World War 2 Trivia

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You guys are killing me!!! I give up....

Written on the bomb was ...

"For the boys on the Indianapolis".

Speaking of that, heres another question:

What was the name of the Catalina PBY that landed during the sea rescue of the Indianapolis and eventually sank itself?
 
"Bob".


Sorry...without Googling (which some consider "cheating"...I consider it "researching"), I couldn't tell ya an honest answer. I know one did, but not that specific. The crew kicked holes in the sides of the plane so they could honestly report "damage" and remain afloat to give the guys a place to get out of the water, IIRC.
 
Actually the rivets popped when they landed - the first successful landing on the sea by the unit. Other attempts ended in diaster and the unit was officially "not to attempt" sea landings. But they decided to ignore orders and help those in the water. Rescued 56 crewmen before transferring to a ship and letting the plane sink.
 
Ok, some Pearl Harbor trivia:
Who was it that shot down the first Japanese aircraft during the initial attack on 7 December 41, making it the first Japanese aircraft downed by an American during WWII?

You can get this answer right by either with the serviceman's name, or thier machine.
 
It was either Lt George Welch or Ken Taylor Flying P-40Cs or P-40Bs which took off from Haleiwa field. First Japanese casualty was a Val D/B I believe
 
My reference is the book "duel for the sky" written by Herbert Molly Mason Jr. 1970

"A handful of American fighter pilots manage to get airborne to wade into swarms of Japanese aircraft circling overhead. Among them were two young Army lieutenants, George Welch and Kenneth Tayor. Flying Curtiss P-40B Tomahawks, the two pilots engaged a dozen Japanese divebombers attacking the Marine air base at Ewa. Both Tayor and Welch shot down three of the enemy bombers apiece, then landed to rearm. Welch got off all right, but Talor was shot down by a low flying attacker, who was shot down in turn by Welch."
 

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