Comments on: Wild Blue Yonder http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:55:55 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John Karr http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm/comment-page-1#comment-148031 John Karr Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:08:09 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681544#comment-148031 Romantic? That's gay. Romantic? That's gay.

]]> By: History Roundup 10-30-2009 « Great History http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm/comment-page-1#comment-141959 History Roundup 10-30-2009 « Great History Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:16:42 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681544#comment-141959 [...] HistoryNet, take off to the Wild Blue Yonder as World War II magazine blogger Robert Citino pays tribute to the airmen of World War II. For more [...] [...] HistoryNet, take off to the Wild Blue Yonder as World War II magazine blogger Robert Citino pays tribute to the airmen of World War II. For more [...]

]]> By: Tommy Ortega http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm/comment-page-1#comment-140129 Tommy Ortega Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:18:43 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681544#comment-140129 Air superiority in WWII was key and was a devastating blow to the US early in the war. 77%? wow, I did not know that. Unwanted at its inception, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 became the most widely produced, the most respected, and the most varied Luftwaffe fighter for the Germans. I had the privilege to actually see a real shot down A/C in person at Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin. Perhaps the most noteworthy of the many versions of the Bf 109 was the Bf 109E, which ruled the skies over Europe until mid-1940 when it first encountered the Supermarine Spitfire. I compared cockpits from both aircraft's and the Bf 109 had a tiny tiny cockpit and very minimal rear visibility, I can't imagine the horror of knowing someone is on your tail. Great post once again Mr Citino Air superiority in WWII was key and was a devastating blow to the US early in the war. 77%? wow, I did not know that. Unwanted at its inception, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 became the most widely produced, the most respected, and the most varied Luftwaffe fighter for the Germans. I had the privilege to actually see a real shot down A/C in person at Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin. Perhaps the most noteworthy of the many versions of the Bf 109 was the Bf 109E, which ruled the skies over Europe until mid-1940 when it first encountered the Supermarine Spitfire. I compared cockpits from both aircraft's and the Bf 109 had a tiny tiny cockpit and very minimal rear visibility, I can't imagine the horror of knowing someone is on your tail.

Great post once again Mr Citino

]]> By: James Holoka http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm/comment-page-1#comment-139119 James Holoka Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:15:18 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681544#comment-139119 Yes, one thinks of John Magee's famous poem "High Flight" (1941). For an example of the (back) down to earth realities, see item 2009.04.01 in the Michigan War Studies Review . Yes, one thinks of John Magee's famous poem "High Flight" (1941). For an example of the (back) down to earth realities, see item 2009.04.01 in the Michigan War Studies Review .

]]> By: Rob Citino http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm/comment-page-1#comment-138999 Rob Citino Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:50:31 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681544#comment-138999 B. Horne: Good point. Technological superiority has made our airmen nearly invulnerable in recent decades. But check out the Vietnam casualties: a HEAVY price paid. Alice: Beautifully said. Wish I'd written it. --Rob C. B. Horne: Good point. Technological superiority has made our airmen nearly invulnerable in recent decades. But check out the Vietnam casualties: a HEAVY price paid.

Alice: Beautifully said. Wish I'd written it.

–Rob C.

]]> By: Alice http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm/comment-page-1#comment-138484 Alice Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:47:02 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681544#comment-138484 Dr. Citino’s portrayal of the public’s perception of the “flyboy” is spot on. With songs like Sinatra’s “ Come fly with me” or Heinz Cereal’s “Famous Aviators” of the 1930’s card series, to movies such as “Top Gun”, all are part of our collective memory, conjuring up images of the dashing Romeo of the skies. If I am correct in my reading, Dr. Citino is pointing out that this glossy, distorted snapshot of reality- does a disservice to the brave airmen that fought, especially those that gave their all. By viewing the pilots through rose colored lens and forcing them into an iconic role we cease to view their reality; including the stress and strain of the issues Citino mentions. Could some of the problems have been prevented--like all situations: of course. Nevertheless, lessons tend to come at a high price: in war often the highest price. When you are in the middle of a battle it is difficult to know exactly what is needed at the time—only hindsight seems to provide this clarity. God willing, we learn from the mistakes. It is unjust to view any person, regardless of the branch they serve with as gods or impervious: they are individuals doing the very best they can with what they are given. We in turn owe them our very best efforts to provide the safest and most trustworthy equipment and intelligence. From an historical perspective, it appears much of the mistakes were honest and unintentional due to the new battle environment and the pressures to get and keep the planes flying. Dr. Citino’s portrayal of the public’s perception of the “flyboy” is spot on. With songs like Sinatra’s “ Come fly with me” or Heinz Cereal’s “Famous Aviators” of the 1930’s card series, to movies such as “Top Gun”, all are part of our collective memory, conjuring up images of the dashing Romeo of the skies. If I am correct in my reading, Dr. Citino is pointing out that this glossy, distorted snapshot of reality- does a disservice to the brave airmen that fought, especially those that gave their all. By viewing the pilots through rose colored lens and forcing them into an iconic role we cease to view their reality; including the stress and strain of the issues Citino mentions.
Could some of the problems have been prevented–like all situations: of course. Nevertheless, lessons tend to come at a high price: in war often the highest price.
When you are in the middle of a battle it is difficult to know exactly what is needed at the time—only hindsight seems to provide this clarity. God willing, we learn from the mistakes. It is unjust to view any person, regardless of the branch they serve with as gods or impervious: they are individuals doing the very best they can with what they are given. We in turn owe them our very best efforts to provide the safest and most trustworthy equipment and intelligence. From an historical perspective, it appears much of the mistakes were honest and unintentional due to the new battle environment and the pressures to get and keep the planes flying.

]]> By: B. Horne http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm/comment-page-1#comment-138327 B. Horne Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:33:59 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681544#comment-138327 It makes me wonder about our modern Air Force compared with other services today--still the glory and excitement of flying, but the airmen casualty rate has to be a fraction of a percent. It makes me wonder about our modern Air Force compared with other services today–still the glory and excitement of flying, but the airmen casualty rate has to be a fraction of a percent.

]]> By: JWD http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm/comment-page-1#comment-138263 JWD Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:09:03 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681544#comment-138263 I respect all the airmen very, very much. They will always be in my heart. I respect all the airmen very, very much. They will always be in my heart.

]]> By: Tukhachevsky http://www.historynet.com/wild-blue-yonder.htm/comment-page-1#comment-137974 Tukhachevsky Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:19:53 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681544#comment-137974 Wow, I knew the bomber casualties were bad but not that bad! The comparison with the USMC really brings it into focus. Wow, I knew the bomber casualties were bad but not that bad! The comparison with the USMC really brings it into focus.

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