now that you've made me realise they must have Batman bandaids

In my bathroom armoire, baby.

Pretty much the Guadalcanal campaign, and mostly the naval aspects of it. So you know, mid August 1942 to, say, mid January 1943.

Curious. t /Spock In the Pacific I'm more interested in the Marine fighting up the chain of Islands leading to Okinawa. Also the supply flights over The Hump in China.

What's your WWI Interest?

Aviation, duh! I can still reel off the top Aces for most nations. Von Richthofen, Boelcke, Fonck, Bishop, Rickenbacker, Guynemer, Nungasser, Albert Ball, Frank Luke, Raoul Lufberry, Mike Mannock...

Also, I can explain the flight advantages for most planes - SE-5, Fokker Biplane (and Triplane), Albatross, Neuwirth, Spad. Also Fokker's key innovation that allowed for shooting through the prop.

Also, I can explain the flight advantages for most planes - SE-5, Fokker Biplane (and Triplane), Albatross, Neuwirth, Spad. Also Fokker's key innovation that allowed for shooting through the prop.

At one point I knew all that.

Fokker's key innovation that allowed for shooting through the prop.

Originally it was just metal things (eta: on the prop) that deflected the bullets. But then they improved it, and the Allies had their system. In one system, the machine guns were prevented from firing when the prop was in the way, and in another system the firing speed of the guns were varied to sync with the propeller speed. But I forget which country used what.

Also the supply flights over The Hump in China.

Oh yeah, I've been meaning to read more about that. The altitudes were so high that I think only supercharged or turbocharged aircraft could carry cargo over that route. Which is why the C-46 was used so much, as most transport aircraft couldn't fly that high.

Too bad no one has an interest in WWII aircraft. I suddenly find myself much closer to them than before.

Prevention was Fokker and syncronization was the Allied way, IIRC.

Prevention was Fokker and syncronization was the Allied way, IIRC.

Oooh, sexy.

Too bad no one has an interest in WWII aircraft.

DXM's provenance, I'm afraid.

Too bad no one has an interest in WWII aircraft.

Gud and I do, to name a few.

I suddenly find myself much closer to them than before.

How so?

When I was a kid, two B-25s flew in formation over our farm while I was cutting or raking hay. I was so amazed....

Speaking of geeky - I recently read a whole magazine article about turbocharging and supercharging of US combat aircraft engines during WWII, covering all such aircraft except the B-29, which probably warrants its own article on the subject.

There's more than one kind of geek.

So true, and one of the reasons I love DragonCon.

DXM's provenance, I'm afraid.

Oh yeah. I think I remember him posting about the different cowling shapes of different versions of the P-40.

tommy, DH has been involved with a few WWII aircraft museums and airshows for a while now. A P-51D ("Glamorous Gal") is part of Team Vandy-1, which is affiliated with the Wounded Warrior Project and what DH is currently working on/for.

I was supposed to go up in the Mustang a few weeks ago, but weather didn't cooperate. DH is at Jones Beach for the Memorial Day airshow. He was up in the Mustang today, and he's part of the crew on the C-47 and B-25 tomorrow and Sunday. He's been in the back of one of the only 2-seat Corsairs, but his ultimate goal is to fly one.