RE: Saving Private Ryan.

gaz.

I think it may have something to do with the fact that the German command system was unable to function at anything like it’s normal level on D-Day or the days following it. It is highly likely that the Germans at the knocked out radar site would have received no orders since D-Day. It is standard practice, I believe, to obey the last order given?

As to the Rangers attacking the position? I suppose it is understandable to an extent. Miller was an exceptional officer and it was likely that he would react in this way. Yes, they could have gone around but someone else would then have had to deal with the position. Would Capt. Miller’s conscience have allowed him to do that? We already know from the scene in the church that he values the lives of his men and how he justifies sending men into actions where almost certainly some will die. The objective of the mission was to find Pte. Ryan and bring him home. But the wider objective was still to prosecute the war, otherwise they would have found Ryan and removed him from the front line and left Ryan’s unit alone. Again, would Miller’s conscience allow him to do that? If he had, it would have been a much shorter film.

Then again, could it all have been artistic license on the part of the film maker? The attack on the radar station provided an excellent opportunity to show the futility of war by ensuring the medic was the one to die, the one person they all relied on when someone was hit. War is never clear cut or simple. It is confusing, exciting, terrifying and God knows how many other adjectives you could ascribe to war. The film was certainly not sugar coated and although the Americans triumphed in the end, it was at considerable cost.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Menin Gate.

Andrew.

What can I say? Other than thank you. Twice tonight requests for information have been answered very quickly. These forums really are a great resource.

Thanks again,

kev35

RE: What other hobbies do you guys / gals have ?

Geedee.

Yes, I would be very interested to read a transcript of the letter and if you can manage it some of the messages. If you send me the guys name I’ll see if I can find out anything about him. And, if by any chance you ever think of selling it let me know how much you want. You said you think he was an army despatch rider? If so he was probably in the Army Service Corps.

Regards,

kev35

RE: What other hobbies do you guys / gals have ?

I’m very interested in WWII aviation and also in the Vietnam war. I find the technical and strategic aspects interesting but am more interested in the personal aspect of war as it relates to the individual.

I’m very interested in the Great War as the three people I am proud to call Grandfather all served and were all wounded. I am currently researching the service details of several WWI soldiers and am cataloguing local war memorials with a view to providing a bit more information than just a name and sometimes a Regiment or service.

I also collect WWI and WWII memorabilia including medals, photographs, badges etc.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Clipped Wing Invader ?

It’s an interesting picture all right. As the aircraft looks fairly close to the vegetation behind it could it be that the aircraft is not on an airfield at all but some kind of test track? For the initial trials of a braking parachute you would want to test it on the ground first anyway I suspect. Chop the wings off a time expired airframe and I would imagine you have a relatively inexpensive machine which does not require an operational airfield with which to conduct your original tests.

Just a thought.

Regards,

kev35