Life Magazine, Dec 1 1941 and Onwards. Things that strike me Odd or Interesting

[fubar57]

Going through the war years of Life Magazine, up to Dec 01 1941 now. I found the highlighted part interesting.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

They weren't so fearful to have already sent Kido Butai on its mission. Clearly Kurusa wasn't in the loop ... or he was disambiguating.

I personally believe the former.

 

[fubar57]

I forgot to highlight the other item of interest where "....U.S. officials repeated again and again: "Watch out! You're on Hitler's list before we are!"

 

[fubar57]

...and so, on Dec 15, 1941, Life's next issue gives this

 

[SaparotRob]

Good assessment.

 

[fubar57]

Photos and captions are not good. The first picture has in its caption, "....Japan's first attacking bombers swept in without warning...Some soared in at enormous altitudes..." The aircraft in the picture look suspiciously like B17s. The next photo has a low level flight of B-17s and the caption says, "....and with Flying Fortress formations, like the one above, heading out to sea. One Jap carrier was reported sunk.!

 

[Old Wizard]

Fake news even back then.

 

[fubar57]

Reading LIFE, issue 30 Mar. 1942. It has an article on the American Volunteer Group. It has this photo and caption....

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From this site.... American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers: AVG aces

 

[fubar57]

In the last three issues I've noticed that when Japan, Italy or Germany are mentioned, they are "the Axis". When the good guys are mentioned, they are "the United Nations". I wonder when "Allies" came about

 

[fubar57]

The first time I've seen the word "Allies" mentioned in a LIFE issue is the 7, December 1942, exactly one year after the U.S of A enters the war

 

[GrauGeist]

It wasn't really "fake news" back then, it was the slow access to information exasperated by confused and conflicting reports.

We've become spoiled with our instant access to real-time information streams, where back then, information from the scene had to be either wired (telex), telephoned or written notes sent by courier and in some cases, relayed by shortwave radio operators.

 

[fubar57]

Agreed. I just saw an ad for Consolidated and it had a B-24 shooting at an Me-110. The return fire from the Me-110 had tracers coming from the nose and from each propeller hub.

 

[fubar57]

Kinda sh!t the bed on this as I forgot all about this thread. Now up to Mar. '44. Lot of stuff that would strike one as odd if one know the actual history behind the event as opposed to how it was reported at the time. Coming up to June 6th shortly so it will be interesting to see the real time reportage (10$ word thrown in). Another thing I've really enjoyed is seeing the celebrities of the time doing their part and all the ad prices. Spoiler alert.....I'll let you know how D-Day turns out

 

[fubar57]

So.....6 Mar. 1944, LIFE has a headline,

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and has 9 pages of "....PILES OF GIGANTIC WAR STORES IN BRITAIN...."

 

[GrauGeist]

Good thing the Germans didn't see that!

 

[Shortround6]

They did, they just thought it was going to Patton

 

[Shortround6]

 

[GrauGeist]

View attachment 704514

Those light tanks were always a pain in the ass on windy days!

 

[herman1rg]

Kinda sh!t the bed on this as I forgot all about this thread. Now up to Mar. '44. Lot of stuff that would strike one as odd if one know the actual history behind the event as opposed to how it was reported at the time. Coming up to June 6th shortly so it will be interesting to see the real time reportage (10$ word thrown in). Another thing I've really enjoyed is seeing the celebrities of the time doing their part and all the ad prices. Spoiler alert.....I'll let you know how D-Day turns out

I think the Germans might do ok...

 

[33k in the air]

It wasn't really "fake news" back then, it was the slow access to information exasperated by confused and conflicting reports.

We've become spoiled with our instant access to real-time information streams, where back then, information from the scene had to be either wired (telex), telephoned or written notes sent by courier and in some cases, relayed by shortwave radio operators.

I would think wartime censorship played a role too, as in not wanting to reveal military details which could theoretically aid the enemy.