The truth is stranger than fiction: WW2 facts that you would call BS if seen on a movie...

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

Trivial but this was done by the British. What it does show is how important coastal shipping was even through the English Channel with the rail networks being overloaded. Coastal convoys of both sides continued to run through the Channel despite the risks of mines, coastal artillery, air strikes and torpedo and gun boat attacks.
 
That Britain's Malaya Command with 140,000 troops, over a thousand artillery and antitank guns and nearly 300 aircraft could so quickly fall to a Japanese army half its size, with 130,000 men, or 92% of the British garrison surrendering to the Japanese exactly 70 days later.

Had the British and Imperial troops known what the IJA had planned for them perhaps they'd have fought on. It's hard to imagine a Japanese army of 140,000 men abandoning their ground with 92% of their number surrendering into British or American hands. Did that ever happen before the Emperor's stand down order? When the US retook the Philippines the IJA had 349,000 troops, of which less than 13,000, or 3.5% were captured.
 
Last edited:
michael rauls said:
The Polish army charging tanks on horseback. I've read this for years but also a few that claim it never really happened. If it did you've got to admire that kind of courage if nothing else.
Click to expand...
I've seen it on a YouTube site. Simple History IIRC. The Polish cavalry attacked a German position and suffered heavy casualties. After the battle, German reinforcements arrived and the scene was staged with Armor in the background.
 
The original photo evidence of Peenumunde and the development of the V2 was laughed at by the British chief scientist - we haven't developed anything like that so how could they ? Peenemunde was said to be a sewerage site even though it wasn't near any large population area.

Fortunately it was decided that the photo recce unit needed a better set of equipment for viewing to prove things one way or another.

A new 3D photo put together thingy was available from Switzerland. One was sent to Sweden for the RAF to pick up.

Reasonable cloak and dagger movie so far.

Now lets add the 'oh that's a bit far fetched' part to the script.

A Mosquito goes to Sweden and the machine is put in bits into the bomb bay and tied securely etc. The Mossie has two crew in the cockpit but a scientific technical type gent has come along to make the thing work and needs to go with them.

He is also placed in the bomb bay on a sort of hammock facing down on his stomach.

Off they go in the dark of night and very near to Scotland get bounced by a German Night Fighter.

The pilot does the usual thing to wipe speed off quickly and get out of the night fighters line - he opens the bomb bay doors. The Mossie slows quickly and they evade. Soon they land and everything is ok.

Ok for the crew but not so much for the poor sod in the bomb bay which was still open as the pilot had (forgotten / not bothered) not closed it again being so close to landing anyway.

So there you are - a boffin type non combatant lying face down in the dark - then a rush of air probably with some loud noises followed by an eventual darkened view of a runway a few feet below your face as you land at 120 mph or so.

Yes - it happened and no I don't know if the bloke went back to Switzerland by plane or rowing boat and his feet. Either way he was important. All this lead to operation Crossbow.
 
Here's another connected to the "BOAC Express" between the UK and Sweden.

Niels Bohr the Physicist escaped from Denmark to Sweden in September 1943.
When the news of Bohr's escape reached Britain, Lord Cherwell sent a telegram to Bohr asking him to come to Britain. Bohr arrived in Scotland on 6 October in a de Havilland Mosquito operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).The Mosquitos were unarmed high-speed bomber aircraft that had been converted to carry small, valuable cargoes or important passengers. By flying at high speed and high altitude, they could cross German-occupied Norway, and yet avoid German fighters. Bohr, equipped with parachute, flying suit and oxygen mask, spent the three-hour flight lying on a mattress in the aircraft's bomb bay. During the flight, Bohr did not wear his flying helmet as it was too small, and consequently did not hear the pilot's intercom instruction to turn on his oxygen supply when the aircraft climbed to high altitude to overfly Norway. He passed out from oxygen starvation and only revived when the aircraft descended to lower altitude over the North Sea. Bohr's son Aage followed his father to Britain on another flight a week later, and became his personal assistant
 
I had the pleasure, and privilege, of being granted access to walk around this Ju88 at Cosford, a couple of years back.
It's far better that this aircraft, and some others from Hendon, are now at Cosford, as viewing and lighting conditions are much better.
 
Flight Sergeant Dobney
In August 1940 Tom Dobney applied to join the RAF, He lied about his age but blagged his way through the initial selection process and medical and was accepted for training at the age of 14 and three months.
On 12 May 1941 he had his first training flight in Tiger Moth at the age of 15 and four days and soloed three weeks after his fifteenth birthday.
Tom was awarded his wings when 15 four months and three days and with that his promotion to flight sergeant. Selected for bomber aircraft he flew three missions as the pilot in Whitley bombers including one combat against German fighters when his father tracked him down and he was grounded aged 15. Finally discharged from the RAF in January 1942 while still aged 15 he was told in writing that when he was the right age he could apply for the RAF and would be qualified to wear his wings from the first day, which he did
 
Perhaps that is why the needed to keep making them bigger and faster (when you absolutely need it...) ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Similar threads

W
What effect would a cross channel tunnel have on WW2?
Replies
17
Views
866
Airframes
What is a Quonset Hut?
Replies
14
Views
785
HP52
H
J
Help with the WW2 Japanese flag translation
Replies
7
Views
867
Wurger
From WW2 Bachem's Ba 349 Natter (Viper), to the cold war
Replies
1
Views
482
Gnomey
P
Which tank is this ?
Replies
2
Views
701
programa
P
Menu
Log in
Register