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A winter war would be tough on all I agree however given the situation of Tropical Diseases Tropical spa it is not working in temperatures of 100 Farnhiet plus then getting eaten alive literally by every bug that flies walks and crawls and sweat trickling down your face when stripping an engine or airframe. I know some would say frost bite and cold snows have their disadvantages but do not take it for granted Ground Crews working in the Tropics had an idylic time of it in the heat and monsoons of the Pacific and Asian region
But then again have to look at the Ground crews working in the deserts of North Africa and Middle East. Imagine half way through stripping the engine from a P40 Kittyhawk for Desert Hussars RAF and a bloody sand storm broils up getting fine grit sand like talcum powder through the engine intakes and such. As FBJ said if it wasn't for all ground crews pilots are pedestrians with expensive sunglasses
And Pb 30 celius heat is fine but you don't want to be working in heat 40 celius plus trust me on that. I have seen steel railway tracks buckle in heat like that and you could literally fry an egg on those rails they become that heated. thinking of which it must have been hell in a tank during African campaign. Pb I kid you not I have worked in heat like that 40 celius plus and the sun beats down like a bastard. And you see heat radiating from the ground in heat shimmies and every time you move you become a ball of sweat. You have to wear a hat or shirts etc to keep sun of you and constantly drink fluids to avoid heat exhaustion. It can kill you just as quick as hypotherma can in the cold,
Hey Adler I am not taking anything away from Ground crews in Europe or Russia. I can understand you worked in 40 plus degree heat for 14 months but remember I do that every year day in day out during our summers. So do understand ok. But take nothing away from ground crews in the Pacific and Asian regions and no Plan I didn't forget the RAF boys by any means or our Canadian mates or any other Commonwealth Ground Crews. it was hardships all round for ground crews Adler no matter where they served so I do understand. I might not have been to Russia but believe me mate I do know the heat and what it can do to some one. At the moment we are having droughts in certain parts of Australia. But in the tropic north they are having monsoons tropic cyclones and ****ing floods. And by the way Adler if you look at Wilds photos these men in those photos had difficulties as well which looks like an old Beaufort coming into land in a sea of mud. But bare in mind Adler those in the Pacific and Asian Theatre didn't see snow but rain constant rain that comes down like sheets and never lets up for days on end turning the airstrips into mud baths bad enough walking in that let alone taxing an aircraft as the same in Russia. We might not have snow Adler but we do have Typhoons and Cyclones that can wreck an airfield in a matter of minutes and turn aircraft to match wood or so much scrap metal. and as Plan so aptly said flying the Hump as it was called to bring in all supplies for the Air Forces because the enemy had cut the Burma Road wouldn't have been an ideal place to be in. Or being on an isolated island and the Jap Navy came by once per night and shelled your aerodrome not so idylisitc as one might think Adler. I am not taking anything away from the Europeans Campaigns and all ground crews had it tough but just because the sun shines in the Pacific or Asian regions doesn't make it all rosey and comfortable for Allied Ground Crews who had to work in those hell holes Adler. and Adler the reason I go for the PTO is because I live in the Pacific region and been brought up in it all my life. Father on the other hand served in North Africa and Middle East and also in Pacific before joining Bomber Command and going to England. So Adler I think I do have a handle on the situations described by you. and don't forget Adler a lot of these Aerodromes didn't come about in the jungles of the Pacific or Asian region because of pre war planning they had to be cut out of the scrub Yes with mechanical aid but also by hand. Most in particular the Burma Campaign and the other part where Chinese Civilians not only built a bloody other road but also turned around and built airfields by hand Adler. if by chance german or Axis Ground crews were caught by the enemy they may have had little chance of survival but remeber with the Japs you had **** all chance
Hey Adler I am not taking it personally sorry if you thought I was mate. Its a discussion and that is all it is. this is off topic Adler a bit. I saw a Documentary up coming on Von Paullus 6th Army captured around Stalingrad. 95000 Germans went into captivity only 6000 came home eventually after the war had been finished by 10 years or more. Documentary airs on History Channel next month. 95,000 Germans went into captivity only less than 6,000 came home. That is a death rate of over 98% and that in itself is an Atrocity on the rights of POWs Adler. Which the Russians should have been charged with and were not
My Grandfather was a Major in the Wehrmacht on the East Front and took part in the Battle of Stalingrad. He was wounded and captured at Stalingrad. He was fortunate and returned shortly after the war. I believe only because he was a doctor.
I am pleased your Grand Father made it home Adler. What I was trying to say and looked like I failed neither the Germans or the Russians had the right to abuse kill and murder POWs from either side. Justice Yes War Crimes against each other no Adler. 2 wrongs do not make it right my friend. It was truly a dirty war in WW2. If asked yes I would have proscuted Russians for War Crimes just as much as I would have done with Germans Adler. But I suppose that comes from being civilized and even in the conduct of war one must abided by some sort of conventions in dealing with other human beings regardless of whom they are, enemy or not. hope you understand what I am saying Adler
I've been all over the globe and done some crazy sh!t, and working in sub-zero temps is HANDS DOWN the worst possible scenario.... What the Germans, and the Russians to a degree, were able to perform is downright amazing...
Gun Oil would freeze.... I mean common...