Picture of the day
- Thread starter jwhc
- Start date
fat tony
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Damn.
A good example of what might have happened to the NATO Starfighters in a war against the enemy is the fate of the USAF F105s in S.E.A. A number approaching fifty percent of all F105s ever built were destroyed in combat against a supposedly inferior enemy. I think the percentage of Starfighters lost would have been higher than fifty percent during a high intensity war in Europe. But that is only my lay opinion in these matters.
A good example of what might have happened to the NATO Starfighters in a war against the enemy is the fate of the USAF F105s in S.E.A. A number approaching fifty percent of all F105s ever built were destroyed in combat against a supposedly inferior enemy. I think the percentage of Starfighters lost would have been higher than fifty percent during a high intensity war in Europe. But that is only my lay opinion in these matters.
its a very valid observation in my opinion. Its never been made entirely clear to me if we had a C3I (as it was then called) advantage or not ... or even whether our electronic countermeasures were superior or inferior. We always assumed possibly somewhat arrogantly (?) that we had the superior capability ...it was also presumed that the scenario to unfold would be the Warsaw pact would have won the toss - and they were kicking - however they wouldnt have bothered to tell us until they started ‘all frequency’ jamming. We would react with pre-prepared plans ... but really wouldnt have specific current intelligence to adjust to nor the communications ability to coordinate a flexible response
For a long while I was wondering why so many older Mig-21s in Warsaw Pact armies have been retained for so long and camouflaged sometime in early 1970s.I found out not long ago when reading about change from hi-level to low level nuclear strike tactics done by NATO forces.Mig-21 were supposed to be low level/high speed hunters,even old F-13 versions.Employed in mass they would have been tough barrier to cross.
One of camouflaged East German Mig-21.Russian,Hungarian,Czech and Polish Migs were painted in very similar colors.
One of camouflaged East German Mig-21.Russian,Hungarian,Czech and Polish Migs were painted in very similar colors.
fat tony
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
^ A shot of what is left of the thermonuclear blast doors, the former Zeljava airbase site on the Croatia/Bosnia - Herzegovina frontier.
I suspect the ruins are going to be there for centuries. The area has not been cleared of mines.
I would like to know the story of Zeljava; to talk of airforce assets which were meant to be expended in combat. I have the impression the official story is not available to the general public, & will not be for some time.
The intriguing world of international gossip. It does not pay da bills but is endlessly fascinating.
Last edited:
My Great Uncle aboard the German Cruiser Nurnberg on her way to Wilhelmshaven after being surrendered to the Royal Navy in Copenhagen. Fun fact, along the way there was a malfunction with her rudder which had her drift off course and away from the Royal Navy escort, he said it was rather unsettling seeing the guns from his own ship trained on him. They were able to signal to the escort that they were not making a break for it, and there was no need to open up on them.
As you might be able to tell by the uniform, he served as a Royal Marine aboard HMS Dido. He speaks fluent German, and as such he was attached to No 4 Commando during the Battle of the Scheldt as a translator. He was wounded there, and afterwards was given the choice to remain with them or to return to HMS Dido along with the Royal Marines he had trained with. He spent the remainder of the war abord HMS Dido.
I spent a couple summers in England with him as a young man, his “war stories” were typically of exploring Copenhagen, how cold it is in the Arctic and trading German Rifles to Canadian sailors for booze. He has never spoken out loud about his time with No 4 Commando to me, and only briefly mentioned it in his memoirs. From my understanding the Germans were well defended there, and losses were quite heavy.
Attachments
thats a terrific photo and story!!
Here is a link ( http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/rep-rap/doc/cmhq/cmhq174.pdf ) that provides some insight into the CAOF (Cdn Occupational Forces) that were in Wilhelmshaven and Bremerhaven .. my father was there (after Holland) until the CAOF was wound down and I have various nominal roles of Cdn personnel who were there and sos as they were repatriated. Its funny because they mention in the link a composite Canadian Bn (with Brass Band) that was sent to Berlin for a Victory Parade ... it helped explain the snapshots of the ruins around the Brandenberg gates I came across in one of my fathers photo albums.
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
"You're going to Russia? Take your little brother."
"Aww, Ma - He'll just get in the way. The Feldwebel will yell at us both."
"Never you mind the Feldwebel. Just take him with you..."
"Aww, Ma - He'll just get in the way. The Feldwebel will yell at us both."
"Never you mind the Feldwebel. Just take him with you..."
The German Air Force lost 270 of these Starfighters in crashes and 110 pilots over it's operational lifetime.
Wow!!! I never saw that video before!!!
Thx XRCD011 for finding that and sharing!!!
I have a few more pics that George sent me, I'll try and dig them out and post up.
Started some surfing and found this about George too.
RAF 23 Squadron
It also discusses on that page if the pic of the Mossie is PZ187 or PZ181
I know George wrote something on the back of it..
Now I have to dig it out and see what he wrote!!!
View attachment 228879
Last edited:
I believe Wilhelmshaven is where my uncle did some trading with the Canadians, he told me there was a Royal Marine guarding a weapons depot. He was able to "secure" some German rifles to trade for whiskey. I believe it was HMCS Iroquois that returned him to England afterwards as HMS Dido had returned to Scapaflow without him.
That has to be an infamous record for lethality.
We lost a fair number as well. Back in the early 70's when I was a young Fitter working on 104's, I jumped at the chance of a ride in a 104 and ended up getting 2 rides.
Being a whole lot older and wiser now, I'd give it a pass. Sh1t no......... Damn it, I would still love to have another one......
Wilhelmshaven was one of the ‘homes’ to the Kreigsmarine .... somewhere I have some snapshots of what I believe are ‘miniature subs’ but not sure if they were taken there or Bremerhaven .... or even if the Germans had miniature subs?!!
It seems that making a few dollars to supplement piss poor pay was one of the primary motivators for servicemen to acquire firearms. I think a lot of current serving members would be shocked to hear how poorly British and Canadian soldiers were paid. And there were SFA benefits - particularly for Brits
