Heads up! BBC1 9PM Hiroshima

I thought the bomb was fitted with a parachute to slow its decent?

Quite possibly. I’d like to think that the real one wasn’t made using plywood, styrene and a glue-gun, either…

I thought the bomb was fitted with a parachute to slow its decent?

Post #4:
Prior to the start of World War II, the USAAF was known as the U.S. Army Air Corps, or USAAC. The USAAC was a corps-level, subsidiary organization within the U.S. Army, and had little autonomy. Due to the efforts of several key USAAC officers and the changing political times, the Air Corps obtained greater organizational independence in 1941. Renamed the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and considered a separate arm of the Army, the new USAAF had an equal “voice” with the Army and Navy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Force

That’s nice, a genuine steam roller just went chugging past the window.

😀

It’s a worry if you get fake ones round your way too. Are they mocked up for the antiques market?

Regarding Non-US participation (the Dutch, French (I believe)) as well as the Australians, New Zealanders and British were certainly represented. A look at the numbers would explain a lack of non-US focus. Of course Leonard Cheshire (RAF) was aboard one flight.

I assumed it was FiFi and an American production.
Nothing was mentioned about the fact that there were British and Commonwealth troops fighting the Japanese, I’m not knocking the Yanks, but any reference to an invasion of the Japanese mainland seemed to infer that it was a totally US operation.
I thought that the idea was for UK troops to invade via Burma and SE Asia as Tiger Force.
Meanwhile, Fleet Air Arm aircraft from Royal Navy carriers were bombing and strafing the Japanese mainland up to the end of hostilities.
Apart from that it was a very chilling documentary, the blast scenes were horrific, my missus couldn’t watch it.
I was amazed that someone had survived the blast from only 260 yards away.
Despite the fact that a Nuclear weapon had not been used in action before, I didn’t appreciate before how risky the operation was to the crew, having to arm the device in mid-air was terrifying.
Having spent all my life living through the Cold War, mostly in prime target areas, it made me cringe, particularly when I remember my father planning to turn our bathroom into a shelter during the Cuban missile crisis.
It was gratifying after the programme to watch the news, to see how the good old Royal Navy had been allowed to help to rescue the Russian submariners, we live in hope then.
That’s nice, a genuine steam roller just went chugging past the window.

The B-29 seems to have been Hawg Wild (interior shots etc) whilst flying sequences seem to be CGI (and at times I might add, very good CGI considering the likely budget of such a programme). I think the documentary was a British production. It didnt feel like an American production in my opinion.

Best Regards, Steve

Incidentally, featuring Duxford’s B-29.

I assumed it was FiFi and an American production.
Nothing was mentioned about the fact that there were British and Commonwealth troops fighting the Japanese, I’m not knocking the Yanks, but any reference to an invasion of the Japanese mainland seemed to infer that it was a totally US operation.
I thought that the idea was for UK troops to invade via Burma and SE Asia as Tiger Force.
Meanwhile, Fleet Air Arm aircraft from Royal Navy carriers were bombing and strafing the Japanese mainland up to the end of hostilities.
Apart from that it was a very chilling documentary, the blast scenes were horrific, my missus couldn’t watch it.
I was amazed that someone had survived the blast from only 260 yards away.
Despite the fact that a Nuclear weapon had not been used in action before, I didn’t appreciate before how risky the operation was to the crew, having to arm the device in mid-air was terrifying.
Having spent all my life living through the Cold War, mostly in prime target areas, it made me cringe, particularly when I remember my father planning to turn our bathroom into a shelter during the Cuban missile crisis.
It was gratifying after the programme to watch the news, to see how the good old Royal Navy had been allowed to help to rescue the Russian submariners, we live in hope then.
That’s nice, a genuine steam roller just went chugging past the window.

remember; No Pearl Harbor, No Hiroshima….

Became USAF in 1948 when the naval army air forces merged (or possibly just the army one separated) to form a dedicated air force which is not part of one of the other services. I understand the navy did not want this to happen and as such still has a lot of its own aircraft.

U S Army Air Corps and US Army Air Force tho?

I dunno. Someone will tho.

What a thoroughly gritty and brilliant and disturbing documentary tho.

Jay

When did the USAAC become the USAAF – and then the USAF ???

One of the jeeps had USAAF painted on the bumper – yet they talked of USAAC.

Good drama doc otherwise………………..

Ken

Incidentally, featuring Duxford’s B-29.