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They may have counted them in WWI, but in WWII? I had never considered them. I suppose they might have to be considered. I'd doubt it came up more than a very few times, if at all in WWII, but without research, I wouldn't know.Hmmm. WW I ballons,
Airborne(not really moving)
manned
armed (usually not in the balloon but in ground batteries).
Steve Hinton could probably fly one of those, he could pilot a tree stump and make it fly. A train should be easier.I'd pay cash money to see Rob piloting one of those.
Steve Hinton could probably fly one of those, he could pilot a tree stump and make it fly. A train should be easier.
One of my stepbrothers is a retired engineer, and so is a nephew, the others in my family are either working on the tracks (track gangs) or an electrician, mostly BNSF.But Rob's a retired loco driver, and he don't need no stinkin' rails!
Sidebar:They may have counted them in WWI, but in WWII? I had never considered them. I suppose they might have to be considered. I'd doubt it came up more than a very few times, if at all in WWII, but without research, I wouldn't know.
You come up with some good ones, Shortround!
What is an "OOC?" Curious ...Sidebar:
Rickenbacker's 26 "kills" (internet presumes a whole lot) included two grounded balloons.
When I was secretary of the aces assn, I computed that by WW II standards his score was 7 and change. Lots of OOCs (that apparently he could confirm as squadron CO) and the all-time howler: "Fokker last seen in vertical bank."
The problem is that you don't kill pilots. They are more difficult to replace than aircraft. Also 2/3 of the claims were in the last 6 weeks of the war. At that point they were never going to fly again. A waste of young men's lives.It's better to kill 'em on the ground than in the air.
I'm a Tejano. We took out Santa Anna while they slept at San Jacinto. Every bit as much a victory, and with a lot less sweat.
The problem is that you don't kill pilots. They are more difficult to replace than aircraft. Also 2/3 of the claims were in the last 6 weeks of the war. At that point they were never going to fly again. A waste of young men's lives.
When most of the strafing claims were made the Luftwaffe was finished. Just like sinking immobile Japanese ships at Kure where over 100 young Americans lost their lives for no purpose. Basically higher echelon blood lust.The pilots were already being shot down in droves, clearly; the training falloff between Feb 44 and Feb 45 speaks to that.
If the enemy fliers are on the ground, attack them there. So you don't kill so many of his pilots? Okay. They're still on the ground, and have fewer airplanes if they decide to fight later. Don't half-ass it. Enemy's on the ropes? Great, shoot up his gear.
As S special ed points out, all war is a waste of life. How many pilots died strafing airfields vs how many doggies died fighting through bocage?
The pilots were already being shot down in droves, clearly; the training falloff between Feb 44 and Feb 45 speaks to that.
If the enemy fliers are on the ground, attack them there. So you don't kill so many of his pilots? Okay. They're still on the ground, and have fewer airplanes if they decide to fight later. Don't half-ass it. Enemy's on the ropes? Great, shoot up his gear.
As S special ed points out, all war is a waste of life. How many pilots died strafing airfields vs how many doggies died fighting through bocage?
When most of the strafing claims were made the Luftwaffe was finished. Just like sinking immobile Japanese ships at Kure where over 100 young Americans lost their lives for no purpose. Basically higher echelon blood lust.