Doolittle Raiders

[RobertN]

From USS-Hornet site
The Doolittle Raid - WORLD WAR II - Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet Museum

 

[RobertN]

It is pretty amazing they got airborne and on their way. Heavy seas, first time bombers like this tried to take off on aircraft carrier, on original narrow straight deck carrier.

Those guys were amazing.

USS Hornet (CV-8) Revealed As Doolittle Raid Carrier (1945) - YouTube
Doolittle Raid Launch Footage (1942) - YouTube

 

[houstonscott]

Doolittle raiders...outstanding dignified representatives of the greatest generation We remember

Outstanding mission. Symbolic. Frankly the "greatest generation" stuff is overrated and is dubious at best. HS

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Outstanding mission. Symbolic.

Frankly the "greatest generation" stuff is overrated and is dubious at best.

HS

Why would you say that?

 

[houstonscott]

Why would you say that?

Because it's not true. It's the title of a book nothing more, and demeans others, in the military since, who really stepped up in greater numbers, and faced action longer and harder, most for years longer. HS

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Because it's not true. It's the title of a book nothing more, and demeans others, in the military since, who really stepped up in greater numbers, and faced action longer and harder, most for years longer. HS

Have you read the book? I have, and will state up front that it is misleading. The author used the book as a liberal vehicle to castigate America for the perceived inequities experienced by women and minorities during the war and in our armed services. While they may have been real to an extent, they pale in comparison to the inequities (read "crimes against humanity") others were suffering and against which we were fighting.

The term "Greatest Generation" is not just about how long and how hard they fought...it's about 50 million people who died worldwide as a direct result of the war. It's about evil and inhumanity on a scale that is almost inconceivable, perpetrated by modern governments that perverted science and history for their own evil purposes...but even more important, it's about how a whole generation in this country joined together with a resolve...an effort and determination that was apparent and pervasive in the cities, towns, governments, schools, movie theaters and kitchens of every home and institution in America. It was about sacrifice and hard work on an unimaginable scale...even children contributed through scrap and paper drives; buying war stamps at school, doing without new clothing, shoes, butter, sugar, etc. It was about housewives saving tin cans and cooking oil for the war effort and recycling their aluminum cookware; it was about doing without tires and gasoline and beef that we might win as a unified and determined nation.

It was about young men and women volunteering by the millions to join up for the effort; many to be deployed and never return again. It was about giving that extra effort on a national scale that has not been seen before or since. It was about working together with a unity and determination that was palpable; victory was on their minds constantly and relentlessly and they believed in their cause with an abiding faith in God and the unequivocal knowledge that we would prevail. That's what it was about.

 

[bubbacuse77]

Have you read the book? I have, and will state up front that it is misleading. The author used the book as a liberal vehicle to castigate America for the perceived inequities experienced by women and minorities during the war and in our armed services. While they may have been real to an extent, they pale in comparison to the inequities (read "crimes against humanity") others were suffering and against which we were fighting.

The term "Greatest Generation" is not just about how long and how hard they fought...it's about 50 million people who died worldwide as a direct result of the war. It's about evil and inhumanity on a scale that is almost inconceivable, perpetrated by modern governments that perverted science and history for their own evil purposes...but even more important, it's about how a whole generation in this country joined together with a resolve...an effort and determination that was apparent and pervasive in the cities, towns, governments, schools, movie theaters and kitchens of every home and institution in America. It was about sacrifice and hard work on an unimaginable scale...even children contributed through scrap and paper drives; buying war stamps at school, doing without new clothing, shoes, butter, sugar, etc. It was about housewives saving tin cans and cooking oil for the war effort and recycling their aluminum cookware; it was about doing without tires and gasoline and beef that we might win as a unified and determined nation.

It was about young men and women volunteering by the millions to join up for the effort; many to be deployed and never return again. It was about giving that extra effort on a national scale that has not been seen before or since. It was about working together with a unity and determination that was palpable; victory was on their minds constantly and relentlessly and they believed in their cause with an abiding faith in God and the unequivocal knowledge that we would prevail. That's what it was about.

Well said Sir

 

[dmccarty]

Is the WWII generation better/greater than say the Civil War generation? Which generation suffered more both in money and blood? It surely was not the WWII generation. Not even close. The US was never threatened with invasion in WWII though the general population may never have realized it. The Civil War generation was invaded with the destruction that usually follows such an operation. The number of US dead in the US Civil War is still more than the combined number of KIA of EVERY war the US has fought since then. The US population in the 1860's was much smaller than in the 1940s so almost everyone had a family member or friend killed or wounded in the Civil War.

What did the WWII generation suffer in comparison? Why are they somehow better than the Civil War generation? Are the vets from Viet Nam somehow less worthy of admiration than the WWII generation? Heck no. They fought a longer war against an enemy that was just as cruel as the Japanese and Germans. How about the Forgotten War aka Korean War vets? The US had DIVISIONS wiped out by the Communist Chinese in a war that soon reverted back to trench warfare.

Of course the greatest generation, was the generation that founded this country. How can the WWII generation even compare? The Revolutionary War generation were Traitors to the King. Rebels in those days where usually killed if they lost the war. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence signed their death warrants if they lost the war and they knew it. The people who supported the rebellion put their lives and property on the line against the worlds most power country, a country that was already occupying many of the major cities and enjoyed strong support in the colonies. The rebels were putting everything on the line against an enemy that could land a very power army at will along the coast. The founding generation fought and won, by the skin of their teeth, a long and hard war that put the country deeply in debt with no real way to pay off the debt. At the end of the war, the US had no military power, deep debt, no industry, a sorta unified people in a large undeveloped land mass with a non friendly colony to the north, a UK enemy that controlled the sea lanes which were needed to support the economy, and hostile natives to the west. Somehow, the Founding generation survived against great odds a created a great nation.

Yet, the WW II generation is The Greatest? Bovine Scat.

The WW II Generation did not have to make a decision to fight unlike previous generations. They were attacked and they responded. The Japanese gambled that the US would not fight and they lost the bet. ******, the strategic looser, declared war on the US. What was the WW II generation to do? NOT fight against a country that made a huge blunder by declaring us the enemy? Was the Greatest Generation NOT going to fight the Japanese? Pearl Harbor, and ******'s stupid decision, allowed the WW II Generation to unite, where as prior to 12/1941, the US was deeply divided over getting involved in China or Europe. The isolationist movement in the US was very strong prior to 12/1941, and of course the large German and Italian populations, did to want to go to war with their old home countries. Pearl Harbor and Hitlers declaration of war ended the isolationist movement and pro Axis support in the US. The WW II generation was attacked and responded. They did great things, hard things and they suffered, but they did not have to make the difficult decision TO fight. Other generations had to make the decision to fight and suffered far more than the WWII generation while doing more difficult and greater things.

The WWII Generation did what needed to be done but they were not The Greatest.

Later,
Dan

 

[houstonscott]

Some military facts;

In WWII 85% were drafted, forced if you will, to serve, only 15% volunteered.
In Vietnam it was reversed, with 85% volunteering and only 15% were drafted.
Today all 100% are volunteered.

In WWII the overall average for time in combat was 14 days. Remember also the ground campaign in Europe was 10 months. D-day to VE day.

Pilots in WWII only flew 25 missions then rotated home. My son, an Apache pilot flew 6-8hrs everyday 6 days a week with one day to switch from nights to days or back, for 15 months straight, then home for a few months and back to do it again for 12 months second tour.

In Vietnam if you went at all, you were only required to do one year, all other second tours were voluntary.

In Iraq, you served 15 months continuous in combat. Most but not all got one 15 days leave during that 15 months. Some served as many as seven 15 or 12 month tours.

Many Navy vessels operate one whole year at sea without pulling in anywhere, today. Those people normal work day is 6hrs on 6hrs off, for that whole year, no breaks.

I know who the greatest military generation is, and its today's.

HS

 

[DieselnHooters]

Interesting facts HS but you are looking at it in an America-centric way, WW2 involved more than America Germany and Japan, it was indeed a world war. Now look at it from a british perspective, or russian, chinese, canadian, australian or dozens of other countries and run some numbers again.