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To: Melian

Kek.

I was looking at the invading Pepe artwork last night. I liked how anon did the progression of sailing, landing, and coming ashore.

The only thing that pains me about the graphics is the balloons didn’t carry troops. They were strung up as anti-aircraft obstacles called “barrage balloons” - intended to keep the German dive bombers from doing low, fast, strafing runs over the beaches and ships.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24pVtKtLyqk

My CDO was kicking in, but I moved on to other pursuits instead of commenting.

For history buffs, the only black combat unit to participate in the D-Day landings was the 320th VLA BN (Very-Low Altitude Battalion). This unit floated the barrage balloons on the beaches.
https://www.army.mil/article/119639/All_black_balloon_unit_served_with_distinction_on_D_Day/

Thank you for bringing it over!


1,505 posted on 06/06/2019 9:21:23 AM PDT by KitJ (Shall not be infringed...)
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To: Melian; All

Whoa nellie!

Wrong link to the barrage balloons.

Here’s the right one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrage_balloon

The YouTube link goes to an Eddie Murphy video. Which you can watch if you like, but doesn’t feature any barrage balloons.

Sorry about that.

(Melian, I should have checked myself before I kek’ed myself!!)


1,506 posted on 06/06/2019 9:24:14 AM PDT by KitJ (Shall not be infringed...)
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