Recent content by Donald Johnson

I'll still argue that the Mosquito was the war's best long-range bomber, only lacking in numbers. It's low casualty rate matters greatly as does it's precision. The tactic of dive-bombing increased both positive factors and practically negates the use of high-altitude flak. In combined missions...

This at least acknowledges the political nature of this attack and how it relates to future strategic policy. Certainly, the rationale was in keeping with the policy of the day, but questioning it is something we must continue doing.

When Hap Arnold presented the plans the Brits gave him after an impressive demonstration in April, 1941, five engineers discounted it immediately. Had even one considered a prototype, perhaps in the Detroit area which had access to the wooden Chriscraft Boat Works, a few prototypes could have...

The Mosquito was such a better plane for all bombing purposes that it is worth questioning why so many Marauders and Mitchells were built. Comparing survivability and accuracy, one can only surmise far better success had medium bomber programs been ditched entirely in favor of Mosquitoes.

Yes, there were issues with training AAF pilots to fly the Mossie, but Vance Chipman was a highly experienced Mossie pilot having served in the RCAF (and survived a crash-landing in the MM388). He enlisted in the AAF in 1943, doubling his pay, but was not able to bring his highly skilled...

Really? Against a 400 mph Mossie or a slower Mitchell? >>The Flakvierling 38 was a quadruple-mounted 20mm FlaK 38 developed to address the original gun’s slow rate of fire against fast moving aircraft during World War II. Using two foot pedals, a seated gunner could fire from two or four...

Vance Chipman was show down on a Regarding your picture: >>NS538 one of 654th Bombardment Squadrons five "Mickey ships" and was the USAAF's H2-X equipped prototype. Crashed after an mid air explosion on the 8th Sept 1944 with the loss of the crew F/O Russell C Whitmer (pilot) USAAF and MSgt...

Okay, but I'm not making the argument, only pointing out how it relates.

Much of what you posted here has not been heretofore available to me, steeped on Caidin and Jablonski as I am. But I do maintain part of my argument is still valid, that which suggests that decisions made then on who and what to bomb yet reverberate as our procurement procedures which are...

One thing a teacher always encourages, even rewards, is for students to correct errors immediately.

SHAEF

It was American meteorologist James Stagg observing in Canada, Greenland, and Iceland who predicted the D-Day June 6 opening, the Germans did not think the weather would break and went to bed. The Weather Forecast That Saved D-Day

I just started looking into this based on his son Barry's claims. He says he has his flight log books that can verify 21-26 kills in a Hurricane, including 5-6 Me-109s.an seaplanes on Something about their turning ability against inexperienced German pilots makes that possible. He also claims...

Looks like Carl Rossby was paying attention to this: The World War II-era Chicago school of meteorology that decoded weather forecasting.

I submit that if a Doctrine of maximum military disruption was paramount, the Mosquito would have been the most likely beneficiary. Recognizing the lack of available bombers, I'm suggesting that all available should have been specifically targeted for pinpoint raids with none doing nuisance or...