[fugazi]

Ping List

[ConservativeMind]

Chuck is still with us!

[Flick Lives]

1944: Capt. Charles Yeager becomes one of the first U.S. pilots to shoot down a Messerschmidt Me-262 jet fighter, scoring his victory as the warplane attempts to land on a German airfield.

—

Catching the ME 262 landing or taking off was probably just about the only chance an Allied fighter would have of shooting it down.

Top speed P-51 Mustang: 437 mph
Top speed ME-262: 559 mph

[crz]

I watched a doc on that kill and Yeager said it was “highly unsportsman like..but what the hell.”

[FreedomPoster]

$3000 was serious money in 1941! A private made $50 a month, and a 2nd Lt $150.

[throwback]

Really? That’s fascinating on Yeager. I thought he was too young to have been in WW II. I knew he’d been a test pilot for a bunch of the early flights that would eventually lead to space. This country has produced some of the most amazing people.

[crz]

One of the wildest dog fights in WW2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONLbuiEb3Kw

[DoodleDawg]

1941: While searching for blockade runners in the Caribbean, the cruiser USS Omaha and destroyer USS Somers spot a cargo ship flying U.S. colors but behaving oddly and whose sailors looked “uniquely un-American.” When Omaha attempts to make contact, the ship’s crew attempt to sabotage the vessel and a boarding crew is sent over. The captured ship turns out to be the German Odenwald, transporting rubber and other supplies from Japan. The sailors from the boarding party are each awarded $3,000 as bounty from the seized cargo and everyone else involved receives two month’s pay – the last time U.S. sailors will be awarded prize money.

Is that year correct I wonder? On November 6, 1941 we were still at peace with Germany. So why were we looking for blockade runners much less boarding and seizing them?

[DCBryan1]

Yaegers first jet.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I didn't know Yeager was a WW II fighter pilot, but that obviously makes sense.

1944: Capt. Charles Yeager becomes one of the first U.S. pilots to shoot down a Messerschmidt Me-262 jet fighter, scoring his victory as the warplane attempts to land on a German airfield.

So the only way we were able to down an Me-262 is hit is on the landing strip moving slowly?

[Georgia Girl 2]

Gimme a stick of Beemans. 😄

[matt1234]

I was once overflown by a ME-262 ... in Washington State !!

I was baffled at the sight, so I checked the internet. Sure enough, a local company had constructed a functional replica.