The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Russell Eustice and Troop Train 2980 (1/17/1945) - Nov 5th, 2003

World War II magazine ^ | Russell C. Eustice

[w_over_w]

Read Phil's post . . . damn. He sounds like someone "wired" into some inside info.

Also, Sam thanks for the reminder about politicians in the military. Cover your butt . . .

[Johnny Gage]

Air Power
North American B-25 "Mitchell"

The B-25 Mitchell, a twin-engine bomber that became standard equipment for the Allied Air Forces in World War II, was perhaps the most versatile aircraft of the war. It became the most heavily armed airplane in the world, was used for high-and low-level bombing, strafing, photoreconnaissance, submarine patrol and even as a fighter, and was distinguished as the aircraft that completed the historic raid over Tokyo in 1942.

It required 8,500 original drawings and 195,000 engineering man-hours to produce the first one, but nearly 10,000 were produced from late 1939, when the contract was awarded to North American Aviation, through 1945.

Basically, it was a twin-tail, mid-wing land monoplane powered by two 1,700-hp Wright Cyclone engines.

Normal bomb capacity was 5,000 pounds. Some versions carried 75 mm cannon, machine guns and added firepower of 13 .50-caliber guns in the conventional bombardier's compartment. One version carried eight .50-caliber guns in the nose in an arrangement that provided 14 forward-firing guns.

The B-25 was a very versatile medium bomber that was used on all fronts. An example of its versatility can be seen in its use by Jimmy Doolittle, who led a raiding group of B-25s off of the deck of the carrier Hornet to bomb the Japanese home islands in April 1942. Armament continually changed during the evolution of the B-25, from the B model with a glass nose and a single fifty caliber machine gun, to the G model that carried a 75mm cannon in the nose, to the later version of the J model that had a solid nose with eight .50 calibers, fuselage blisters with four more forward-firing .50s, and six more .50s in other fuselage positions. The USAAF was not the only service to use the B-25. Over 700 Mitchells were delivered to the U.S. Navy and Marines, under the designation PBJ. Many Allied nations also used the B-25, some continuing in use until the 1960's.

Specifications:
Manufacture: North American Aviation
Primary Role: Medium Bomber
Engines: Two 1,700-hp Wright R-2600-92 Cyclone radial piston engines
Crew: 5
Number Built: 9,889
Number Still Airworthy: ~34

Dimensions:
Weight: Empty 19,480 lbs., Max Takeoff 35,000 lbs.
Wing Span: 67ft. 7in.
Length: 52ft. 11in.
Height: 16ft. 4in.

Performance :
Maximum Speed at 13,000 ft: 272mph
Ceiling: 24,200 ft.
Range: 1,350 miles

Armaments:
12 12.7-mm (0.5-inch) machine guns
4,000 pounds of bombs

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All information and photos Copyright of their respective owners.

[SAMWolf]

Gret Plane. Very versatile, heck they even took off from a carrier

[snippy_about_it]

Read Phil's post . . . damn. He sounds like someone "wired" into some inside info.

Phil is a "must read" of the Foxhole family. He's brilliant and his wit is wonderful.

He generally post after my bedtime so he is the first post that I read after posting the morning ping list and checking for mail from SAM. Then I read SAM's thread for the day and answer other pings.

A prior day's thread isn't finished until Phil has posted. He is a tradition around here and we are so thankful to have him.

You really shouldn't miss his posts. Our readers need to go to the prior day EOT (end of thread) to catch him but I would never want to miss one!

Sorry to brag about you in public Phil but it's all true. Besides, SAM isn't immune from me bragging about him and neither are you.

[w_over_w]

A prior day's thread isn't finished until Phil has posted. He is a tradition around here and we are so thankful to have him.

My exact thoughts as I was reading the USS Pueblo thread . . . gee, all I need now is a 36hr. day and I'll be able to keep up with you guys.

BTW, does Sam know that he comes after Phil? ;o)

[snippy_about_it]

BTW, does Sam know that he comes after Phil? ;o)

Oh, there you go causing trouble. LOL.

[SAMWolf]

BTW, does Sam know that he comes after Phil? ;o)

Sure, but I know Phil's worth it. I'm usually lucky enough to cath his post just before the next day's thread so I get to read it before Snippy. Neener Neener!

[snippy_about_it]

...so I get to read it before Snippy. Neener Neener!

So, I kind of like saving it til morning. It's a good thing to wake up to, so there. Neener, neener. ;)

[w_over_w]

cath his post

Let's see . . . cath . . . OH!!! I get it . . . that's a military term for placing a catheter or inserting oneself into something. Roger that Sam!

[snippy_about_it]

What? You can't read "SAMspeak" yet, or should we call it "SAMtype".

He is so quick and his mind is much faster than his fingers that they just can't keep up.

[manna]

Hi, SAM!

[colorado tanker]

Phil is a treasure. I had no idea KAL 007 survived the missle strike for some time, until I read yesterday's post.

[colorado tanker]

Tom Daschle is deeply saddened by the train accident and has demanded a full investigation of the administration's coverup of this incident. Daschle noted that this incident just shows again the quagmire we've been stuck in since the German counterattack at the Battle of the Bulge. Other Democrats said the administration was wrong to get us in this war in the first place by misleading the American people to think Germany was responsible for Pearl Harbor, when in fact the media has proven they were not involved. Democrat House leader Nancy Pelosi tartly observed that experts in international affairs believe Germany and Japan will never cooperate with each other because of the German belief they are the master race. Pelosi stated that rather than follow that hard right wing conservative Churchill, we should have tried quiet diplomacy to persuade Chancellor Hitler to give back Poland, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France, Norway, Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece, Bulgaria, the Baltic States and Russia. Pelosi added that until League of Nations inspectors are allowed enought time to do their job, we really have no proof the Germans are killing Jews or attempting to build weapons of mass destruction.

[snippy_about_it]

Perfect!

[snippy_about_it]

Phil is a treasure.

He certainly is!

I learn not only from SAM and Phil but just about every Foxhole poster has taught me something, including you tanker!

It truly is where the Foxhole gets it's life blood, from it's readers who may only appear behind the scenes in freepmail to our up front family of posters and contributors.

We'd be nothing without all y'all. :)

[colorado tanker]

Aw, shucks, maam, t'ain't nuthin'.

[snippy_about_it]

LOL. Is too!

[Samwise]

He is so quick and his mind is so much faster than his fingers that they just can't keep up.

Can I use that excuse too? I like it better than my computer virus theory. :^)

G'Afternoon all~

[snippy_about_it]

LOL. Yes you may Samwise. I think it's a pretty good one myself. Good afternoon.

[Light Speed]

G'Day Foxhole : )

With the recent painfull loss of the servicemen in Iraq..and the Helo incident near Falujiah..found a paralell story from WW-2..were servicemen were moments from going Home...but it would not be so for some.

USS Callaghan DD 792

USS Callaghan was launched on August 1st. 1943. The Callaghan Sailed from the West coast, February 5th. 1944. She was assigned to Fifth Fleet, The mission of the ship, [DD's with new and refreshed powerplants were often assigned to fast carrier battlegroups]...was to screen Aircraft Carrier strikes on Pala, Ulithi, and Woleai.

The Loss of USS Callaghan

During the last fortnight of July,1945 destroyer Callaghan..Flagship 0f Captian A.E. Jarrell,ComDesRon 55,was on radar picket station off Okinawa.
With her on station were Destroyers Prichett, Cassin Young and 3 LCS's.

Callaghan had seen her share of the Pacific war.
More than her share.The barrels of her guns were worn from hours of incessant firing.Her director system needed overhaul;her topside was weather-beaten;her engines tired.
For *18 months ship and crew had been on the go,climaxing this tour of duty on the Radar Picket line off Okinawa.
Now she was due to go home..overhaul for the ship...R&R for her crew.

As the midwatch came on and the ships log entered July 29th,...the crew could hardly bear the anticipation.
Destroyer USS Laws was enroute to relieve DD792..this would be her last hour on station. At 0030 plot reported a "Bogey" which appeared to be snooping in the dark.
Crew rushed to GQ..moments later DD 792'S 5 inchers began to errupt ..smearing the night sky in brilliant flashes.
The plane turned on a Kamikaze course..heading straight for Callaghan.
At 0041 the plane suicided into the ship near the #3 upper munitions handling room.
A thunderclap rocked the destroyer..minutes later the munitions handling room let go.
Callaghans superstructure went up violently hundreds of feet into the night sky.
The ship listed to starboard,as flames engulfed the topside wreckage..the sea flooding into her comparments.

At 0050 all hands were ordered to abandon ship as "Pall bearers" closed to pick up survivors and bring aid to the 71 wounded Blue Jackets and 2 officers. At 0143,the salvage party abandoned the firey hulk....Callagahan slid under the waves shortly..taking 46 Blue Jackets and an officer with her in a most unlucky sinking.

USS Callaghan had 12 Japanese planes painted on her director;the kamikaze that killed her would have been the 13th.
DD 792 was the 13th...and last Destroyer to go down off Okinawa.