Star Treks Scotty was one of the thousands of brave men to fight on this day 70 years ago. (trivia)

History ^ | 6/6/2014 | http://www.freerepublic.com

[Dallas59]

At the beginning of the Second World War, Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the 13th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Doohan went to England in 1940 for training. His first combat was the invasion of Normandy at Juno Beach on D-Day. Shooting two snipers, Doohan led his men to higher ground through a field of anti-tank mines, where they took defensive positions for the night. Crossing between command posts at 11:30 that night, Doohan was hit by six rounds fired from a Bren gun by a nervous Canadian sentry: four in his leg, one in the chest, and one through his right middle finger. The bullet to his chest was stopped by a silver cigarette case given to him by his brother. His right middle finger had to be amputated, something he would conceal during his career as an actor.

Doohan trained as a pilot (graduating from Air Observation Pilot Course 40 with 11 other Canadian artillery officers), and flew Taylorcraft Auster Mark V aircraft for 666 (AOP) Squadron, RCAF, as a Royal Canadian Artillery officer in support of 1st Army Group Royal Canadian Artillery. All three Canadian (AOP) RCAF Squadrons were manned by Artillery Officer-pilots and accompanied by non-commissioned RCA and RCAF personnel serving as observers.

Although never actually a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Doohan was once labelled the "craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Force". A story from his flying years tells of Doohan slaloming a plane—variously cited as a Hurricane or a jet trainer—between mountainside telegraph poles to prove it could be done, which earned him a serious reprimand. (The actual feat was performed in a Mark IV Auster on Salisbury Plain north of RAF Andover in the late spring of 1945).

[freepertoo]

I was just telling someone that I chanced to meet him once. I noticed that he was missing half a finger. I later found out that he had been shot on D-Day.

[TexasCajun]

"I'm giving her all she's got, Captain!

[henkster]

The only scene from Star Trek where Scotty's hand was really visible:

[Disambiguator]

No discussion of Scotty is complete with a Jim Traficant reference.

"Beam me up, Scotty!"

[Mouton]

Must have made for some interesting times on the set of Star Trek with the fag Zulu and the war vet Scottie.

[VRW Conspirator]

Wow, I did not know that.

[henkster]

There was a hell of a lot more tension on the set than that. Like Gene Roddenberry banging Nichelle Nichols for starters...

[dainbramaged]

The late Charles Durning also hit the beach on D-Day and through the war earned three purple hearts, a silver and a bronze star.

[Celtic Conservative]

Jimmy was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario- right across the river where I grew up.

CC

[Celtic Conservative]

Nichelle Nichols, Majel Barrett, several female guest stars, Etc. Roddenberry was a notorious P*ssy hound. He also served in the European theater as a bomber pilot, and postwar was a motorcycle cop for the LAPD.

CC

[Squawk 8888]

To all- please ping me to Canadian topics.

Canada Ping!

[Mouton]

Must have been interesting with his wife, nurse chappell looking on and commenting through the computer (her voice).

[Tallguy]

“He also served in the European theater as a bomber pilot, and postwar was a motorcycle cop for the LAPD.”

Roddenberry made a reference to “long missions, over water” in an interview and I interpreted that to mean “Pacific”. Wiki confirms that he flew 89 missions — all in the Pacific — piloting a B-17E.

[Tallguy]

Probably made an artillery tube from cardboard & aluminum foil... That Scotty was a resourceful fellow!

[mikrofon]

A story from his flying years tells of Doohan slaloming a plane—variously cited as a Hurricane or a jet trainer—
between mountainside telegraph poles to prove it could be done, which earned him a serious reprimand

"I have spent my whole life trying to figure out crazy ways of doing things." ~Scotty

[Buckeye McFrog]

George Takei was a young child during the war who spent it in an internment camp with his Japanese-American family. He has actually spoken quite poignantly about the experience.

Did not know that James Doohan was actually at Juno Beach. Scotty was always my favorite Star Trek character.

[Gay State Conservative]

I knew that Scotty was Canadian (as is Kirk) but I didn't know of his outstanding war record.Another actor...that some here may be familiar with...who served heroically in WWII was “Mr Granger” of Are You Being Served.I've read that he was decorated at least several times for bravery by the British Navy.

[Celtic Conservative]

I stand corrected. I do know for a fact that Roddenberry retired from the LAPD as a sergeant.

CC

[mware]

Donald Pleasence served during the Second World War Pleasence was initially a conscientious objector, but later changed his stance and was commissioned into the Royal Air Force, serving with 166 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command. His Avro Lancaster was shot down on 31 August 1944, during a raid on Agenville.[5] He was taken prisoner and placed in the German prisoner-of-war camp Stalag Luft I,

He later starred in The Great Escape.