Recent content by merlin

Contd. Inspired by the British groups, American youth formed their own bands, taking their image from the British rather than the 'clean-cut' Beach Boys - so you had The Band, Credence Clearwater Revival, and the Eagles, to name just a few, there some that had both black & white members -...

For me who lived through it all. In the 40s & most of the 50s there was 'popular music - Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Matt Munro Perry Como, and many more. They sang or crooned the song s that were crafted by professional songwriters. Then along came 'Rock & Roll, led in the US by Elvis, Gene...

Surprised I haven't come across this earlier - as it was, hard (but enjoyable) going, plowing through it. I think US planners in the event of Britain 'seeking terms' or being defeated, and the US at war with Germany had it mind to secure a base in the Azores & West Africa. I think an invasion of...

@ennobee interesting, and that it related to the Greek campaign, so I read up: - initially defensive armament comprised three and later four 7.9 mm MG 15 MGs. - with lessons learned from the Battle of Britain, for the Ju-88A-4-dimension were changed - span increased, and defensive armament was...

Don't see why it would, in my original post, I assumed it wouldn't - that was a German obsession - fine for single-engine aircraft, but for anything bigger led to design compromises to the detriment of the aircraft. Really, that would imply an Air Force of only B-17 & B-24s! As it was the US...

Why do you ask?

While the Germans liked to pretend Ju-88 was a German design - crediting it to Junkers cheif designer Dipl. Ing. Zindel, it was in fact designed by W.H. Evers - a US citizen, and Alfred Gasner. Evers after working in the US aircraft industry returned to Germany in 1935, accompanied by Gasner...

Agreed, wonder if Shorts warned of the likely consequences of mixing the needs.

I would agree, Bomber Command from UK bases, could have sent Wellingtons & Whitley's over, loaded with a mix 250lb HE & small 12lb fragmentation bombs plus some incendiaries. An attack outside the effectiveness of German 20mm, perhaps preceded by Lysanders 'marking' the bomb line, to arrive...

But in France there was little Command & control setup. No RDF (radar) coverage, no (French version) Observer Corp. Little or no, AAA to defend these 'new' airfields that the RAF were to use. No, such a move would just have wasted the RAF and lost the Battle of Britain before it began.

Moreover, the RAF sortie rate was higher than the French.

If, the access to the L-L supplies via Murmansk is compromised, then it will have a knock on effect elsewhere. For example, will the Russians be able to mount a viable offensive to isolate Stalingrad - doubtful. More like, a much more limited one, one that is contained. For the Germans, Baku was...

If Charles Lindbergh had got elected in Nov. 1940 - I could see aid for the UK being cut back, no L-L, any expansion in the US military would be aimed at bolstering the Pacific. Internal politics, would stick to 'America First', while also being more sympathetic the German policies, and would...

IMHO - the best option to take Leningrad was earlier - before Zhukov took overall control of the city. If there was less interference from Hitler (hold there, wait for the infantry to catch up), and OKW insisting on attack routes, rather than the guys on the ground who could see the lay of the...

I think the other problem is having Bader & his squadron lead it. It was a major achievement after his accident, to be able to fly again, but reality was that he couldn't get to his aircraft as fast as the other pilots, therefore the Wing was slowed down while Bader's squadron caught up, and...