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The Corsair was the first single engined plane to reach 400MPH in level flight...

The P-38 was the first to reach 400MPH in level flight.

btw, I love historical discussions like this and seeing so many other people's opinions and learning what other people know, that I don't. keep it up guys! 

Good Hunting,
Brandon

james007,

Give me some time to read those links.  I started the MacGuire link and it's interesting.  Anyway, to peel away the myth, what about Grey Boyington?  Some of his claimed "kills" happened to be planes he destroyed on the ground.

And that silver star Pres. Johnson wore on his lapel?  It has been said that he recieved that on a mission that he never seen combat in.  The bomber he rode in as *passenger* turned back due to mechanical troubles.  Yet he was the only person on that mission who received any accomodation.  Call it a gift from MacArthur who may have been greasing the palm of someone who might come in handy for any future political aspirations on the part of the General.

I agree with you whole heartedly James,

A hero in my eyes is not some superstrong, all-knowing 'hercules' but someone who is more human, who went through struggles and hardship's that I will never know... I think algebra is hard... what about having a friend that was shot down and killed over some country you have never heard of? or someone who rams their plane into an enemy bomber that's about to drop it's load on a friendly base? now that, in my honest opinion, is a hero.



Good Hunting,
Brandon

MadTIGERaN I'm sorry tell you this. The Japanese had complete air superriority throughout the Burmese campaign of 1942.

The Flying Tiger never where alble to take that from them. Like I said before they are my heroe as they are your yours.

As matter of fact the more I get to the facts the better they look to me.

Had they fought a whimpy enemy that would have been ready and willing to be shoot down that easy as Mithycal history portraits than it would have taken the glair of their achievement away.

They where succesful, brave and very good pitols with great taitics.

They just did not shoot down 290 planes. Its just not common sense.

They are surely Heroes in my book.

I recommen you read as much about this and the many other subjects on World war 2 as possible and always keep a open mind.

World war two is facinating period in history.

Please do not just concentrate on just one Thearter or another. Concentrate on the whole war.

This was the first truely World war and should be treated as such.

Last put not least be as objective as possible.

James007

james007,

I've always comprehended the fact that the US is not perfect and have done things in the past that are deceptive or even just plain bad.  But when engaging in discussions I don't feel it necessary to bring up the fact that the US did bad things too, unless the context of the discussion calls for that.

I understand many are motivated to be sensative to posters/readers from other countries, especially when considering sensitivites of other nationals regarding American patriotism.  To me, being partiotic doesn't mean never admitting our failures, but on the flip side, I don't see the need to bring up examples of our failures, just for the sake of others sensativities.

Im going to have to disagree James,  and the Flying Tiger pilots themselves im sure will too.  In fact ive heard Tex Hill speak at the airshow in Oshkosh a few times. 

If the Japenese had air superriority,  They would have had more kills.  They indeed did put up more numbers then the AVG,  BUt if that gives you Air Superriority, then i suppose the Germans had it over England during the Battle of Britain as well?


I think the Burma campaigne is definetly one of the more interesting ones,  As it never really appears like the Japenese go after air superriority,  in fact, they almost seem to ignore the AVG all together, and concentrate on their bombing runs and air raids instead of winning the air war first.

Im not saying the AVG had the air superriority,  BUT,  the Japanese did not either,  Not at least until the AVG pulled out,  but by that point, the Chinese army had Halted the Japenese army.


When it comes to doing whats right/wrong in war,  Ive found an interesting coincedence with this.  I think it is directly connected with the type of person and their background to begin with BEFORE they join the service.  ESPECIALLY in todays military.  The majority of recruits for todays armed forces are coming from low income families where this maybe the only way for the person to get the money to go to college.   A gang member joins up to get off the streets,  a trailor park kid joins up to get out of the mobil home.   A redneck joins up to get out of the shack that he lives in.  A farmboy joins up to get off the farm.....    They go off to bootcamp where its drilled into them "America rules, the other guys are bad"  Back during WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and those wars,  the enemy even given colorful nicknames like "Charlie" and what not,  to further show that they are inferior.   These lo-educated soldiers get brainwashed so easily,  and get to a point of thinking that they dont even look at the enemy as a human anymore.  I think this can really be seen in todays armed forces more so then WW2.   But this is really a whole nother topic,  and really something thats hard to discuss....   As once a soldier gets a conscience for what they are doing, theyre as good as dead.

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Whoa!!  Did you open up a can or worms!

I can't disagree with you more forcefully!  True, there are those who joined today's armed forces for career opportunities, but there are also thos who joined because that's exactly what they wanted to do.  We have a high-tech military.  Brain-dead lemmings waiting to be brain-washed need not apply.  Just because they believe in what they do, and are proud to do it, you must not confuse that with being brain-washed simpletons.  I believe in what they do and I'm proud of them as well.   I'm no brain-washed simpleton!

I should clarify DC,   And i should not have said majority.

BUt at the same time ill stand by what I said,  As its those brainwashed soldiers that useally end up doing something stuipd,  like the prison in Iraq. 

Theres a great scene in I believe the 2nd episode of Band of Brothers that tells alot.  when one of the US troops stumbles across a German POD who actually was an American from a city near to where the American was from.  This soldier, and many others find out,   Hey, these people arnt that bad?  Its just our governments clashing over whatever....   

Then you could watch a movie like Full Metal Jacket,  in which the Helicopter Machine Gunner gets asked "how do you know which ones too shoot at, and he replies "If they run, theyre VC,  if they dont run, theyre well trained VC"  Basically this fictional character embodies the "brainwashed soldier"  Where he does not see a human,  he sees an enemy that must die.  On all sides of every war, there are people with this mentalitiy. Most notable Hiter and the Nazis.  Anyway, this is gettin way off subject so ill wrap it up by saying that i respect people who join up and commet to such a thing as serving,  BUT there are alot of people who join up,  who are unable to determine right from wrong but are giving a gun anyway.....  (Some of them even end up running things)

and i wouldnt say the History books are written by the victors,  They are written by the country your in.  China has recently been upset with Japan, because in the new edition of Japans history books for the schools,  they ignore the horrible things that the Japanese did in China,  and make Japan out to be the "Good guys"


Can you imagine a history book in 50 years saying "In 2003,  We (the US) invaded Iraq and forced them to become a democratic country.....  Of course not, it will say we liberated a surpressed people.



GREAT TACTIC OF THE NIGHT

The Dam Busters,  now that was some sort of tactic