^this... so much this. Kudos to the man My Grandfather was a tank driver at the end of WW2 and has never told me anything of the war, even though as a kid I constantly nagged him about it. The only story he ever told was of how he met my grandmother in Germany at the time. He is actually coming over on holiday next week, so I hope I can finally get some stories out of him of his time during the BLitz and as a Tanker
My grandad lost both his legs in the war. All i know is the transport he was in went over an anti tank mine. Sadly he developed Parkinsons when I was a kid and died when I was around 10 or 11 years old.
Respect to all the WWII vet's that are out there. My Great Grandfather served and was on one of the beaches in Normandy as a medic, he found his brother dead on the beach that day and he only confided this to me when he was in the last stages of cancer. They were made of the same stuff gods are back then.
My grandfather was a navigator in Beaufighters, Mosquitos and Blenheims. Focused in anti-shipping, and reconnaissance (specifically night time). He was an incredible man, I've never met anyone with such inner strength, fortitude and courage. I have his combat logs somewhere that show he was shot down over the channel, was picked up 9 hours later and flew again the next day, incredible.
My late father was the dentist on the USS Missouri in WWII. Boxes of pics of Japanese surrender. all who serve deserve remembering. My grandson jumps out of airplanes in Iraq. I know them planes can land but he insists on leaving early. I just finished a contract to bring RAAF Williamstown into modern world. 2 Squadron. Peace is a good thing. john
I'm a generation younger than most of you (two younger than John) but my great-grandfather flew over Europe as one of 24 Indian pilots seconded to the RAF. He flew bomber missions over Europe, mainly in Short Stirlings and then when the Japanese made significant progress in South East Asia, he flew Hawker Hurricanes out of Burma. One of the few (at the time) Indian pilots who flew bombers as well as fighters. He retired an Air Marshal in the Indian Air force (a 3-star officer rank in the IAF) and died when I was 4. I didn't know anything of his military service until I was much older. I just remembered him as the man who taught me how to wield a hammer and spanner and who first showed me what a carburettor was. BRAWL is right, they were made of whole 'nother stuff back then. Here's to all that fought and continue to do so. Lt. Col. Lewis Scott, Air Marshal Shivdev Singh, to your legacy.
My grandfather was a pilot for the USAAF Air Transport Command, I really wish I knew more about where he served, and in what specific unit... I really need to poke through the family archives and find out.
And may he rest peacefully knowing that millions upon millions may never know his name but will forever be thankful for the endeavours of him and his comrades. Jonty.
My respects to your grandfather and my condolences to you and your family. We owe WWII veterans a great debt that we will never be able to repay.
Respect and condolences. My grandparents were too young in WW2 and have extremely warped timelines. My mom's family got caught by the German Blitz in Poland, while my other gran was sent to boarding school in England and never saw her mother again. My Little brother just completed year 1 of 13 in the German Airforce (JG 47) as an Avionics Mechanic for the Eurofighter. All who serve deserve respect. I realised this when my brother told me of just the war simulations they run there. It's intense stuff, and 9/10 of us wouldn't have what it takes when push comes to shove.
WW2 Aviation engineering still continues to elude me. How on the goods honest earth did they take off with 10'000lp's of forged steel balls attached to their crew members. My sentiments, My grandfather who flew Hurricanes died when I was 4 days old.
