Personal GalleryDiscuss Wildcat's WWII pics. in the OFF-Topic / Misc. forums; From an Aussie perspective of WWII. The following pics are of the 7th Australian Division's landing at Balikpapan in ...
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"A good fighter pilot, like a good boxer, should have a knockout punch..... You will find one attack you prefer to all others. Work on it till you can do it to perfection... then use it whenever possible." - Captain Reade Tilley, USAAF 7 Victories, WW-II -
Obviously you dont know how miserable the weather can be in the jungles of SE Asia.
Temps over 100F with near 100% humidity. Rain can either be a short sprinkle or come down in a deluge thats like taking a shower.
The threat of receiving a lethal bite from a snake is always a threat, and it happened with alarming frequency. And the insects and bugs are numerous, carry diseases (some lethal) and can and will find you. Even if they dont bite you, they will annoy you and drive you mad.
The weather and enviornment of SE Asia was severe and unforgiving on men and eqmt alike.
__________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"
I've never been able to figure out why in the world MacArthur planned this operation. None of the oil from Balikpapin, Tarakan and Samarinda was going anywhere, with the allied naval and air blockade 100% tight.
Perhaps he wanted the oil fields to start producing and reduce the logistics burden? Maybe politics were at work and he wanted to quash any nationalist sentiment and make sure the Dutch were coming back "under force"?
That pix of the ladies next to the C47......... do you call them "bush babes"? hehehehehhehe
__________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"
"Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
Sir Winston Churchill
"To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today"
Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London
I've never been able to figure out why in the world MacArthur planned this operation. None of the oil from Balikpapin, Tarakan and Samarinda was going anywhere, with the allied naval and air blockade 100% tight.
Perhaps he wanted the oil fields to start producing and reduce the logistics burden? Maybe politics were at work and he wanted to quash any nationalist sentiment and make sure the Dutch were coming back "under force"?
That pix of the ladies next to the C47......... do you call them "bush babes"? hehehehehhehe
Yep even to this day the whole Borneo campaign is still controversal in Australia. Many believe it was a waste of time and more importantly a waste of good soldiers (most were veterans of North Africa and New Guinea). At the time many Senior Australian and Allied Generals, including Gen Blamey, thought it was unnecessary. However MacArthur justified it on political grounds relating to Dutch prestige (as you mentioned) and on strategic grounds relating to oil. Although I believe after the massive pre invasion airstrikes (up to 200 bombers a day in June) and naval bombardment (23 000 shells) there wouldn't be much oil left! In fact alot of the oil storage tanks were purposly destroyed for the fear the Japs would drain the oil onto the beaches and start huge fires.
I remember once or twice looking about as good as these guys lol...
Excellent shots Wildcat.... Where's u dig those up from???
I can imagine you did Les. This pics is of sappers who had the job of clearing obstacles the Japs had set up stretching 500feet from the shore to stop the landings at Tarakan. This took place under fire from the shore and in waist deep mud on the three landing beaches. The first two decorations (military medals) from Tarakan were awarded to engineers clearing these obstacles. Here is a pic of a section of the beaches. More pics to follow soon..
yeah must have been intense ...heat , humidty the natural predators let alone moving any or all equipment with no roads and supplying the men and equipment and there doesn't appear to be much level terrain ...and no helicopters
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