Real time Discusion thread

[stevep]

   Lordroel

   In the WWII entry you have the entry for John Hannah's bravery mentioned twice. The 2nd time is in the correct location, under "air war over Europe" but above that in the BoB its mentioned with

Over Belgium Sgt John Hannah (1921-47), a wireless operator and air gunner in Hampden P 1355 of No. 83 Squadron, was terribly burnt putting out a fire aboard his flak-ridden bomber, which returned to base safely after attacking Antwerp. (Victoria Cross)

   Gods that was some heavy fighting. It sounds like it makes clear however that day time bombing is too costly and an invasion impossible although the Germans do switch more fully to the night blitz.

   Technically there is nothing illegal about having chemical weapons at this time.  Its the 1st use that is banned and fortunately maintained throughout the war in Europe at least.  [At least in combat, you still have the mass murders in the Nazi camps!  

  That was a huge post, mostly on the BoB but definitely worth it given the importance of the day and a lot of insights on how it was for the people actually involved.

  Steve

[lordroel]

Sept 15, 2019 8:49:55 GMT stevep said:

   Lordroel

   In the WWII entry you have the entry for John Hannah's bravery mentioned twice. The 2nd time is in the correct location, under "air war over Europe" but above that in the BoB its mentioned with

Over Belgium Sgt John Hannah (1921-47), a wireless operator and air gunner in Hampden P 1355 of No. 83 Squadron, was terribly burnt putting out a fire aboard his flak-ridden bomber, which returned to base safely after attacking Antwerp. (Victoria Cross)

   Gods that was some heavy fighting. It sounds like it makes clear however that day time bombing is too costly and an invasion impossible although the Germans do switch more fully to the night blitz.

The troll in charge apologizes, he used multiple sources to create the day in World War II and sometimes a post might mention a event twice, especially if it is a big post like the BoB.

[stevep]

   Lordroel

   A couple of points related to the this day in history thread.

a)  This was a pretty big loss for the RN so shouldn't it be mentioned in the WWII thread?

1939 – World War II: German submarine U-29 sinks the British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous.

b)  Think there's a typo here?  Possibly juniors?

1992 – An Iranian Kurdish leader and his two joiners are assassinated by political militants in Berlin.

  Steve

[lordroel]

Sept 17, 2019 10:22:36 GMT stevep said:

   Lordroel

   A couple of points related to the this day in history thread.

a)  This was a pretty big loss for the RN so shouldn't it be mentioned in the WWII thread?

1939 – World War II: German submarine U-29 sinks the British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous.

b)  Think there's a typo here?  Possibly juniors?

1992 – An Iranian Kurdish leader and his two joiners are assassinated by political militants in Berlin.

  Steve

You are right, seems they forget it at the Wikipedia page where I pulled this Day of History from.

[stevep]

   Lordroel

  in the entry on the battle in the Med

The loss of Sidi Barrani to the Italians is having subtle but growing adverse affects on the British hold on the Mediterranean. The RAF airbase there had been extremely useful for launching raids against Italian-held Libya and for shuttling planes to Malta. The next-nearest airfield is at Benghazi, and fighters cannot make it from there to Malta even with extra fuel tanks. Even Blenheim bombers can barely make it, with little room for error. Thus, losing Sidi Barrani makes reinforcement of Malta much more difficult, and curtails transits between there and the main base at Alexandria. Loss of Sidi Barrani also deprives Royal Navy ships from Alexandria of fighter cover over the Italian positions further west such as Bardia. And, of course, the reverse situation applies, with the Regia Aeronautica now in position to bomb RAF airfields further east and give more cover to its ships at Tobruk and other eastern Libyan ports. All in all, the tepid Italian advance has had far more effect on the British military posture than its small gains might suggest.

  it has Benghazi as a British controlled base, which it definitely wasn't at that time.  Not sure what's going wrong here and IIRC there was something like this a month or so back?

  Steve

[lordroel]

Sept 18, 2019 18:08:55 GMT stevep said:

   Lordroel

  in the entry on the battle in the Med

The loss of Sidi Barrani to the Italians is having subtle but growing adverse affects on the British hold on the Mediterranean. The RAF airbase there had been extremely useful for launching raids against Italian-held Libya and for shuttling planes to Malta. The next-nearest airfield is at Benghazi, and fighters cannot make it from there to Malta even with extra fuel tanks. Even Blenheim bombers can barely make it, with little room for error. Thus, losing Sidi Barrani makes reinforcement of Malta much more difficult, and curtails transits between there and the main base at Alexandria. Loss of Sidi Barrani also deprives Royal Navy ships from Alexandria of fighter cover over the Italian positions further west such as Bardia. And, of course, the reverse situation applies, with the Regia Aeronautica now in position to bomb RAF airfields further east and give more cover to its ships at Tobruk and other eastern Libyan ports. All in all, the tepid Italian advance has had far more effect on the British military posture than its small gains might suggest.

  it has Benghazi as a British controlled base, which it definitely wasn't at that time.  Not sure what's going wrong here and IIRC there was something like this a month or so back?

  Steve

Thanks for the spotting as usual stevep, will discuss it with troll who found this part to do some better background checking.

[stevep]

Lordroel

A couple of queries about today's WWII entry.

a) "RAF No.152 Sqd consisting of two Spitfires, was scrambled from Warmwell." - Does that mean it sent two Spitfires from that squadron since as written your saying the squadron consisted of only two spitfires?

b)  You have a paragraph

Hitler formally announced that "under the present circumstances it is not possible to contemplate any invasion plans against England" and ordered the assembly of the invasion fleet to be stopped, and the shipping in the Channel ports to be dispersed "so that the loss of shipping space caused by enemy air attacks may be reduced to a minimum". The invasion was now postponed indefinitely and there would be no further discussion on the matter until the spring when the weather conditions would more suited to any implementation of an invasion. Plans were put into place where the majority of German troops, that had been placed in readiness for an invasion of Britain, were now given fresh orders and were posted to alternative fronts. Most of them were to go to the east in preparation for "Operation Barbarossa" that was to take place the following year, some had been sent to Crete while the remaining troops dismantled all the barges at the various ports along the Channel coast.

  Do you mean some were later sent to Crete, as part of the invasion of Greece in spring 41 as none would go there in late 40?

c) "In Rome, Ribbentrop meets Mussolini and Ciano in Rome and warns them not to attack Greece or Yugoslavia. The Italian leaders dutifully reply that they will conquer Egypt first."

  Don't you love allies you can rely on.

  Steve

[lordroel]

Sept 19, 2019 8:36:04 GMT stevep said:

Lordroel

A couple of queries about today's WWII entry.

a) "RAF No.152 Sqd consisting of two Spitfires, was scrambled from Warmwell." - Does that mean it sent two Spitfires from that squadron since as written your saying the squadron consisted of only two spitfires?

First question I can answer so far, from a Battle of Britain page dated:

Thursday September 19th 1940.

Says, Green section of 152 Squadron consisting of two Spitfires, is scrambled from Warmwell. The pilots are P/O Williams and P/O "Duchy" Holland (Sgt. K.C. Holland). Just after take off it is realized that Williams' radio is not functioning so the Australian assumes the leaders position. Not long afterwards a bandit is sighted over the Channel and Holland signals Williams to go below the cloud base while he remains above it. The German plane, a Ju88, disappears into the murk but moments later it reappears about two miles (3 km) in front.

[stevep]

Sept 19, 2019 8:41:53 GMT lordroel said:

Sept 19, 2019 8:36:04 GMT stevep said:

Lordroel

A couple of queries about today's WWII entry.

a) "RAF No.152 Sqd consisting of two Spitfires, was scrambled from Warmwell." - Does that mean it sent two Spitfires from that squadron since as written your saying the squadron consisted of only two spitfires?

First question I can answer so far, from a Battle of Britain page dated:

Thursday September 19th 1940.

Says, Green section of 152 Squadron consisting of two Spitfires, is scrambled from Warmwell. The pilots are P/O Williams and P/O "Duchy" Holland (Sgt. K.C. Holland). Just after take off it is realized that Williams' radio is not functioning so the Australian assumes the leaders position. Not long afterwards a bandit is sighted over the Channel and Holland signals Williams to go below the cloud base while he remains above it. The German plane, a Ju88, disappears into the murk but moments later it reappears about two miles (3 km) in front.

  So its the green section of the squadron which consists of two a/c.  That makes sense.  Go to go to work now so will catch up later.  Thanks for the quick response.

[lordroel]

Sept 19, 2019 8:44:02 GMT stevep said:

Sept 19, 2019 8:41:53 GMT lordroel said:

First question I can answer so far, from a Battle of Britain page dated:

Thursday September 19th 1940.

Says, Green section of 152 Squadron consisting of two Spitfires, is scrambled from Warmwell. The pilots are P/O Williams and P/O "Duchy" Holland (Sgt. K.C. Holland). Just after take off it is realized that Williams' radio is not functioning so the Australian assumes the leaders position. Not long afterwards a bandit is sighted over the Channel and Holland signals Williams to go below the cloud base while he remains above it. The German plane, a Ju88, disappears into the murk but moments later it reappears about two miles (3 km) in front.

  So its the green section of the squadron which consists of two a/c.  That makes sense.  Go to go to work now so will catch up later.  Thanks for the quick response.

No problem, will try to find a answer to your second question if I can.

[stevep]

   Lordroel

   Other than the image, a picture of Parliament highlighted against fires instead of a spitfire, I think today's WWII entry is identical to yesterdays?

  Steve

[lordroel]

Sept 21, 2019 8:21:16 GMT stevep said:

   Lordroel

   Other than the image, a picture of Parliament highlighted against fires instead of a spitfire, I think today's WWII entry is identical to yesterdays?

  Steve

Thanks for the notice, will change it as soon as I can to the correct day.

[lordroel]

So it seems that September 21st 1940 was correct, but September 20th 1940 was wrong, i have fix it, but will go back to make sure on other days if the are right as they schould be.

[stevep]

Sept 21, 2019 18:14:13 GMT lordroel said:

So it seems that September 21st 1940 was correct, but September 20th 1940 was wrong, i have fix it, but will go back to make sure on other days if the are right as they schould be.

  Lordroel

  OK thanks.  Just seen the message about you being back from hols and thought you had come back a while ago. Sorry to have mentioned so much while you were actually on holiday.

  Steve

[lordroel]

Sept 21, 2019 18:16:47 GMT stevep said:

Sept 21, 2019 18:14:13 GMT lordroel said:

So it seems that September 21st 1940 was correct, but September 20th 1940 was wrong, i have fix it, but will go back to make sure on other days if the are right as they schould be.

  Lordroel

  OK thanks.  Just seen the message about you being back from hols and thought you had come back a while ago. Sorry to have mentioned so much while you were actually on holiday.

  Steve

No problem, even when on Holiday, the forum still needs to be admin, it seems that the trolls made some very big mistakes which i need to clean up, but i will do it with pleasure as will i always with responding to any post on the forum ore about any of the Real Time projects that are going on.