Two enemies discover a higher call in battle
03-12-2013, 01:14 PM
#1
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Two enemies discover a higher call in battle
03-12-2013, 02:32 PM
#2
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
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Excellent article.
Aerial battle was often compared to knightly battles of old.
Chivalry was expected and display on numerous occasions during WWI and WWII.
Think back to the 'don't shoot a man in a parachute' *rule* for instance.
The examples used in the historical look provide some well known situations - maybe most notably the Christmas Truce during WWI. I was recently watching a Military History Channel show on the convoy operations of early WWII and there was the story of the sinking of the Bismark. One of the crew of the cruiser related how they had stated to rescue survivors until there was a reported periscope sighting in the area and then had to abandon the effort; an act which the young sailor related as a sorry feeling.
Aerial battle was often compared to knightly battles of old.
Chivalry was expected and display on numerous occasions during WWI and WWII.
Think back to the 'don't shoot a man in a parachute' *rule* for instance.
The examples used in the historical look provide some well known situations - maybe most notably the Christmas Truce during WWI. I was recently watching a Military History Channel show on the convoy operations of early WWII and there was the story of the sinking of the Bismark. One of the crew of the cruiser related how they had stated to rescue survivors until there was a reported periscope sighting in the area and then had to abandon the effort; an act which the young sailor related as a sorry feeling.
03-13-2013, 03:57 AM
#4
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Joined APC: Jul 2007
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Fantastic. My glider club in college had four WWII pilots - two AAF and two Luftwaffe. Those guys were inseperable, and incredibly fun to hang with.
I once found myself comforting an insurgent prisoner we were moving from Bucca to Abu Ghraib to get his leg amputated. He was scared $h1tless lying on a stretcher between two running helos. I just left him there at first until our medic (a full time RN) put his hand in mine and said "Sir, just keep him company". He was crying and begging me not to hurt him.
Protecting your humanity can be a tough thing in combat, even for a medevac pilot. I have no idea who that guy was or what he did - but I am thankful for the moment that balanced out all the hell, if only just a little.
I once found myself comforting an insurgent prisoner we were moving from Bucca to Abu Ghraib to get his leg amputated. He was scared $h1tless lying on a stretcher between two running helos. I just left him there at first until our medic (a full time RN) put his hand in mine and said "Sir, just keep him company". He was crying and begging me not to hurt him.
Protecting your humanity can be a tough thing in combat, even for a medevac pilot. I have no idea who that guy was or what he did - but I am thankful for the moment that balanced out all the hell, if only just a little.
03-13-2013, 04:31 AM
#5
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The article mentions some of the differences in feelings portrayed between Western powers (Germans/Americans for example) and how the Germans viewed the Russians or the how the two combatants viewed each other in the Pacific. Obviously the statistics on surviving the POW experience speaks volumes too. I was at an airshow in Atsugi Japan where they were having a meet and greet between Navy/Marine WWII pilots and Japanese pilots. I was standing behind the Americans watching them meet one at a time and shake hands. I heard one of the ppilots mutter to the guy next to him something along the lines of 'I'll meet him but I'll be damned if I'm going to shake that ****** hand!" Obviously still some very raw emotions lingering.
03-13-2013, 04:35 AM
#6
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Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
The article mentions some of the differences in feelings portrayed between Western powers (Germans/Americans for example) and how the Germans viewed the Russians or the how the two combatants viewed each other in the Pacific. Obviously the statistics on surviving the POW experience speaks volumes too. I was at an airshow in Atsugi Japan where they were having a meet and greet between Navy/Marine WWII pilots and Japanese pilots. I was standing behind the Americans watching them meet one at a time and shake hands. I heard one of the ppilots mutter to the guy next to him something along the lines of 'I'll meet him but I'll be damned if I'm going to shake that ****** hand!" Obviously still some very raw emotions lingering.
03-13-2013, 04:51 AM
#7
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When the US started island hopping in WWII, some Japanese never left the skipped islands because they had no communication. They lived off the land for 40 to 50 years still training every day, waiting for the enemy Americans, not ever knowing the War was.
I wonder how psychologically damaged those guys were. 50 years of hatred, only to find out they have been your closest ally since the last time you saw home.
Crazy. There were reports of those guys, old and all, attacking newcomers on the land thinking they were at war still.
I wonder how psychologically damaged those guys were. 50 years of hatred, only to find out they have been your closest ally since the last time you saw home.
Crazy. There were reports of those guys, old and all, attacking newcomers on the land thinking they were at war still.
03-13-2013, 05:50 AM
#8
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This story was already posted in this forum...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...encounter.html
Reposted here for the video interviews contained herein.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...encounter.html
Reposted here for the video interviews contained herein.
03-14-2013, 07:09 PM
#9
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Position: Retired Naval Aviator
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Read the book, excellent read, well written. I'm a bit of a geek historian with regards to aviation and like reading about actual scores and what not. There is some discussion in the book into the exaggeration of German air to air scores, by the German pilots. It happened with all nations and it's simply not true that the Germans were the most accurate at accounting for victories.
03-14-2013, 07:13 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by Snarge
My great uncle felt the same about the Germans.... I am sure many of the enemies of the US felt the same about us.... we weren't always honorable..... sometimes criminal....
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