Found an interesting book "Pearl Harbor & The War In The Pacific"

[Peter Laidler]

Not quite the same thing as Seaspriter mentions in his thread but very recently two old and extremely well known personalities have passed away here in the UK and there followed a full page article regarding their 'declared' wartime exploits v their actual exploits. Both were in the RAF as wartime Commissioned Officers and both with very interesting and exacting jobs that even on their own would have made for interesting reading. One, an intelligence officer gathering and collating this that and the other in and around the middle East and the other, a heavy bomber navigator from about 1942 onwards no less....... I mean....., how much more of an exciting and dangerous life can one have I am bound to ask? The sad part is that on those exploits alone they could stand out with the very best of their generation, but they had embellished somewhat their wartime service lives in writing and interviews - just ready for someone to out the truth. So, so sad. But I have to say that it didn't alter my most admiral view of the Navigators academic work

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[Seaspriter]

very recently two old and extremely well known personalities have passed away here in the UK

It's the passing of the old guard. Their courage may have become a bit embellished over the passage of time, but still these make exciting stories. I'm starting a collection of stories of people I've met. And, with some regret, did not write down stories I should have, and found later the hero had passed away. One, in particular, was George McDonald, an Aussie who was held in the POW camp the move The Great Escape was written about. Some of you have seen a couple of my posts:

Heroic Tale of a Tail Gunner
Requium for a Hero of the Battles of Coral Sea Midway

Got a couple more in progress. These were great men who took on a massive tasks. Those who returned had to bear the burden of the psychological burdens of war in a heroic manner.

The daunting insight is that we are fast becoming the next "old guard." As Robert Frost said with a sigh (slightly paraphrased): "How the woods are lovely, dark, and deep.But we have promises to keep,And miles to go before we sleep."

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Made some time to share a few more photos.