The Greatest Generation

I have had this title for a while in my WWII section so decided to start on it (I usually have 4-5 books on the go).
I am only in the B-17 section and must say it was one tough bird with crew and ground crew to match just what they went through.
I mean the Lancaster could do a corkscrew at night and 8/10 times shake the night fighter but what can a bomber do in broad daylight except stick to its buddies or find a cloud.

I think Iron Ar$e Curtis E Le May developed the formations that greatly improved the defensive and protective firepower of the B-17's in that formation, the book is good and I am enjoying it.

About the greatest generation I really believe they were as if you look at WWI all were in for a great adventure.
Sadly it was not a great adventure but a travesty of mud, death and fire in fact I blame the affects of those battles for the early demise of the returned soldiers who had their youth stolen in that carnage.
Move to WWII and it was not an adventure but a job to do to save the millions of the free people from tyrants and murderers.
All who joined up new what they were getting into though they had yet to experience N.G, the pacific or the Ardennes they still joined up knowing full well what to expect due to WWI.

Whilst the WWI vets did a fantastic thing against appalling tactics and weapons they doggedly stuck to task and bled Germany white but at a great cost to bring peace to all.
"The Greatest Generation" earned everlasting honor from all the free and those they freed during the war they will always be revered by me.
And as a son of one who went away I cherish his medals as a great honor I only wish my dad told me more but he never said a word...........

Of our future veterans from the foggy war they now face we need to look after them for they have sacrificed all so we can live peacefully.
Its the least we can do for them and their families.

It wasn't just the military that made them the greatest generation. In a matter of months with a vast portion of the work force joining up the US went from civilian manufacturing to war production supplying not only our military But Britain, the free French the Africans the Chinese and the Russians and kept it up for four long years. With today's work force there is no way it could happen again. Not with the snowflakes in today's work force.

The U.S. went from civilian manufacturing to war production in 2 weeks. The U.S. Army, using troopies they thought couldn't do anything but manual labour, built the Alaskan Highway(about 1,700 miles) from Dawson Creek B.C. to Delta Junction, Alaska, through literally nothing but swamp and muskeg, in 6 months.
Don't forget that "The Greatest Generation" includes the guys in the ANZAC.

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Originally Posted by Sunray

built the Alaskan Highway(about 1,700 miles) from Dawson Creek B.C. to Delta Junction, Alaska, through literally nothing but swamp and muskeg, in 6 months.

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Once saw a quote about that. The guy said something along the lines of, “I drove somewhere I knew was 3 miles away and it put 8 miles on my odometer.” Such was the muck he spun his wheels in. I’m butchering the quote but you get the sentiment.

Agreed as our ANZAC's endevours are well recorded I have enough books here on them through the WW's to keep me company in my ash pot for eons, the 39th in New Guinea stopping the hordes of IJA soldiers at their own game jungle warfare the first time they had been beaten don't get me wrong it was a near thing with our experienced AIF battalions in Africa the 39th did a great job that saved Australia.
We were used in WWI as shock troops no mean feat in that ghastly affair the Germans were solemnly afraid of us as our troops were very adept in using the cold steel attached to the end of their rifles in the narrow trenches, but to be fair they were all the soldiers fighting for our freedom great to do what they did to allow us to do exactly as we wish today.