Stupid hypothetical question

[Karnak]

If I woke up in 1939, well, I would be extremely leery of doing anything that could significantly alter the course of history.  It really turned out rather well, all things considered.

The thought that would prey on my mind though is this, what if I am not the only one and what if the other(s) are inclined to try to alter history (perhaps being a Nazi or Japanese ultra-nationalist), then what?  That line of thought might prompt myself to try to get into a position where I could blend into the back ground and not change much, but be positioned to step forward should, say, the Japanese win a smashing victory at Midway.

The other thing to note is that knowing the future, convincing people in power you knew it and them acting on the knowledge would rapidly reduce the accuracy of your ability to predict the future, soon being in no better position than those native to that time.  Obviously some areas, such as technical advice, would still be open, but the flow of the war would soon be a fog to you as well.

[skorpion]

I've heard some great stories about flying a fighter in the wars, prefferably the adrenaline rush and the satisfactory of getting a kill. I have always been intested in planes since i was born. i know what im going to do with my life and thats joining the U.S. Airforce! if i could go back to 1939 and join back then i wouldnt refuse any offer to join in on the action.
 

[Lusche]

I've heard some great stories about flying a fighter in the wars, prefferably the adrenaline rush and the satisfactory of getting a kill.

And what you have rarely read or heard  were the great stories of fear, angst, nervous breakdowns, or even feelings of guilt for having killed someone.
Because that's nothing what used to be told back when most of those "heroic" literature was first written.

[killb8]

 Splendid remarks all around! A couple replies really stick out.

The motivation is from the "knowing" part.  If those brave men had not gone to battle, and done their best, we would not now live in a free society.  I would rather die trying to get us there than live without freedom.  Period.  No gray area.

Very well stated sir.

And what you have rarely read or heard  were the great stories of fear, angst, nervous breakdowns, or even feelings of guilt for having killed someone.
Because that's nothing what used to be told back when most of those "heroic" literature was first written.

War is about KILLING. This means participants DIE.



I suspect some of the younger ones here don't really get what that means. We're not talking about high tech 21st century precision techno war. World War 2 was an industrial war, and in many ways it worked like a meat grinder - it was an attrition machine that chewed up men and material. The longer you were around it, the less likely you were to survive.

  A story that gave me pause was about a jug pilot making a gear up landing. He lined up on the runway and brought her in perfectly, but as soon as his plane touched the runway a spark ignited his fuel. Emergency personnel converged on the plane instantly and attempted to rescue him. They grabbed his arms as he was burning and tried to pull him out, but the flesh on his arms just tore away. Helpless to save him they saw the flesh melting off of his face as he was still alive and even trying to communicate. The horror!

Well, I am too tall to fly so.

if I cant fly in them.

We are talking about B6pacman am I correct? With that voice I'd guess you to be about 5ft4in tall!

[Tom5572]

War is about killing people and breaking the opposing sides ability to execute that war without prejudice.

It is not about the glory, though there is glory to be had.  It is about the men to your left and right.  It is about making the right decisions to ensure they get home. 

If I could go back to 1939, I would.  I am too broken down now to be effective as a platoon Sergeant in that era so I would have to volunteer my services else where.  Truth be told if anyone from now were to go back in time they would be instantaneously classified At levels above Top Secret.  Imagine the amount of information a single person, who has a fascination with World War II, could provide to either side.  Enigma, Wind Talkers, the breaking of Japanese code, Manhattan, D-Day, Patton's fake Army, the Battle of the Bulge, radios, computers, microwaves, all of it.  What we now know as common knowledge would be incredible to them.

[guncrasher]

me If i knew back then what I know now, sure as hell woudnt be a pilot, most people that were pilots in 1939 didnt see the end of the war.  unless they got shot down and captured by the enemy, then maybe. 

semp

[bagrat]

nah i like being able to see in color

[Plawranc]

I am 6 ft 4 now Killbait and still growing. And the reason I have that voice is because of the damn audio in AH2. Talk to the guys who have heard me on TS3.

And the younger people don't know what it means? Im a younger person, and I have shook hands with guys who have ended up in a sandy ditch blown to pieces by an IED. And talked to WW2 vets who have lost legs. Not to mention my entire family has been military (even the women who were nurses, most of my family are florence nightingale effectee's) since the Boer War, and most likely beyond. Ive seen my mother die of heart failure in front of me and I have been in the ROTC for long enough to have a grasp on being a uniformed person and all the drilling, marching and pain it entails.

I have seen stuff at the age of 17 some kids go their entire lives not seeing. And im STILL planning on joining the military. I would do it not for the thrill or that nonsense. But for the fact that there will be 30 other dumber kids like me going too. And by me being less dumb, I could keep them alive (Am an NCO in ROTC /Air Training Corps) better than the other kids (thats what they are) out of boot.

The fact of the matter is, there are some here who are ready to do what must be done, and there are some who aren't. And it just seems to me that when people say these things, they have no claim to it. Guys like Ranger, Dashe and Danny76 and many others who play this game have seen people die on an industrial scale for nothing more than a small bit of jungle that noone knows the name of. Id ask them over some historian about what its like.

[Serenity]

I am 6 ft 4 now Killbait and still growing. And the reason I have that voice is because of the damn audio in AH2. Talk to the guys who have heard me on TS3.

And the younger people don't know what it means? Im a younger person, and I have shook hands with guys who have ended up in a sandy ditch blown to pieces by an IED. And talked to WW2 vets who have lost legs. Not to mention my entire family has been military (even the women who were nurses, most of my family are florence nightingale effectee's) since the Boer War, and most likely beyond. Ive seen my mother die of heart failure in front of me and I have been in the ROTC for long enough to have a grasp on being a uniformed person and all the drilling, marching and pain it entails.

I have seen stuff at the age of 17 some kids go their entire lives not seeing. And im STILL planning on joining the military. I would do it not for the thrill or that nonsense. But for the fact that there will be 30 other dumber kids like me going too. And by me being less dumb, I could keep them alive (Am an NCO in ROTC /Air Training Corps) better than the other kids (thats what they are) out of boot.

The fact of the matter is, there are some here who are ready to do what must be done, and there are some who aren't. And it just seems to me that when people say these things, they have no claim to it. Guys like Ranger, Dashe and Danny76 and many others who play this game have seen people die on an industrial scale for nothing more than a small bit of jungle that noone knows the name of. Id ask them over some historian about what its like.

I don't think the folks like you and I are the ones they're speaking to about not understanding what war is. We've already made our decisions, and hopefully, they are well informed decisions.

It's the kids who go "I wanna fly t3h uber fiter cuz its awesome and i wanna be liek ben afleck! and i wanna be cool!" that they're speaking to. We've all met them, from the 14 year old I spoke to recently when I was crewing a static aircraft display at an airshow, who swore he was gonna be a SEAL so he could learn to kill everybody and be like  that guy from the Borne movies... Because "SEALs are the only real soldiers. People who fly planes are just not strong enough to go in special forces"... 

[Penguin]

The strength required to pull the higher G loads on an aircraft is actually absurd.  Imagine going from 70 kilos to 350 kilos in less than a second, then going back down, and doing it again!

-Penguin

70 kilos~155 pounds (Average healthy male), 350 kilos~770 pounds (Nearing the human weight record of 1,190 pounds)

[Serenity]

The strength required to pull the higher G loads on an aircraft is actually absurd.  Imagine going from 70 kilos to 350 kilos in less than a second, then going back down, and doing it again!

-Penguin

70 kilos~155 pounds (Average healthy male), 350 kilos~770 pounds (Nearing the human weight record of 1,190 pounds)

Positive Gs have always been easy for me. I have the HARDEST time maintaining control in negative Gs though... So all those fancy push-over maneuvers... not gonna happen lol

[kcfarris]

I am 6 ft 4 now Killbait and still growing. And the reason I have that voice is because of the damn audio in AH2. Talk to the guys who have heard me on TS3.

And the younger people don't know what it means? Im a younger person, and I have shook hands with guys who have ended up in a sandy ditch blown to pieces by an IED. And talked to WW2 vets who have lost legs. Not to mention my entire family has been military (even the women who were nurses, most of my family are florence nightingale effectee's) since the Boer War, and most likely beyond. Ive seen my mother die of heart failure in front of me and I have been in the ROTC for long enough to have a grasp on being a uniformed person and all the drilling, marching and pain it entails.

I have seen stuff at the age of 17 some kids go their entire lives not seeing. And im STILL planning on joining the military. I would do it not for the thrill or that nonsense. But for the fact that there will be 30 other dumber kids like me going too. And by me being less dumb, I could keep them alive (Am an NCO in ROTC /Air Training Corps) better than the other kids (thats what they are) out of boot.

The fact of the matter is, there are some here who are ready to do what must be done, and there are some who aren't. And it just seems to me that when people say these things, they have no claim to it. Guys like Ranger, Dashe and Danny76 and many others who play this game have seen people die on an industrial scale for nothing more than a small bit of jungle that noone knows the name of. Id ask them over some historian about what its like.

 If I insulted you B6 I sincerely apologize. I was just trying to be cute, looks like I failed.  


killb8

[-tronski-]

Meh, I'd buy shares in Packard, Consolidated, or Curtiss-Wright

I have been in the ROTC for long enough to have a grasp on being a uniformed person and all the drilling, marching and pain it entails.

They have ROTC in SA?

 Tronsky

[CptTrips]

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.

Married much?

,
Wab

[Penguin]

Positive Gs have always been easy for me. I have the HARDEST time maintaining control in negative Gs though... So all those fancy push-over maneuvers... not gonna happen lol

Ah, the vomit comet, never fails to make me laugh.

-Penguin