I am the son of a WW2 veteran and am glad I did not have to live through what he went through, he rarely spoke of his "adventure" we only learnt of the horrors after he past away when we read his memoirs he had locked away.
Something I would love too, obsolete stuff now but some great tecnology at the time.
Something like the B29 superfortress bomber, 224 spark plugs! the mechanics must have hated plug changes.
I,m currently rebuiding a 1940 straight 8 buick engine, I,m surprised by the quality of the design & the accuracy of the machining , its not much different to a 1980,s inline motor.
John.
As an apprentice, I had to clean aircraft engine spark plugs, with two plugs per cylinder and between 9 and 14 cylinders per engine, it didn't take long to amass 300 plugs, and yes you are right, I used to hate it. Aircraft sparkplugs are not quite the same as motor vehicle spark plugs. They had a deep ceramic core that I had to glass bead blast until spotlessly clean, the out side of the plug, shielded, to cut radio interference, and water proofing had to be wire buffed clean, each plug had two or four electrodes to be gapped, and then the plug was tested under pressure with nitrogen. after that each plug was hand painted. Todays apprentice would refuse to do that work!
-- Edited by iana on Wednesday 19th of August 2020 08:29:38 PM
My father was in the Royal Navy in the engine room (so below the water line) of a destroyer on North Atlantic convoy duties. In winter the survival time for a man in those waters in 12 minutes. Dad's ship was torpedoed on two separate occasions and he ended up in the water. Relatives of his age have told me these events took a significant mental toll upon him. I don't believe Dad thought of it as an adventure.
Iana; perhaps read some first-hand accounts of people's experiences, "All Quiet on the Western Front" is a good starting point.
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
An adventure Iana ? an estimated 85million people died in WW2 not to mention the millions more that were maimed and injured - maybe the trenches on the western front would have been an even more exciting outing for you ....... I really hope that your post was just poorly written because the way I read it it is both disrespectful and hurtful to those who fought or lost family members defending this country.
I am certain you meant no harm Iana and Joda, but have a look at SBS at 7.30 Monday evening next week.
See the damage, death, and destruction wrought by the pre jet age bombers. What wonderful technology, but I dont think the victims appreciated it. This is part 3 of the program, about 8 nights in Liverpool.
Not an adventure! A nightmare! The memories of the Blitz still bring tears to my Dads eyes. He lived in London as a 3 to 9 year old during WWII.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Thursday 20th of August 2020 08:11:07 AM
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Thursday 20th of August 2020 08:13:31 AM
__________________
Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
Last post I will ever make on this forum, a love of old machinery, cars, aircraft, etc. has turned Me into a war mongerer, the thousands that attend air shows (avalon, temora) must be a bunch of twisted individuals as well,
Joda.
Taking your bat and going home is a bit of overreaction John? As to Avalon and the likes, how on earth does that make you a warmonger mate? I have found that posting replies whilst angry or annoyed is not the best way, maybe take a little more time to think things out. You have a lot to contribute so don't take criticism to heart.
__________________
Those who wish to reap the blessings of freedom must, as men, endure the fatigue of defending it.
Joda, nothing was aimed at you, you took my post one way, the others over reacted. Perhaps my word adventure was wrong, perhaps experience or something else would have been better. I didn't say anything about being a soldier, but perhaps being ground crew in the air force would have been the go. The technology towards the end of the war was truly amazing. Even during the first world war they were more advanced than what we realize. Take a look at the Liberty LN motor on wiki, over head camshafts, and more.
If I had my time again. I wouldn't have wasted 22 years in the army. I would have stayed home on our bush block, living off the land, and learning all I could have in the school of hard knocks, and all about wildlife and the environment. I loved being in that bush cabin of slab and daub. I had plenty of water, I hunted , I fished for trout in the nearby stream, and would never have left. Now it looks like I will not only not get that chance again, but may not get too much time, in my new homebuilt ( still constructing it) bike camper. Only thing I really got to look ahead for now is an early grave, as Doc, said really not much hope, unless I can go into an early remission. Am currently typing this out in the tent, on a little creek with Milo, 5km from outside our village. Using my wife's phone as a hotspot. Just want to experience some cold weather this weekend out in the open. You feel alive in this weather. I actually don't care about the endgame, just annoid, that what I had planned to do for the next few years may not come to fruition. I am actually supposed to be in hospital on a drip for pain, but I told my Doctor, that their is noway in hell, I am going out that way. Yes I will be back for the treatments, but I intend to be bush as much as I can. Luckily he gave me 6 morphine ampules and a 20 pack of needles so I can inject the required amount of pain relief when needed. Tried the swallowable liquid morphine, but it was to upsetting of my stomach which is where part of the cancer is as well as the bowel. Just loving being in the bush at the moment. Their is nothing like it anywhere else where you can smell the gumtrees all the time. Will be having a fire, if the winds die down, otherwise, will be using my hiking gas stove instead. Hoping to cook scones tonight in my mini dutch oven.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Friday 21st of August 2020 03:59:55 PM
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Friday 21st of August 2020 04:18:49 PM
I don't think your army time was wasted - we both need and appreciate our armed forces and I thank you for your service.
I can *fully* understand your affection for living in the bush in a simple manner - I have spent much time with a swag and rifle doing the same. Nowadays I have the wonderful luxury of a caravan and have made it a full time process. Right now I sit here in forest on the bank of the Murray River and listen to the ****atoos as the sun sets and feel a completeness and connection to the bush.
Go well Ric and enjoy the time left to you, I hope it goes as well as possible and you find peace in your soul.
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
Hi Ric,
My brother advised me not to join the air force, he detected, I didn't like taking orders, and he said it was really boring. Apparently what they used to do was lie on a garage creeper, and slide under a Hercules, remove a panel, then tie a hand up inside the belly and then go to sleep, from a distance it looked like they were at work.
I recently met a guy who was in the Australian army engineers, the group of them got badly injured while assembling Bailey bridges. Now his back is completely buggered.
My brother also was a deer stalker on his days off, spent his time in the ranges of NZ, and packed out deer. He was an armorer in the RNZAF, at his house shared with buddies, I had never seen so much in the way of guns and ammo just lying about.
The bush is quiet, peaceful and you will soon make friends with the nature about you. You will be just like a fellow I met a week ago, just appears out of the bush, gets food and water, then disappears from all.
Ian
You did not waste 22 years in the army, you can be proud that you served your country
Also the best of luck, with your health
I remember reading (we had no TV, where I lived), after Vietnam, the soldiers were spat upon, when they returned home
My comments when I later worked with some of these nashos, was that the only difference between me and them, was that my birthday number, was not pulled out
To put things back in perspective, I have met the OP (Original Poster), a few times
As he never appeared to me, to be disgraceful to any person, who died in WW2 or Vietnam
I will assume that some people, have read his post the wrong way
Ric keep doing all the things that you love and keep on fighting the beast mate. I fully agree with you NO hospital, and there will be no nursing home for us either.
Good luck Ric, go down fighting mate.
__________________
Those who wish to reap the blessings of freedom must, as men, endure the fatigue of defending it.
Thanks for your wishes. I did have a fire last night, and cooked 4 scones; and my homemade pea and ham soup that I brought with me, and it went down really well. I sat around the fire until 1 am, with Milo, and had a bloody good sleep. Am staying out one more night just relaxing. Did not need any pain relief last night until this morning so, it is good to sleep, on your own terms. Woke up to, a mob of little grey roo's including our town's resident pet Katie, just outside my tent. Brought a large lettuce with me just in case, so shared it around the mob. This is the life I'll tell you.
Boy howdy, it is cold in the tent now, at 4.38 Sat. Windy, only in a 3 season tent, it is okay for cool weather, not so much for this cold weather, but Milo and I are grinning and bearing it. Am cooking as I type in the tent. I bring a 10 inch square 4.5 mmm thick sheet of hardi flex to cook on when in the tent. Cooking brussle sprouts, canned ham, dried peas, asparagus, dried mushroom, spinach and the left over beetroot, that I baked last night. I love all these foods, especially the sprouts and the canned ham, picked that habit up in the army. Actually the sprouts and the canned ham, are from the 30 ration packs that I have left over from my time. They are over 25 years old and still edible. Temperature is currently 1 C, expecting at least minus 7-9 during the night, but with Milo's new -10 C and my new -20 C down sleeping bags, should not feel it. Was quite warm last night, at 0 C. Only had one injection, early this morning. It must be because, I am so relaxed, and content, that I haven't needed another one since. Normally have 3 a day at the moment. Milo, is getting a minced and vegetable stew, that he got last night as well. He seems to like my version over Donna's, so he is waiting , salivating with bated breath. He is a bloody good mate to have along. Doesn't argue with me, or very little, and lets me tell him stories, about my past, and hangs on every word. Just a great mate to have along. Takes all the loneliness away from touring without human company. Anyhow, that's me until I get home sometime tomorrow, catch you all later.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Saturday 22nd of August 2020 05:30:33 PM
My grandfather served on the western front in WW1. Fought in most of the well known Australian actions. And survived. He thought it WAS a great adventure. He was often disciplined for being awol. Tested many bottles of French wine. Was recommended for bravery awards. Spent the last month of the war in the lockup. Yes he thought it was a adventure. He was a wood cutter and came from a farm in western Victoria and was dirt poor. He and 4 brothers all signed up and all survived.
A friend of mine was a tail gunner and flew the last mission in G for George in WW2. He also thought it was an adventure. Scary but an adventure.
The word 'adventure' can be very subjective and can mean different things to different folks. We need to be more tolerant to those with different perspectives on life.
"G for George is an Avro Lancaster Mk. I bomber, squadron code AR-G and serial number W4783, operated by No. 460 Squadron RAAF during World War II. It is now preserved at the Australian War Memorial (AWM), Canberra, Australia." (thanks Wiki), I've seen her, brilliant display, well worth the visit.
I used to work with a fellow who was the radio operator on a Lancaster in the RAF. He said they used to just fly over the channel and drop their bombs and then go home. Now I don't believe that, and wished I had have talked to them more. Also knew a chap who piloted Mosquito's as a path finder. I was right amongst those returned service personal, and now wished I had have talked to them more.
I was just a crazy teenager and must have missed so many opportunities to talk with those guys.
iana my friend was in G for George on its last mission as I understand. They were told that if they lost the plane on its last mission they had better not come home!!
Another friend flew a US Mustang late in the war and crashed it after the war while in occupied Japan.
My best friend recently passed away. He was an flight instructor based in Canada.
All 3 of these hero's knew each other and got together about once a month. The all regarded WW2 as an 'adventure' .
My grandfather served on the western front in WW1. Fought in most of the well known Australian actions. And survived. He thought it WAS a great adventure. He was often disciplined for being awol. Tested many bottles of French wine. Was recommended for bravery awards. Spent the last month of the war in the lockup. Yes he thought it was a adventure. He was a wood cutter and came from a farm in western Victoria and was dirt poor. He and 4 brothers all signed up and all survived. A friend of mine was a tail gunner and flew the last mission in G for George in WW2. He also thought it was an adventure. Scary but an adventure. The word 'adventure' can be very subjective and can mean different things to different folks. We need to be more tolerant to those with different perspectives on life.
-- Edited by yobarr on Sunday 23rd of August 2020 01:48:53 AM
"G for George is an Avro Lancaster Mk. I bomber, squadron code AR-G and serial number W4783, operated by No. 460 Squadron RAAF during World War II. It is now preserved at the Australian War Memorial (AWM), Canberra, Australia." (thanks Wiki), I've seen her, brilliant display, well worth the visit.
I used to work with a fellow who was the radio operator on a Lancaster in the RAF. He said they used to just fly over the channel and drop their bombs and then go home. Now I don't believe that, and wished I had have talked to them more. Also knew a chap who piloted Mosquito's as a path finder. I was right amongst those returned service personal, and now wished I had have talked to them more.
I was just a crazy teenager and must have missed so many opportunities to talk with those guys.
my uncle joined up. he was going on big adventure was a airplane enthusiast worked in factory making planes grand parents sign so he could join up as underage. trained as a tail gunner on lancasters returning from first mission over germany taken out by night fighter now buried in holland his adventure was short lived like so many others
