Indeed, happy 1000 Andy. And I shall see if someone is selling Yeate’s book here. cheers, Don

OK everyone, these threads can get heated – let’s just stay on the objective level please.

Like most/everyone here I believe in trial before punishment, I expect Crazymainer does too.

My main gripe is with US foreign policy, not issues of covert operations. Yes, spy as you will if a country represents a clear danger to you. But for God’s sake (in whatver name he/she bears) keep in mind the balance of risks. Starting conflagrations is a bad idea.

Iraq is the obvious case in point, much as I didn’t like Saddam Hussein, invading Iraq was always going to be highly inflammable (no pun intended) and was ill-considered. Israel is the other case in point. Why support that state? And now Iran – why start a conflagration there? As I said in my first post … insanity if true.

And BTW eveyone, I self-moderate my threads. If it turns into a name-calling slanging match, it goes.

Read the transcripts, or watch the film, of the Nuremberg Trials. Following orders is no solace.
And of course more recently re. Bosnia/Kosavo et al.

What is that international treaty/law or whatever that the US has refused to sign – war criminal related?

Not like you to bring a thread back on topic JDK :p

The passage in the book that describes the last mission is almost word for word what Bernie Lay wrote about his co-pilot’s eye view of the Schweifurt run in 43 while flying in “Picadilly Lilly” of the 100th Bomb Group. General Savage is based on General Frank Armstrong, who rejuvinated the 306th BG that had a similar problem to the fictional 918th. It was considered that the book was Lay’s tribute to Armstrong in some respects. Dan

I have read that (no not the book, Bernie Lay’s account). It’s published in full in Freeman’s “Mighty Eighth War Dairy” (very similar to the Middlebrook & Everitt Bomber Command tome). An amazing commentary of a harrowing ride! Well worth reading by all on this forum.

BTW, on that day (17 August 1943) the Allies lost about 110 heavies, 60+ USAAF on the daylight raids to Schweinfurt/Regensburg and then 54 RAF at Peenemunde that night. The RAF was relatively “lucky”, some night fighter units had taken part in the day fighting and were under-strength by end of day. It was a good day for the Luftwaffe.

Thanks Galdri – apparently French beaches received lots of Luftwaffe aircraft in 1940! And nice flying John (Illner).

Wow – great image. I read about this very recently, as Al Deere puts it a head on attack in which both opened fire at once, Deere’s aircraft was hit by shells, and then (as beautifully illustrated) the 109 ran right across the top of Deere’s aircraft. Did Deere bail, I can’t quite remember, but I’ve never read/heard what happened to the 109. Is there the other side to this story somewhere?