[Duke]

You need to attach it or put in an

 

[Gil]

Used to be a bigger buff than currently. My area of interest was primarily fighter planes. (Mustangs and Corsairs in particular) I would have loved to be one of the "Black Sheep" or the Tuskeegee Airmen.
But I also have a "thing" about small arms.
IMHO Germany had the most awesome 'up close' guns of WWII.
Love the Walther P-38. The P-08 Luger was pretty, but not the best of weapons. The MP-38 and MP-40 Sub guns were the grand-daddies of modern assault weapons.
Though, I also have a soft spot for the creations of John M. Browning.

 

[Duke]

I shot a Browning Hi-Power once. It felt like it weighed about 15 lbs in my hands.

 

[Gil]

I've put quite a few rounds thru the 1911A1. Can't hit much with it. But I have put a few rounds thru it.
I'm also quite enamored with the M14 Rifle. That thing is a tack driver at 100meters, with open sights.
The one good thing about the Navy back when I was in was the "reject" weapons.
We had small arms lockers full of M14's, 1911A1's, and Remington short barreled 12 gauge riot guns.
Love those 12ga. pump guns!!!

As for the planes, I also like the Hawker Hurricane, The P-38 Lightning, The P-40 Warhawk, and my personal favorite is the P-61 "Black Widow" Night fighter, and Pursuit plane.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by Gil
and my personal favorite is the P-61 "Black Widow" Night fighter, and Pursuit plane.

Was that a Mustang derivative?

 

[Meglomaniac]

Anyone going to mention the Spitfire, technically not as capable in some areas as the mustang,for example the mustang could fly further(much further) go faster, and out turnthe spit, but the spit was heavily armed and still out turned most aircraft.and absolute classic, if there is one plane everyone knows from WW2 its the spitfire, maybe less known is the Me109,My fav early jet was the Vampire Jet, My fav bomber was the Hienkel 111H, and the Junker Ju87 now that was a classic dive bomber. Battle of Britain aircraft were true classics.=D

 

[Mike Rotch]

the Junker Ju87 now that was a classic dive bomber. [/B]

Effective till the allies figured out that Germany couldnt use it unless they had air superiority. Without air superiority, that Ju87 was cannon fodder for the spits and hurris.

 

[Duke]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch
Was that a Mustang derivative?

This is the P-61 - it's not the plane you're thinking of. This one was made by Northrop.

Here's the North American P-82 Twin Mustang:

 

[oosacker]

Mitsubishi Rei (Zero) A6M5

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by neon_duke
This is the P-61 - it's not the plane you're thinking of. This one was made by Northrop.

Here's the North American P-82 Twin Mustang:

wow. Those forward facing guns on the P61 look like they mean business.

I must admit I have never seen that P-82 before. One weird looking plane

I hope only one of those pilots had a "yolk" to fly the thing with - otherwise a dog fight would have been a bit interesting.

 

[Cobraboy]

I'm generally interested in all aspects of WW2, but I'm not exactly all that bright in it, just interested.

The big boss at my dad's work is one rich bugger, he owns a few later era planes, but he also owns a Venom, awesome when you see it screaming past at full tilt.

I started watching Enemy At The Gate when it was on tele a while ago, the start is very powerful as are most ww2 films but for some reason I stopped watching it, I'll have to rent it or buy it sometime.