World War II Tanks and Planes

Britain's Short Stirling bomber

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:26:00 +0000

The Short Stirling was the first of the four engine heavy bombers used by the RAF. It was hampered by the requirement that it had to fit the existing hangers that the RAF had.

Britain's Handley Page Halifax B.II bomber

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:08:00 +0000

Not as numerous as its close cousin, the Lancaster, the Handley Page Halifax had over 6,000 manufactured. It only went on 1/2 the missions that the Lancaster went on.

Britain's Avro Lancaster bomber updated

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:28:00 +0000

The Avro Lancaster was Britain's premier bomber. Over 7,300 were manufactured and they participated in over 156,000 raids dropping over 600,000 tons of bombs.
Their first mission was in March 1943 and they flew missions the rest of World War II.

Profiles of Flight North American P-51 Mustang Long Range Fighter by Dave Windle and Martin Bowman book review

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Another book I picked up was Profiles of Flight North American P-51 Mustang Long Range Fighter by Dave Windle and Martin Bowman.
A fairly short book Profiles goes into the development of the P-51 through some of it's use in World War II and Korea and how many are still being flown today.
There's lots of photos I've never seen before along with drawings of some of the planes.
This is a great book for those that like World War II era fighter aircraft or have a love of aircraft.

The Pacific War Uncensored by Harold Guard with John Tring book review

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:19:00 +0000

I recently picked up The Pacific War Uncensored by Harold Guard with John Tring which was a very good read from someone who was a journalist in World War II.
The story is of a British correspondent who, in his later years, made recordings of his experiences, intending to write a book but never did. Enter his grandson, who hearing his tales while growing up, found the recordings and turned them into The Pacific War Uncensored.
Harold started out in the Royal Navy, but an accident gave him a permanently stiff leg. His wife was a teacher for military children and was posted to Hong Kong where Harold eventually got into the paper business. He turned out to be very good at it and was well like by colleagues and later by many in the military. Unfortunately this book doesn't go into his many articles so one can't see what his style of writing was.
Eventually he makes his way to Singapore and is there when the Japanese invade. He goes off to the north to see what it is like in the field with the soldiers. Eventually he makes it out at the last minute and makes his way to Java where more adventures await.
The book further follows his travels to Australia and India and his meetings with some of the major personalities of the day.
For me The Pacific War Uncensored covers new territory, for me, reading about a British journalist during the war. I can't vouch for the authenticity of Harold's memories but I would think that as a journalist he was very detail oriented and probably remembered events pretty closely to how and they happened.
Harold mentions much about the censoring of his stories, but often we don't know what the censoring actually contained. We can imagine but I think it would have been interesting to read more about it in the Uncensored.
All in all a great book and I was quite excited to finish reading it.

Britain's Armstrong-Whitworth Ensign transport added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:47:00 +0000

The Ensign was a British transport aircraft.

United States' Martin PB2M Mars flying boat added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:11:00 +0000

The PB2M Mars was a large flying boat that was built for the United States Navy.

United States' Lockheed C-69 Constellation transport photo added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:34:00 +0000

The C-69 was a to be an intercontinental passenger aircraft for TWA. Only 22 were manufactured.

United States' Douglas C-54 Skymaster transport photo added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:51:00 +0000

The C-54 started out life as the DC-4 commercial aircraft. Around 1,200 were manufactured by Douglas.

United States' Consolidated PB2Y Coronado flying boat photo added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:25:00 +0000

A little over 200 of the PB2Y long range flying boats are manufactured.

United States' Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber photo added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Over 18,000 of the B-24s were produced during World War II.

United States' Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress photo addeed

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:31:00 +0000

The B-17F Flying Fortress had 3,400 manufactured from 1942 to 1943 and was the first to have a nose turret.

Germany's Blohm und Voss Bv 222 "Wiking" reconnaissance flying boat updated

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:49:00 +0000

The Blohm and Voss Bv. 222 was a six engine flying boat was converted from civilian to military use.

United States' Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress updated

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:34:00 +0000

The B-17 Flying Fortress was one of the main bombers that flew over Europe, bombing targets in occupied Europe and in the Axis countries.
It took the day shift and the British took the night shift. Heavy losses were sustained by the bomber crews and other than submarine duty was one of the most hazardous duties in World War II.
I can't even imagine flying miles up in the sky, with rudimentary heated suits, being attacked by Flak and fighters to and from the target.

Japan's Type 95 Scout Car, Kurogane Black Medal added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:23:00 +0000

Based on the Imperial Japanese Army's experience in during the Manchurian Incident it was decided that the Army needed a scouting type vehicle.
Kurogane came up with an original design for the Type 95 Scout Car.

Italy's Autovettura Fiat 508 C.M. added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:58:00 +0000

After military action in Eastern Africa the Italian Military decided it needed a vehicle that could travel over rough terrain and by road.
Fiat came up with the Fiat 508 which was produced from 1939 to 1945.

Soviet Union's GAZ-67 light car added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:19:00 +0000

The Soviet Union received a lot of materials, via Lend-Lease, such a trucks and cars, but they did in fact produce many of these types in their own factories.
One being the GAZ-67 light car. It started production in 1943 and was definitely influenced by the Jeep but it performed exceedingly well.

United Kingdom's Trucks Added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:27:00 +0000

Being a country that had an excellent manufacturing base, the United Kingdom was able to manufacture tons of trucks for use by its military.
I've added these four to my site:

United States' Dodge trucks added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:54:00 +0000

Dodge made many trucks for the United States military.

Here's just three of them:

Canada's Car, Heavy Utility, 4x2 Ford C 11 ADF added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:39:00 +0000

The Canadians had a very large manufacturing industry that was able to make many of the lighter vehicles for the Allies.
The Ford C 11 was originally a commercial car that with some minor alterations became a military vehicle. It was produced with the steering on the right as it was primarily used by the British Army.

Germany's Kraftfahrzeug 11, Auto-Union/Horch Typ 830, Kfz 11 car added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:44:00 +0000

Back before the Germans decided on using standardized vehicles the Kraftfahrzeug 11 was developed from a commercial vehicle.
It was often used to tow light artillery or used as a radio communications vehicle.

Germany's Volkswagen Kübelsitzwagen car added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:15:00 +0000

The Kübelsitzwagen was one of the most recognized wheeled vehicles that the Germans used in World War II. Heck it even made a comeback as the "Thing" in the 1970s in the United States.
Over 55,000 were manufactured and they were easy and cheap to manufacture.

Finish Forty and Home, by Phil Scearce book review

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:07:00 +0000

A good trend in books that have been coming out recently has been the book that is by the son or daughter of a vet of World War II. Where they usually hear the stories from their father and want to learn more about their service.
Phil Scearce is such a son who hears about his father's (Herman) service with B-24s in the Pacific during World War II. Based on that Phil goes and searches for additional information. He interviews people that were in Herman's unit.
We learn how, as a 16 year old, Herman joins up with the Army Air Corps and how he eventually ends up in the Pacific flying on B-24 missions.
The cost of war is vividly told as it was viewed through the eyes of a teenager. Casualties were heavy in the unit and close friends were lost. Some were lost without even knowing what actually happened to them, with the parents sometimes still hoping that their sons would return even years after the war was over.
Herman is able to make his 40th and final mission and is able to go home. He even goes back to high school to finish his diploma.
I haven't run across many books on B-24s in the Pacific so this is an excellent book detailing what it was like. Pick it up and give it a read!

United States' Diamond T 968 truck added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:52:00 +0000

The Diamond T 968 had over 10,000 manufactured. They were a 6x6 that could carry almost 8,000 lbs of cargo.

United States' Dodge WC62 3/4 Ton truck added

noreply@blogger.com (cary) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:23:00 +0000

Over 43,000 Dodge WC62s were constructed and were widely used by the American and Free French forces. They were well liked because of their cross country capabilities.