The Battle of Attu

[Dave W]

I was dimly aware of the Japanese in the Aleutians during WWII but had never heard the details of this battle. Very grim.

70 years ago this month, the Battle of Attu raged

[Highlander]

I noted the 30 Japanese captured in that article...

In Burma, from the start of the conflict until the point my dad got directly involved, I have a figure of four taken alive...

Fanatical, is the word...

(nice post, Dave; a new one on me, but admittedly well out of my research sphere... )

[dadagoboi]

There's currently a documentary on NetFlix, "Red, White, Black and Blue" about Attu that is pretty good.  Especially in going into the reasons the Japanese wanted a base in the Aleutians: as a refueling stop on a Great Circle Route to the west coast of the U.S.

[Highlander]

... and there's you, diametrically opposite positions in your country from another chain of islands...

I may add that link to my "Fish" list as I know so little about it, but Japan remains so high in my priority of research...

Cheers Carlo...

[TBird1958]

 The definative account is Brian Garfield's "The Thousand Mile War"
http://www.briangarfield.net/the_thousand_mile_war__world_war_ii_in_alaska_and_the_aleutians_53111.htm

I highly recommend it, details all aspects of a very difficult campaign including a fierce naval battle involving the USS Salt Lake City, and PBY Catalinas pressed into service as bombers. I found it both fascinating and informative, he even notes the high incidence of insanity and cases of homosexual behavior amongst the Americans.........  

[Highlander]

I detect a curve ball thrown in from the left field there...

(there's a thread dedicated to "alternate" wartime activity on the WW2talk site I lurk at... it has never been isolated from the military in any era...)

[jumbodbassman]

never realized we actually had a WWII man to man battle on american soil.  i will have to get one of those movies or books.  Lots of free time right now...

[TBird1958]

Technically Alaska wasn't a state........I actually don't know what it's formal designation was. Protectorate? Province?
Regardless the book was a good read, hope things are going well for you!

[Pilgrim]

Technically Alaska wasn't a state........I actually don't know what it's formal designation was. Protectorate? Province?
Regardless the book was a good read, hope things are going well for you!

I think it was a territory at that time.

[Dave W]

It was a territory.

I sent the story link to one of my old high school buddies, he replied "The only thing I remember about that campaign was that a Japanese fighter pilot flipped hi plane over on an attempted open field emergency landing and was killed but his plane was recovered and restored by US forces and it became the only Zero fighter that we had access to fly in order to learn about the characteristics of the plane.  Supposedly it was a very valuable find."

According to Wikipedia: "In the summer of 1942, the Americans recovered the Akutan Zero, an almost intact Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter. This enabled the Americans to test fly the Zero and contributed to improved fighter tactics later in the war."

[TBird1958]

It was a territory.

I sent the story link to one of my old high school buddies, he replied "The only thing I remember about that campaign was that a Japanese fighter pilot flipped hi plane over on an attempted open field emergency landing and was killed but his plane was recovered and restored by US forces and it became the only Zero fighter that we had access to fly in order to learn about the characteristics of the plane.  Supposedly it was a very valuable find."

According to Wikipedia: "In the summer of 1942, the Americans recovered the Akutan Zero, an almost intact Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter. This enabled the Americans to test fly the Zero and contributed to improved fighter tactics later in the war."

Which lead to Kenny's arch nemesis.............. The Hellcat! 

[jumbodbassman]

It was a territory.

I sent the story link to one of my old high school buddies, he replied "The only thing I remember about that campaign was that a Japanese fighter pilot flipped hi plane over on an attempted open field emergency landing and was killed but his plane was recovered and restored by US forces and it became the only Zero fighter that we had access to fly in order to learn about the characteristics of the plane.  Supposedly it was a very valuable find."

According to Wikipedia: "In the summer of 1942, the Americans recovered the Akutan Zero, an almost intact Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter. This enabled the Americans to test fly the Zero and contributed to improved fighter tactics later in the war."

that i remember hearing just didn't realize it was there. 

Mark overall I am doing ok.   Wouldn't wish this on very many people however (that i personally know).  some in the news is another story.   still trying rehearsing with  2 of my 4 groups each week to stay active in the brain anyway.   No gigs till  late June and may not be able to sing much lead  if ever again as i have had a rasp for 2 months now.  but believe it or not I have kept my high range and falsetto for harmonies so maybe......

keep rockin guys

[Dave W]

Wikipedia has a pic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Captured_Japanese_Zero_-_Dutch_Harbor_Alaska_-_June_1942.jpg

[Highlander]

Showing the beastie in American colours is more appropriate...


... and a link to the report from the time...

Which lead to Kenny's arch nemesis.............. The Hellcat! 

[Dave W]

Thanks for the link.

My dad was a tail gunner in the Pacific. I wonder what he would have thought of me buying a Mitsubishi car.