My Dad was also 24 and a major in 1945. In photos he & his soldiers all look like they were in their thirties already.
Actors depicting them in modern films about WWII look like babyfaced kids. No comparison at all.
Make-up artists, and actors, have yet to perfect the “thousand yard stare”
Actors depicting them in modern films about WWII look like babyfaced kids. No comparison at all.
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Maybe true when they first hit the ‘area’. But after a couple of firefights etc and observing the quick demise of their comrades, that ‘Thousand Mile Stare’ takes over quickly.
Don’t remember if it was a recent show or movie but one of the Detectives was going undercover as a ‘Hoe’...a veteran ‘Hoe’ was brought in to quickly give her some tips on handling herself and the first thing she did was look in the SYT’s eyes.
The ‘old timer’ explained that NO one in that business for more than a month has ‘bright sparkling eyes’ and the gangster they were trying to set up would spot her immediately.
The development of Dr. Barnes Wallis’ “bouncing bomb” is fully covered and the how and why behind its use by No. 617 Squadron is accurately described and shown. The success of the Ruhr dams raid was a tribute to Wing Commander Guy Gibson's ability and charisma.
Wing Commander Guy Gibson had a black lab that he'd named the non-PC N-word and that would not translate well for today's audiences. The same day Gibson flew his mission against the dams was the day he lost his dog (hit by a car).
After winning his Victoria Cross for the raid on the Ruhr dams, Gibson continued as commander of No. 617 Squadron until he was reassigned (eventually) to 5 Group of Bomber Command. No. 617 Squadron became the specialist squadron for testing Dr. Barnes Wallis’ later bombs: the 12,000 lb. “Tall Boy” and 22,000 lb. “Earthquake” bombs.
Sadly, Guy Gibson did not survive the war. His Mosquito from 5 Group was shot down over Germany on 19 September 1944.