History For WW2 buffs!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Drakkith
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    History
AI Thread Summary
The YouTube channel The Great War has been producing weekly videos about World War I for four years, detailing events as they occurred a century ago. The series has released hundreds of videos covering various aspects of the war, including weapons, tactics, and key figures, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in this historical conflict. As the WWI series concludes, the channel has launched a new series on World War II, adopting a similar week-by-week narrative approach that immerses viewers in the timeline of events. This unique perspective contrasts with traditional historical accounts, enhancing the understanding of the complexities and chaos of wartime experiences. The channel's content is highly recommended for those looking to deepen their knowledge of these significant historical events.
  • #101
Drakkith said:
The Allies were at least roughly equal to Germany technologically in almost every category except rocketry.

There's really no clear area where Germany leads throughout the war except rocketry. If anyone has one they think Germany leads in, please let me know.
Here's some B/W photos from Wise's "Pictorial History of the Second World War" which I just discovered. On the early rockets. From Vols. 3 & 4. Wartime photos, large scale, one or two per page, original books are strongly bound with quality paper. Not sure of more recent paperback copies. Still available online. 90%+ photos, chronological, amazing, realistic views of the operations and horrors of war.

1713232401993.png


1713232682007.png


1713232786670.png

1713232868319.png


1713232946669.png


1713233015504.png


Thank you @Borg for the almanac recommendation too.
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #102
There is physics in the defence.
I quote a first-hand account, extracted from The Secret War, 1978, BBC.

"Wing Commander Roland Beamont flew Hawker Tempests, the fastest piston-engined RAF fighter of the day, against the V1:

‘For the first few days it was rather interesting because none of us knew exactly what was going to happen; they were bombs, after all, and they were expected to blow up. We first of all started opening fire on them from about 400 yards, for safety, from astern; they were a tiny target and we used to miss them rather consistently, and so we halved the range to about 200 yards. When you fired at that range and the thing exploded in front of you, you were travelling at 400 mph or more and you’d have no time to avoid the explosion, and as soon as you saw it you were in it and you’d go through the centre of the fire ball and come out the other side and always come out upside down. It was some time before we could figure this one out but you were in fact going through a partial vacuum as you went through the centre of the explosion. In a partial vacuum the torque of this enormous propeller had the effect of twisting the aeroplane over. It was rather extraordinary. The only adverse effects were fire damage to the outside of the aeroplane – the rudder and the elevator of the Tempest were fabric-covered and quite often this used to burn, and the other problem was that the pilots used to come back with a burn blister on their left arm. In the cockpit of the Tempest you had two air ventilators, one on either side, and the left-hand one was immediately over your left arm and in hot summer weather we were all flying in shirt-sleeves and the flame was coming through the ventilator and burning our arms, so we shut the ventilator,’"
 
  • Like
Likes Drakkith, BillTre and difalcojr
  • #103
(Found this that Patton wrote to his Third Army day after the war in Europe ended. I'll copy it here. Can't get a good scan.)

HEADQUARTERS
THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY
APO 403
............................................................................................................................................................................9 May 1945
GENERAL ORDERS - NUMBER 98

Soldiers of the Third Army, Past, and Present

During the 281 days of incessant and victorious combat, your penetrations have advanced farther in less time than any other army in history. You have fought your way across 24 major rivers and innumerable lesser streams. You have liberated or conquered more than 82,000 square miles of territory, including 1,500 cities and towns, and some 12,000 inhabited places. Prior to the termination of active hostilities, you had captured in battle 956,000 enemy soldiers and killed wounded at least 500,000 others. France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia bear witness to your exploits.
All men and women of the six corps and thirty-nine divisions that have at different times been members of this Army have done their duty. Each deserves credit. The enduring valor of the combat troops has been paralleled and made possible by the often unpublicized activities of the supply, administrative, and medical services of this army and of the Communications Zone troops supporting it. Nor should we forget our comrades of the other armies and of the air force, particularly of the XIX Tactical Air Command, by whose side or under whose wings we have had the honor to fight.
In proudly contemplating our achievements, let us never forget our heroic dead whose graves mark the course of our victorious advances, nor our wounded whose sacrifices aided so much to our success.
I should be both ungrateful and wanting in candor if I failed to acknowledge the debt we owe to our Chiefs of Staff, Gererals Gaffey and Gay, and to the officers and men of the General and Special Staff Sections of army headquarters. Without their loyalty, intelligence, and unremitting labors, success would have been impossible.
The termination of fighting in Europe does not remove the opportunities for other outstanding and equally difficult achievements in the days which are to come. In some ways the immediate future will demand of you more fortitude than has the past because, without the inspiration of combat, you must maintain-by your dress, deportment, and efficiency-not only the prestige of the Third Army but also the honor of the United States. I have complete confidence that you will not fail.
During the course of this war I have received promotions and decorations far above and beyond my individual merit. You won them; I as your representative wear them. The one honor which is mine and mine alone is that of having commanded such an incomparable group of Americans, the record of whose fortitude, audacity, and valor will endure as long as history lasts.

........................................................................................................................................................G. S. Patton, Jr.,
....................................................................................................................................................................General
 
  • Like
Likes Astronuc and Drakkith
  • #104
Baluncore said:
"Wing Commander Roland Beamont flew Hawker Tempests, the fastest piston-engine RAF fighter of the day, against the V1:

‘For the first few days it was rather interesting because none of us knew exactly what was going to happen; they were bombs, after all, and they were expected to blow up. We first of all started opening fire on them from about 400 yards, for safety, from astern; they were a tiny target and we used to miss them rather consistently, and so we halved the range to about 200 yards. When you fired at that range and the thing exploded in front of you, you were travelling at 400 mph or more and you’d have no time to avoid the explosion, and as soon as you saw it you were in it and you’d go through the centre of the fire ball and come out the other side and always come out upside down. It was some time before we could figure this one out but you were in fact going through a partial vacuum as you went through the centre of the explosion. In a partial vacuum the torque of this enormous propeller had the effect of twisting the aeroplane over. It was rather extraordinary.
Found a 'popular audience' diagram of the V1. Looks like the wings were used as the fuel tank?!

rocket bomb1.jpeg


And a 'popular audience' diagram of the V2:

rocket bomb2.jpeg


Other rocket developments in WWII:

Corsair rockets.jpeg


And why I hate war. Peace, not war, for freedom.

flying bomb casualities.jpeg
 
  • #105
difalcojr said:
Looks like the wings were used as the fuel tank?!
Indeed. It was and is quite common for the hollow spaces of the wings to be used as fuel tanks in aircraft of all sorts.
 
  • #106
I learn something new every day in PF, even fundamental stuff. Thanks. 'Gas station' bombs, no wonder the explosions were so violent. I wonder if the Japanese suicide bombers in the Pacific loaded up their aircraft with extra petrol for more explosive power too? i don't think I ever heard of that. What a world!
 
  • #107
difalcojr said:
. I wonder if the Japanese suicide bombers in the Pacific loaded up their aircraft with extra petrol for more explosive power too?
You bet they did. They commonly loaded their planes with bombs and extra gasoline tanks to maximize the destruction. Though the gasoline is less explosive and more "coat everything within 20 yards of the impact with burning fuel".
 
  • #108
Drakkith said:
Indeed. It was and is quite common for the hollow spaces of the wings to be used as fuel tanks in aircraft of all sorts.
That is the case because it is the lift from the wing that must support the fuel tanks in flight. By placing the tanks in the wings, the total fuel load can be increased without having to increase the spar structure in the wing roots.

The undercarriage can then be mounted from the wing structure, so the heavy wing tanks are supported prior to and during takeoff.

Takeoff is fuelled from centre tanks in the fuselage, that will not unbalance the mass distribution at a critical time during the initial climb.

Multi-engine aircraft benefit from having fuel available close to the engines in the wings. That reduces the cross-flow of fuel through the aircraft.
 
  • Like
Likes Astronuc, difalcojr and Drakkith
  • #109
The petrol bomb has become the 'Fuel Air Explosive'. The initial impact and explosion is designed to disperse and mix the fuel with air, without ignition of the fuel. A second charge is then ignited to initiate combustion of the approximately stoichiometric air-fuel mix that may have been drawn into cavities and ventilation systems. Following the AFE pressure wave, there is a partial vacuum that adds to the destruction, hence the parallel term 'vacuum bomb'. That is the mechanism used in today's thermobaric weapons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermobaric_weapon
 
  • #110
Baluncore said:
The petrol bomb has become the 'Fuel Air Explosive'.
True. Plane crashes typically spread burning liquid gasoline/petrol everywhere rather than disperse and then ignite it in a fuel-air explosion.
 
  • #111
Memorial Day today in U.S. A photo from WWII in Europe, returning those to ship.
wounded back to ship.jpeg
 
  • #112
Drakkith said:
Four years ago, the youtube channel The Great War started producing weekly videos detailing the events of World War 1,
Regarding World War 1 I recently heard about a weird, crazy tank design that never made it to the frontline. I hereby give you: the Tsar Tank.

1000025240.jpg


Looking like a plough with wheels measuring 9 meters in diameter, it may not have been effective in combat, but maybe it would have stunned the enemy into utter confusion. :biggrin:
 
  • Like
Likes sbrothy and Drakkith
  • #113
Patrolling the Ether in WW2...

 
  • #114
mathwonk said:
I know little of the actual brutal events of WW1, but I felt greatly enlightened by, and enjoyed, the fine book The Sleepwalkers, by Christopher Clark, explaining in great detail the many deviously plotted, some accidental, and tragically foolish sequences of events, i.e. treachery, deception, arrogance, intransigent nationalism and stupidity, that led up to that war.
I can recommend the Sleepwalkers as well. It provides a great perspective of the events leading up to the actual war.
 
  • #115
Why were Polish pilots so bad@ss in the Battle of Britain?


 
  • #116
The Glücksberg Heist, Part 1

 
Last edited:
  • #117
Swamp Thing said:
Why were Polish pilots so bad@ss in the Battle of Britain?
Apparently, the Polish Air Force was small compared to those of other nations like Germany, France and England, and the Polish Air Force selected the best pilots for further training; one group became known in France as the Polish Fighter Squadron of Warsaw. Plus, they were highly motivated following the invasion of Poland and escape from Europe via France to England, where they formed the 303 fighter group at Northolt. I do not know how many separate groups there were in France, or how many formed the 303.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Northolt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._303_Squadron_RAF





Disclaimer: I have not independently verified the contents of the articles or video.
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970 and BillTre
  • #118
Night time bombing, radio directional finding (navigation) and countermeasures.

 
  • #119
Astronuc said:
Apparently, the Polish Air Force was small compared to those of other nations like Germany, France and England, and the Polish Air Force selected the best pilots for further training; one group became known in France as the Polish Fighter Squadron of Warsaw. Plus, they were highly motivated following the invasion of Poland and escape from Europe via France to England, where they formed the 303 fighter group at Northolt. I do not know how many separate groups there were in France, or how many formed the 303.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Northolt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._303_Squadron_RAF





Disclaimer: I have not independently verified the contents of the articles or video.

They taught the UK that a fighter plane is an attack dog. You've got to close with the enemy. Snipeing won't do.
 
  • #121
Don't really know if this belongs in this thread or @pines-demon 's as it is kind of an anecdote. Since it relates to WWII I'll put it here.

Abraham Wald and Armor Placement

I searched to see if someone already posted it but couldn't find it. Sorry if it's already here somewhere. Not improbable. I find it somewhat hard to believe that the US Air Force would be this dumb though. But you should never underestimate human stupidity. Every time something is idiot proofed nature invents an even better idiot!

:-p

EDIT: No, I finally found it here but it's an old one.
 
  • #123
Baluncore said:
Operations researchers are not that silly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_research
Many stories are later embellished and told to mock someone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_and_naval_vessel_urban_legend
I suspected as much. I found it hard to believe a room full of highly educated and well disciplined people making such a glaring error. (Then again think about the mass hysteria of Nazi Germany itself and other confirmed stupidities up through history. One can never be completely sure.

Oh, and yeah, Wikipedia has that myth-buster page where a lot of stories are debunked. The one with "sharks not being able to stop swimming or they asphyxiate" and the one with "the Coriolis force forcing the water to rotate down the bathtub drain in a particular direction based on which hemisphere you're on". A whole bunch of them.
 
  • #124
I had seen a short video on Youtube produced by the BBC in the SAS Rogue Heroes program.




I did not know about his story, but I did find a video biography. It covers the story of Paddy Mayne, who helped created was became the SAS. Mayne had a law degree.

 
  • Like
Likes difalcojr, Borg and Drakkith
  • #125
If you ever get the chance, read:
Eastern approaches. (1949). By Fitzroy Maclean.
He survived as a diplomat, exploring the USSR through pre-WWII Stalin purges and pogroms, then joined with David Stirling as the SAS was formed in Egypt, took part in several SAS LRDG operations, kidnapped General Zahidi from Persia, before going into Jugoslavia as an SOE agent on the Tito side of the resistance.
 
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes Klystron, difalcojr and Drakkith
  • #126
.............................................
Scan_20250831.webp


I recently read this book about Mayne and the SAS LRDG first operations in North Africa. I think that is Mayne on the left in the photo. A good read, goes into his character a lot too. The author Lewis has written a trilogy about Mayne's exploits, the above book the first, "SAS: Forged in Hell" the second, and "SAS: Dagger Drawn" the last. Inexpensive on abebooks.com.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #127

The World War Two bomber that cost more than the atomic bomb​

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250829-the-bomber-that-became-ww2s-most-expensive-weapon

As the Cold War deepened in the 1950s, the US and its Allies discovered that some B-29s that crashed in the Soviet Union after their missions over Japan had been used to help the USSR develop their own atomic bomber – a reverse-engineered copy of the B-29 called the Tupolev Tu-4. It was a Tu-4 that dropped the bomb in the first Soviet nuclear test, and represented the biggest nuclear threat to the West in the 1950s.

Several B-29s were forced to land (intact) in Russia; some crashed. WWI ace Eddie Rickenbacker visited the Soviet Union during WWII, since they were allies. At the time, the B-29 was top secret, but Rickenbacker let it slip that the US was developing the high altitude bomber, which tipped the USSR about its existence. So, when B-29s crashed or landed in USSR, they confiscated the planes, disassembled them, and built their Tu-4,

Rickenbacker's mission was successful. A commander of Moscow's defense had stayed at Rickenbacker's home in 1937, and this personal connection aided his information-gathering. He learned about Soviet defense strategies and capabilities. When the Battle of Kursk started, he took advantage of the Soviets' distraction, viewing and memorizing a map that detailed the locations of Soviet military units at the front. He also persuaded his hosts to give him an unprecedented tour of the Shturmovik aircraft factory. However, Rickenbacker made comments during his trip that alerted the Soviets to the existence of the secret B-29 Superfortress program.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Rickenbacker#1943_mission_to_the_USSR

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/Documents/2009/June 2009/0609bomber.pdf
 
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes Drakkith and BillTre

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
46
Views
6K
Replies
16
Views
2K
Replies
23
Views
38K
Replies
19
Views
3K
Back
Top