The Battle of Britain.

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**Kilkrazy**

The B17 was originally built as a sort of flying battleship. The pitch was that it would be used to extend the range of coastal artillery to hundreds of miles. Politically this was an excuse for the army to horn in on the Navy's turf. Mitchell's experiments in the 1930s provided a plausible excuse.

It wasn't intended as a strategic bomber. All of the USA's possible enemies were far beyond the its range.

As it turned out, it was almost impossible to hit a manoeuvring warship from a level flying bomber at 10,000 feet.

**George Spiggott**

Kilkrazy wrote:It wasn't intended as a strategic bomber. All of the USA's possible enemies were far beyond the its range.

What about the Russian Pacific coast, Mexico and other Central American countries?

US military planners were certainly aware of Douhet's (and others) theories I find to difficult to believe that they built aircraft perfectly in line with his theories by 'accident'.

**Frazzled**

Albatross wrote:
Winston Churchill wrote:'What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest hour. '

So, it's the summer of 1940 and The British Commonwealth stands alone in the face of the full might of the Nazi war machine. Would Britain go quietly into the night?

No we bloody well wouldn't!

This summer marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, undoubtedly one of the turning points of British (world?) history, and considered by many to be our country's finest hour. Think of how different the course of world history would have been had not that handful of men and women been successful in protecting our country.
I'm leaving this post here as a tribute to the people who gave their lives to preserve British freedom. In the words of Churchill:

'The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.'

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html

Sweet baby Jebus no wonder the Germans didn't win. You've trained dogs to fly Spitfires!

Automatically Appended Next Post:

George Spiggott wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:It wasn't intended as a strategic bomber. All of the USA's possible enemies were far beyond the its range.
What about the Russian Pacific coast, Mexico and other Central American countries?

US military planners were certainly aware of Douhet's (and others) theories I find to difficult to believe that they built aircraft perfectly in line with his theories by 'accident'.

The reason for the B17's (and later B-29s) original range requirements were so that the Army could claim they would not be used for naval warfare. The different services, as now, were very jealous of their purviews. Ignoring Mitchell utterly, they were convinced no aircraft could take out a battleship. This proved to be slightly incorrect.

**SilverMK2**

Frazzled wrote:Sweet baby Jebus no wonder the Germans didn't win. You've trained dogs to fly Spitfires!

We also had canvas tanks, trucks and buildings for imaginary armies too.

**Frazzled**

SilverMK2 wrote:
Frazzled wrote:Sweet baby Jebus no wonder the Germans didn't win. You've trained dogs to fly Spitfires!

We also had canvas tanks, trucks and buildings for imaginary armies too.

I have to say though, even with flying German (traitors!) Shepherds dealing with Hun, things were going badly for you until you invented the HAACL (Haggis Anti Aircraft Catapult Launcher). Even the Germans couldn't survive that.

Britain, kept safe from invasion for 500 years by the Scots.

**Albatross**

Actually, Great Britain hasn't been succesfully invaded for 954 years.

**Frazzled**

Albatross wrote:Actually, Great Britain hasn't been succesfully invaded for 954 years.

Right but I don't have facts to support that haggis has been protecting it for that long. Haggis is humble. It will not take all the credit.

**Kilkrazy**

Several attempted Scottish invasions such as the 1715 collapsed when the troops deserted at the start of the annual haggis hunting season.

**Albatross**

Hey, those sheep stomachs won't fill THEMSELVES with offal, you know...

I love haggis. Seriously, it's very tasty. Peppery. You'd like it Frazzled, I reckon.

**Kilkrazy**

The secret is to get them young, before the legs develop fully.

**George Spiggott**

Kilkrazy wrote:The secret is to get them young, before the legs develop fully.

Damn right!