Author Topic: Definitive proof of origin of "Fork-Tailed Devil"  (Read 25840 times)

Offline Brooke

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Re: Definitive proof of origin of "Fork-Tailed Devil"
« Reply #135 on: April 10, 2016, 12:31:23 AM »
Yeah, I'm going to read a book about some world war II airplane. And then I'll starting building scale models and maybe join a civil war reenactment club. And then I'll buy a life's supply of Jergens because I'm never getting laid again!

Are you sure you need the first two sentences as qualifiers?  ;)

Offline FLOOB

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Re: Definitive proof of origin of "Fork-Tailed Devil"
« Reply #136 on: April 10, 2016, 03:09:21 AM »
Are you sure you need the first two sentences as qualifiers?  ;)
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Offline RJH57

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Re: Definitive proof of origin of "Fork-Tailed Devil"
« Reply #137 on: April 10, 2016, 06:31:51 AM »
Yeah, I'm going to read a book about some world war II airplane. And then I'll starting building scale models...

go for it!  :aok






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Offline Delirium

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Re: Definitive proof of origin of "Fork-Tailed Devil"
« Reply #138 on: April 10, 2016, 02:06:40 PM »
And then I'll buy a life's supply of Jergens because I'm never getting laid again!

Well, that implies you have been laid at least once already. How many roofies did it take?
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Offline Karnak

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Re: Definitive proof of origin of "Fork-Tailed Devil"
« Reply #139 on: April 10, 2016, 10:33:29 PM »
It seems highly unlikely that the Germans would have a slang term for the P-38, and not for any other aircraft, not the Spitfire, Mustang, Thunderbolt, Mosquito, Yak or Lavochkins.

I had always believed it to be a propaganda created name, just like "Whispering Death" and "Whistling Death" and Brooke's info in this thread has only reinforced that view.

I can't think of any dread inducing nicknames the USAAF, USN, RAF or RN created for the Bf109 or A6M.  Perhaps "Butcher Bird" for the Fw190, but I honestly have no idea about the origin of that nickname.  For all I know it could be the German nickname translated to English and no more relevant than Jug or Spit were to the Germans.
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Offline GScholz

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Re: Definitive proof of origin of "Fork-Tailed Devil"
« Reply #140 on: April 11, 2016, 05:59:18 AM »
Yes it is the German name Würger translated to English. I doubt it was used by the allies during the war though. "One-ninety" and "Fock-Wolf" [sic] was probably all it was called.
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Offline oboe

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Re: Definitive proof of origin of "Fork-Tailed Devil"
« Reply #141 on: April 11, 2016, 08:58:13 AM »
TIL:

"Würger" actually translates to "Shrike", which a songbird with a strong sharply hooked bill, often impaling its prey of small birds, lizards, and insects on thorns.  The family name, and that of the largest genus, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits.