Dear Friends,
There is a lot of statements made by various and insundry people about what actually transpired in WWII. Each has his (or hers) own rendition of what the planes flew like and what "real" air to air combat was really like. Each time I read these posts I remember some of my experiences as a youth.
When I reached the age of puberty I was given several scientific books with data on sex. I was also given more than one "lecture" on the subject. I was a very sheltered child, being the son of a Southern Baptist minister and missionary. Questions asked were promptly answered with lots of reading of the "scientific data" and the Bible.
To further my own quest for information I did a lot of research including quite a bit of "anectdotal reports " and "first person" accounts". With this wealth of knowledge I felt I had the definitive answer on most of what I thought transpired during these "combat" sessions. I even went so far as to "simulate" the actions with what I had at...err..."hand".
Later, when much older, I was able to view an extensive library of "combat footage", or "guncam" if you will, of what actually transpired at the time of "combat". This, of course, gave me much more insight into what actually happened in "combat".
I had formulated in my mind what actually went on. It was clear as a bell. I only needed to find someone willing as I to do further research and see if what I had learned was indeed the real thing. The "simulator" was one way but proved to be somewhat lacking in several areas.
The best I could muster for my research was a certain amount of "geographical exploration". It would seem some were a more interested in my gaining of knowledge of the "hills" and "valleys" than what actual "combat" was really like.
I finally met and married a partner that was as interested as I in what actual "combat" consisted of. That first night, our honeymoon, was an eye opener to say the least! All my research and "simulating" had not really prepared me fully for what was experienced that night. I learned then that to "know" what goes on you really have to be there.
The point of all this is: If you were born in the early 1920's and were actually strapped in one of those fire breathing monsters and had to depend on that vehicle to keep you alive, I want to hear what you have to say on the subject of "what real air combat is really like" or "this plane or that one performed this way or that".
I do not mean to demean in any way the contributions that some of this group has had to endure in keeping our freedom. I wish to salute those and have the utmost respect for what you have done. I will note that those efforts may not have been at the time we are discussing but at a later date and one covered by a different set of circumstances.
We all fantasize about what it would have been like. We all role play to a certain degree. There is a certain amount of "Walter Mitty" (or Martha Mitty) in each of us. Unless your were "there" don't make a statement that is an absolute. Preface that statement with "I think it was", or "I beleive it was", or "I imagine it was".
I hope, and I sincerely beleive most of you hope, that the circumstances that brought us the Second World War will never happen again. It is good to re-live the past so we can learn from our mistakes and try not to make them again.
End of Rant
[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: Mark Luper ]
