Comments on: Battle of the Bismarck Sea http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bismarck-sea.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:03:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Paulo http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bismarck-sea.htm/comment-page-1#comment-130475 Paulo Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:35:59 +0000 #comment-130475 Good man fighting for our freedom e ocidental way of life. I´m grateful and proud about them. I´m from Brazil, São Paulo, but I´ve read all about those men who fight for better world. God bless you! Good man fighting for our freedom e ocidental way of life.
I´m grateful and proud about them.
I´m from Brazil, São Paulo, but I´ve read all about those men
who fight for better world.
God bless you!

]]> By: Norman Illsley http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bismarck-sea.htm/comment-page-1#comment-87692 Norman Illsley Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:24:22 +0000 #comment-87692 My brother, Walter Illsley, was the Bendix Aviation field technician who mounted their 50 caliber machine guns on the noses of those B-25s. He told us the whole story. I believe they were one plane short caused by some earlier non-combat pilot error. Earlier, while at the Bendix factory in South Bend learning armament, he went up, I believe to Wisconsin, and mounted the first gyro stabilized turrets in some B-25s, possibly Doolittle's planes. After the Pacific he went to North Africa and Italy doing armament on B-25s. He just passed away this last March 24 at 90. Norman Illsley, Ft Collins, CO My brother, Walter Illsley, was the Bendix Aviation field technician who mounted their 50 caliber machine guns on the noses of those B-25s. He told us the whole story. I believe they were one plane short caused by some earlier non-combat pilot error.
Earlier, while at the Bendix factory in South Bend learning armament, he went up, I believe to Wisconsin, and mounted the first gyro stabilized turrets in some B-25s, possibly Doolittle’s planes. After the Pacific he went to North Africa and Italy doing armament on B-25s. He just passed away this last March 24 at 90.
Norman Illsley, Ft Collins, CO

]]> By: John F. Taylor http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bismarck-sea.htm/comment-page-1#comment-54090 John F. Taylor Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:30:25 +0000 #comment-54090 I was on the Battle of the Bismark Sea. Flew an A-20A as the pilot. Sank the Sea Truck Kembu Maru with two 500 pound 5 ssecon delay fused bombs in her stern. K was Wing man with Dixie Dunbar and his bombs skipped over the ship. My airplain was named "Kentucky Red" after my wife, Dottie from Louisville, KY. Our commander was Glen Clark leading a force of 12 A20s. JOHN F. TAYLOR, Colonel, USAF Retired: 9250 Yarrow St., Westminster, CO 80021 I was on the Battle of the Bismark Sea. Flew an A-20A as the pilot. Sank the Sea Truck Kembu Maru with two 500 pound 5 ssecon delay fused bombs in her stern. K was Wing man with Dixie Dunbar and his bombs skipped over the ship. My airplain was named “Kentucky Red” after my wife, Dottie from Louisville, KY. Our commander was Glen Clark leading a force of 12 A20s.

JOHN F. TAYLOR, Colonel, USAF Retired: 9250 Yarrow St., Westminster, CO 80021

]]> By: Kevin Maule http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bismarck-sea.htm/comment-page-1#comment-47814 Kevin Maule Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:08:03 +0000 #comment-47814 Martin Caidin wrote an excellent "historical novel" about the Battle of the Bismarck Sea entitled "Whip". I read it shortly after graduation from college in 1977. In 1998 I re-read it after reading an excellent historical account of the battle entitled "Battle of the Bismarck Sea" by Lex McAulay. Martin Caidin wrote an excellent “historical novel” about the Battle of the Bismarck Sea entitled “Whip”. I read it shortly after graduation from college in 1977. In 1998 I re-read it after reading an excellent historical account of the battle entitled “Battle of the Bismarck Sea” by Lex McAulay.

]]> By: humphrey http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bismarck-sea.htm/comment-page-1#comment-28647 humphrey Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:48:04 +0000 #comment-28647 Loved the book by pappy blount,B25 pilot. With those 50 cal guns firing forward at 1500 yards the ships superstructure would melt. Loved the book by pappy blount,B25 pilot.
With those 50 cal guns firing forward at 1500 yards the ships superstructure would melt.

]]> By: Myron D. Stokes http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bismarck-sea.htm/comment-page-1#comment-24804 Myron D. Stokes Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:13:54 +0000 #comment-24804 As much as this analysis of the Battle of The Bismarck Sea is appreciated, it too often reaches the level of revisionist history as it relates to the actual architect and the structure of this stunning Allied victory. As the well researched and documented book "Pappy Gunn", penned by his son Nathaniel (http://www.historynet.com/pappy-gunn-book-review.htm#comment-4601) notes, this battle was well on its way to being a repeat of the previous attempt by Gen. Kenney to stop a similar base re-supply convoy earlier in the year. The attacks by the B-17s and B-25s bombing from high and medium altitudes were thwarted by weather and inaccuracy, and finally, frustrated with with the lack of results, Ed Larner's strafing and skip bombing B-25s along with A-20s, were ordered into action AND NOT BY GEN. KENNEY. The book reveals details of precisely what happened at a critical and pivotal moment in this operation. Kenney and Gunn, however, were an impressive duo, and both men benefitted from the other's capabilities and courage. The general, to his credit, gave Gunn a free hand to develop the technology and tactics that turned the tide of the Pacific war. As much as this analysis of the Battle of The Bismarck Sea is appreciated, it too often reaches the level of revisionist history as it relates to the actual architect and the structure of this stunning Allied victory.

As the well researched and documented book “Pappy Gunn”, penned by his son Nathaniel (http://www.historynet.com/pappy-gunn-book-review.htm#comment-4601) notes, this battle was well on its way to being a repeat of the previous attempt by Gen. Kenney to stop a similar base re-supply convoy earlier in the year. The attacks by the B-17s and B-25s bombing from high and medium altitudes were thwarted by weather and inaccuracy, and finally, frustrated with with the lack of results, Ed Larner’s strafing and skip bombing B-25s along with A-20s, were ordered into action AND NOT BY GEN. KENNEY. The book reveals details of precisely what happened at a critical and pivotal moment in this operation.

Kenney and Gunn, however, were an impressive duo, and both men benefitted from the other’s capabilities and courage. The general, to his credit, gave Gunn a free hand to develop the technology and tactics that turned the tide of the Pacific war.

]]> By: mwolf http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bismarck-sea.htm/comment-page-1#comment-4180 mwolf Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:13:57 +0000 #comment-4180 does anyone happen to know if there is a picture of the 6816 ton Japanese merchantman Kembu Maru. Does one exist? does anyone happen to know if there is a picture of the 6816 ton Japanese merchantman Kembu Maru. Does one exist?

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