John Kettler

This isn't some shocking or bizarre news item. Instead, it's an information resource for researchers, people trying to see where they once lived, historians of rural America and more. Would be willing to bet a bunch of military posts, bases and such are there, too, many long gone. Catalog is over 1 M pics. It's called vintageaerial and has the usual URL ending. Regards, John Kettler

Did you know how dangerous tank transporters are, eveen when static? Forget Hollywood FX, for they simply aren't needed to get the same results, practically effortlessly. These and many more Russian and Ukrainian AFV and other debacles await, including some unusual insurance claims and the whole bogged T-90 sequence in the first video at around the four minute mark. Also, these offer views of the latest Russian AFVs outside of the typical parade environment Regards, John Kettler

WorldWarPhotos has an official US Army picture captioned "Sherman tanks near Manila," but the captioner failed to notice that one was either some radical version with turret set aft and left or dead! Regards, John Kettler

This is an unprecedented effort by the CRMA (Canadian Research Mapping Agency), a volunteer outfit started by veterans to fully map the entire movements of the Canadian Army in Normandy, starting with the invasion maps and going forward. But it's much more than maps, because it includes/will include all the War Diaries covering where Canadian units were, enemy sightings, combat, etc, as well as piles of pre-war, wartime, and post war photos. All the other forces friendly and not are also covered as to their locations if they were in the AO. The amount of material compiled is monumental and will be fully searchable, too. Project 45 after that will follow the First Canadian Army to the end of the war. https://www.project44.ca/intelblog/mapping-the-battle-of-normandy Regards, John Kettler

While the quote function won't let me show a partial quote anymore (no idea why), have to say that your expression of gratitude for that unreleased game may well become a CM Forum classic. Regards, John Kettler

Here's a remarkable satchel charge story, together with a valuable discourse on flamethrower effectiveness (nowhere nearly as lethal as you'd think) arising from it. Our own John D. Salt and Michael Emrys wade in. https://soc.history.war.world-war-ii.narkive.com/s6YFBrZ8/satchel-charge-story-okinawa Regards, John Kettler

Many of us have heard about the Japanese soldier on Guam who refused to surrender, but I bet most of you (starting with me) never heard of the German captive who escaped a US POW camp in New Mexico and remained at large for 40 years. https://www.coloradoan.com/story/life/2018/12/06/colorado-hitler-nazi-wwii-fugitive-gaertner-wanted-nazis-last-soldier/2072854002/ Regards, John Kettler

Haiduk, Was that Kikimora forest shoot done with regular unguided shells and mortar bombs? If so, it's phenomenal shooting or tube artillery has far better accuracy than I ever imagined. In gunnery, what we saw is termed precision fire, and is typically performed by one gun, rather than volley fire. Now, maybe it's fortunate circumstance and the Gun Target Line happens to run on the long axis of the trench system, making things far easier, but that was demolition fire, conducted with very little ammo expenditure. Gobsmacked! Wish there had been some BDA closeups. The second shoot video would appear to indicate that the 82s, with UAV to observe, also have enormous accuracy. Regards, John Kettler

A while ago I posted the initially shocking discovery someone made that our beloved wargaming minis were technically dolls. Get a load of this. Used to play the earlier game Red Dead Revolver. Regards, John Kettler

danfrodo, Can't say, but I believe you'll be happier. Simply adorable! Today's offering comes with a question. Smart for Spec Ops or wretched excess? To me, the one on the right seems insane, for imagine the disaster from torquing force on the front end of that magazine. Compared to that, the one on the left is a veritable model of solidity and might make sense, but would also prevent firing prone. The center one, provided it can be handled effectively, looks like it would be handy to have in a situation with lots of bad guys. For those who wonder why some homes require you to first remove your shoes before entering, here's the reason! Love this! This rocks, but I might use it for wargame design! Beauty break. Regards, John Kettler

He's incredibly lucky he didn't get shot! My offering is not only tamer but verges on enchanting. Pretty sure the stylus designer didn't factor in this novel displacement resistance. Regards, John Kettler

This a must see, not to mention a tremendous example of applied physics. https://www.facebook.com/theScore/videos/2050082588406890/ Regards, John Kettler

Looks like there are smaller FJ climbing the risers of the far left FJ shown. But the PK has sent word this picture, provocative as it is, is to be ignored because "everyone knows" Luftwaffe FJ chutes use only single point suspension. Grog remarks never rest! Regards, John Kettler

New but related question. The November 1944 KStN restructured the VG StG44 Platoon by pulling the GL equipped man out of each squad (reducing it from 9 to 8) and placing the resultant 3-man team under direct command of the PL as his organic FS. yet the balance of the ammo over and above the one bandolier as above was previously held within the squad, leaving, post-reorg, each GL guy with two bandoliers to schlep personally, since there was no longer a squad member to carry the other. Are the VG GL guys in the November 1944 and later VG StG44 platoons carrying 30 grenades each? This is a matter of interest to me in terms of both CMFB knowledge and for what it may mean in terms of CoC depiction, too. Falaise, Read this material and tell me if you still think so afterwards. http://www.inert-ord.net/ger03a/gerrg2/mod30/index.html http://www.inert-ord.net/ger03a/gerrg2/mod40/index.html Later in the war, even more potent HEAT was fielded, easily recognized by the over caliber warheads extending beyond the launcher cup. http://www.inert-ord.net/ger03a/gerrg2/index.html Regards, John Kettler

Michael Emrys, Concur. Jane Russell is the one I was thinking off, but I pulled up the wrong name file. She's certainly the only actress in history who had an entire team of aircraft designers do a bra design. Of course, when the boss is Howard Hughes... Regards, John Kettler

MIchael Emrys, Upon review, I concur as to former and don't know regarding latter. In the photo of the three actresses, I think that may be Rosalind Russell in the middle. As for the RMS Titanic, found these. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2012-04-10-ct-met-trice-titanic-0409-20120409-story.html This is a statistical treasure trove, but after a quick read, I still can't answer the meme's assertions directly. http://www.icyousee.org/titanic.html Regards, John Kettler

Found this meme on Tumblr. If true, it's shocking history. Remember that both the US and Great Britain had long before outlawed slavery. . Regards, John Kettler

Am surprised the Germans abandoned padded headgear for AFV crews. The Russians campaigned a helmet design which was pretty much the same from the 1930s through just a few years ago, if that. The new model looks like the old one to a large degree, but it uses high tech material to provide better impact resistance.After spending a bit of time in a T-55, a T-62 and a 76 mm Sherman, there is no way I'd care to be without good head protection, and the tanks I was in were all static! As brother George pointed out yesterday, it doesn't matter how good your gun stabilization os if the gunner is being bounced about so much it's impossible to use the sights effectively. Regards, John Kettler

Spoke with George a few hours ago and got the skinny. Per the November '44 KStN, the VGD StG44 Platoon was reorganized by reducing each squad by one man (from 9 to 8), in order to form the three-man FS team under the Platoon Leader. Platoon head count remained the same, but the GLs were made more potent by massing them under the direct control of the Platoon Leader. Regards, John Kettler

I'd have to check with brother George, but late war VGD platoon organization featured a 3-man (3 x GL) GL section, providing the Platoon Leader with his own FS unit, if you will. Apparently, the idea was trialed and worked well in combat. I'd imagine three such rounds hitting a target simultaneously or closely spaced would be quite effective. Regards, John Kettler

Was curious as to what those odd apparent bandoliers were for on several FJ in this pic. Over on CoC FB board someone opined they were ATR cartridges, but then Andy Sykes said they were rifle grenades and provided a pic. This led me to wonder how much ammo GL equipped Germans in CM were carrying for that weapon? If my eyes are to be believed, it's 13 for FJ IRL, and I presently have no equivalent pic for Heer. How are GL ammo loads handled in CM, is there a split ref grenade types, and are there differences between FJ and Heer? Regards, John Kettler

Oh, the fun I missed out from the Silent Era of film! This sequence suggests some women don't scare easily. My guesstimate is 1920s for this one. Is that Mary Pickford? Skeleton teamwork is clearly deficient. This is likely more recent, but as you can see, the encounter can easily go the other way. Wonder if Ray Harryhausen did the skeleton stop motion? This is the very definition of making an entrance. Believe that's Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. And remember of this celebrated dance duo: "Everything Fred Astaire did forward, Ginger Rogers did backwards and in heels." Regards, John Kettler

Believe this was full size, and I think it would make a fabulous scuplt for a wargaming miniature. “LMG-Schütze” (Light Machinegun Gunner) by Bernd Hartmann-Wiedenbrück, 1941 Haven't seen many pics of captured Polish armor in use by the Germans, so this one's even more interesting, since it's a TKS tankette, apparently in what looks like Russia. FJ, unknown Italy location, 1943. Regards, John Kettler

Incompetence, or did the negative get reversed before printing? Feel as though I should know who these actresses are. Grew up watching lots of old movies. Equal opportunity high heels--dangerous to us and the wearer! May need therapy after seeing these. Regards, John Kettler

Brother George sent me this link. Pershing in combat in World War II. Has a bunch of info in it new to me. Regards, John Kettler