Stupid hypothetical question

[killb8]

  If you were transported back to 1939 knowing what you know now, and given the opportunity. Would you volunteer to fly?  If so what and for whom. Personally I would say yes to any Allied F/G with out hesitation or even considering the odds. I'm not the "hero" type, and my motivation wouldn't come from any patriotic sentiments either, although they do exist in me. I would say yes purely because of my own self interests and the fact the WW2 fighter pilot had the most awesome job in history.
  I would fly bombers too, but only if I couldn't fly fighters. I would fly transports too, but only if I couldn't fly bombers. The only WW2 piloting job I would refuse would be that of torpedo bomber, those guys were crazy!
     

[Dichotomy]

yes absolutely

[fbWldcat]

Sign me up! Lemme just go jump into my hot tub time machine real quick...

[Serenity]

Was watching Pearl Harbor recently (Girlfriend really wanted to watch it again) and this exact discussion came up. Without hesitation, I would have volunteered for a spot in an Eagle squadron, and kept flying whatever I was told to fly. (This got a sharp smack from my girl, who doesn't even want me going into the military now, but has accepted that she doesn't have a choice in that matter).

I will admit, in my own self interest, I would do EVERYTHING in my power to assure I NEVER get stationed fighting against the Japanese. From the reading I have done, being a POW in Germany was rough, but generally survivable and humane. Japan on the otherhand... The whole lot of them should have been slaughtered for what they did, but that's a different discussion for a different thread.

[Simaril]

Officers in the air corps had the lowest survival of any officers in the army. (Have to admit that U boat officers probably were worse than that, but even so...) Joining the air corps in the late 30s would most likely have cost your life.

From our perspective in the 21st century it is very very difficult to imagine how utterly frightening the late 1930s were. There was every reason to believe that the time of freedom was passed, that democracy and free markets had failed, and that the future belonged to centrally controlled governments.

Regardless of that tension and fear, most of us would probably answer the call to do what it took to help our country. But don't forget that most people who actually WERE THERE in 1939 didn't join up, and just hoped that the whole thing would blow over.

[Motherland]

Given the choice between joining the airforce and getting drafted to get shoved in the meat grinder...

[USRanger]

Some prefer the meat grinder.   Best job no matter what era.

[Simaril]

My dad was a Ranger.

As a kid found his uniforms in the closet, and saw the shoulder tabs - but had no idea what they meant until I grew up. He and mom just had their 50th anniversary, and they had some pics of him in Ranger school I'd never seen before...a leaner and tougher guy than I'd ever known.

<S> to those who serve

[eagl]

I'd fly if I could, preferrably in a fighter.  If I could carry with me EVERYTHING I know, I'd first spend some time writing it all down so maybe some of my comrades in arms would also live longer in combat and my knowledge/experience flying fighters wouldn't be lost if I was killed.

[Lusche]

 If you were transported back to 1939 knowing what you know now, and given the opportunity. Would you volunteer to fly?

If there would be no location change with that time tavel (=I appear at the same place I am now), I would try my utmost and beyond to get to Sweden...

(The fact that it would never be able to fly anything has nothing to do with that )

[Dichotomy]

Some prefer the meat grinder.   Best job no matter what era.

what would you think if you got in the goon, looked up front, and saw me sitting at the controls?

<S> Ranger

[Penguin]

Me?  Heck no!  I like my face with five*, not five-hundred holes.

-Penguin

*Five: Mouth, 2 nostrils, 2 ear holes

[Tac]

I'd go with the flying tigers & pressure them to get meh a P-38

[thndregg]

Whatever capacity I could, I would fight. It's either that -with some control over your fate, however short or long your life is- versus being ruled by some tyranical dictatorship that rules every single concievable aspect of your existence on this planet.

I prefer freedom.

[Tupac]

Absolutely.

I've always felt like I was born in the wrong time, and I have had many a dream about myself being a fighter pilot in ww2