Recent content by jayastout

Yes, thanks to all. I'm aware that the clock code was in use during World War II. As Greg indicated, I'm interested in whether or not the phrase "check six," was in use. I've been through...probably thousands of after action/encounter reports and never seen the phrase. Curran's book aside...

I did ask a 352nd FG veteran several years ago and he had no recollection of using it. He also pointed out that it had been 70+ years and there was a lot he didn't remember.

Yes, I've got plenty of fighter time with those same fellas. Am doing some collaboration on some writing...and folks are using "Check six," in the context of World War II...and I'm not sure it's accurate. That's why I'm checking with this very knowledgeable group to see if anyone knows of any...

Yes, I have a sneaking suspicion that it came into widespread use during the Vietnam War. But I have nothing to base that on. I was pretty well read on WW II aviation before I went into the service, and I'd never heard the term before then.

I'm researching the origins of the term, "Check six!" Excepting the title of Jim Curran's book of the same name, I've never come across contemporaneous accounts from World War II that used this term. In other words, no one I interviewed, no letter I've read, no diary, no unit after action...

Anecdotal, but one of the B-24 fellas I interviewed said that he made a recommendation that no one under 160 pounds be selected to fly B-24s because the controls were VERY heavy. Consequently, they might have been more difficult to fly in close formation.

Wow. I know this thread is a gajillion years old, but I only just now stumbled across it. I'm the author of the book (The Men Who Killed the Luftwaffe) that the OP referenced. I recognize that the title is a bit simplistic--and antogonistic to some--but it's tough to put qualifiers into a...

New book, VANISHED HERO, just released on Elwyn Righetti, late-war ace and "King of the Strafers."

Dang. Still didn't find it. Went through all the pages. You sure they visited Bodney? By the way, that's a really cool concept. Loved the photos and commentary. I look at the old buildings and my mind does that movie making trick where the old buildings gradually transition to new...

After reading your post I searched the forum, but evidently did a poor job. Found some postings of thumbnails, but the only Bodney one was a photo of Preddy's aircraft with some mechs. Denmark and a 50th aviation anniversary? What was it?

Thanks Viking. I'm pretty proud of this one. Sadly, it'll probably be the last I'm able to do working cooperatively with the vets. They're passing quickly and many of those that are left are, understandably, tired. There are a few exceptions. Bob "Punchy" Powell has still got it all...

As I researched it, I found it interesting how long it took for the group to find its stride. They spent several months being in the wrong place at the wrong time (in part by design as the leadership wanted them to start out with baby steps). I could sense the pilots' frustration at not being...

Thanks much for the kind words! Mentioning my book favorably in the same breath as Mr. Caldwell's is very flattering. And your observation coincides with mine prior to putting the book together: There really was no mass-market, mainstream, full-length book treatment of an Eighth Air Force...

By the way, Erich, if you go to Amazon and look up the book, then click on the "look inside" option, then click on "Surprise Me," you can navigate to page 319 which has Waldron's description of the 21 November 44 encounter. Regards, Jay

Yes, I think I noted something about this poorly-considered drop tank policy: In hopes of saving a tank...it actually increased the odds of losing the tank, the aircraft and the pilot. It's incredible to me that this sort of very shallow thinking was promulgated by the leadership of what had...