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[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

He is and to some extent it is the people behind him and the influence they have on each other - but they must also know that pushing too far will mean the end of the regime and by extension their nice lives.

[Tionne]

I read this yesterday, and was struck by this man's will to overcome. Most people can't do this with two legs. Kudos to Sgt. 1st Class Greg Robinson!!
http://www.army.mil/article/102264/_S...

[Tionne]

I suppose I should have said what it was about. Sgt. Robinson just graduated Air Assault School in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, after having his right leg amputated six years ago. This man has a fantastic drive. Congrats to him!

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Tionne a fantastic story.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great story Tionne, thanks for posting the details.

[happy]

Congratulations to SGT Robinson

Ah - the memories - Ft Campbell is where I went to Air Assault school :)

[Colin]

Same here

[Chin Joo]

How's the book trade in your country?

Bookstores in Singapore have been going through a rough couple of years and quite a few have gone out of business. The highest profile ones were the two Borders, and Page One. While many people are lamenting the fact that this is probably the way it would be with the advent of ebooks, I don't get the same impression about Hong Kong and Taiwan (culturally close to Singapore, but obviously they are a more learned society).

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Chin Joo,

The Same in Australia, a few large book shop chains have closed up including Borders but we still have a few good shops left. A lot of the second hand book shops have been saying that the last year or two has been hard but that's not due to ebooks, just the state of the economy. Fingers crossed things get better :)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Hi Chin Joo, In Britain we are seeing bookshops close especially the small independents; although many continue to trade via the internet.

We have only one large national bookshop (Waterstones) with some larger traders (such as Foyles established in 1903 and Blackwells established 1879) still having a number of branches around the UK. WH Smiths also trade nationally and at railway stations and airports but sell many other lines aside from books.

[Charles]

Borders pulled back internationally at the same time in the UK, Australia, etc. They'd overstretched and were beginning to feel the pinch well before the others - probably because of their choice for large stores with high rental costs (and then not making the margin).

In the UK, having worked very briefly in a Waterstone's, I think the recommended retail price (RRP) is what's killing a number of stores. People go in, browse, and then realise they can get the book for half the price on Amazon if they're willing to wait a few days. Waterstone's has been trying this for a while - get the book (cheaper) off their website with free deliver to a branch. Book costs less than in store, but you're really just doing the branch out of a sale - what the higher-ups are looking for when appraising store performance.

Interestingly though James (?) Daunt, head of a successful, small, very boutique book chain was made head of Waterstone's a few years ago to try and reverse their fortunes. Seems to have had some success too.

[Chin Joo]

Hi Guys,

Charles wrote: "Borders pulled back internationally at the same time in the UK, Australia, etc...."

The Borders chain in Singapore was owned by an Australian company so originally we thought it might dodge the bullet. It was not to be. When I was in the store in early 2011, the writing was on the wall, the shelves were not fully stocked, more areas were converted to non-book merchandise.

Waterstone's, I have good memories of the one in Middlesbrough where I stayed for a while. Waterstone's struck me as being better than WH Smith which carries too many novels.

In Singapore now there are a few niche bookstores that have sprung up, while not many sell the type of books that I read, I still hope they will be able to survive.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I have found a lot of the specialist military book shops have closed in Australia as most of those titles can be sourced from overseas from Internet book shops that offer greatly reduced prices and no postage charges to Australia! It's hard to beat prices at places like these:

www.bookdepository.com

[Charles]

Even Amazon felt the threat from Book Depository and acquired them a few years ago

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I hadn't realised that Charles.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I'm reading this at present

by Dominic Sandbrook

and I loved this piece of humour in high politics, where in 1960 as the Cold War cast its shadow across the world Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was at the United Nations and Krushchev accused him/Britain of being imperialist and Macmillan gestured around the hall saying
"Gentlemen, where are the representatives of these former British territories? Here they are, sitting in this Hall. Apart from the older independent countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa - here are the representatives of India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Ghana, Malaya. Here, here in this hall. In a few days' time, Nigeria will join us...Who dares to say that this is anything but a story of steady and liberal progress?"

At this point, an irate Krushchev removed his shoe and began banging it on the table in an attempt to interrupt. Macmillan stopped, glanced up from his text and said coolly: "Mr President, perhaps we could have a translation, I could not quite follow."

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

That's a very funny story Geevee :)

[Cate's Book Nut Hut]

Hi all,

I was watching Twelve O'Clock High last night, and it made me wonder; If you had to choose would you be the front, tail or belly gunner on a B-17?

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I'd prefer the upper turret actually :)

[Gerald]

Cate wrote: "Hi all,

I was watching Twelve O'Clock High last night, and it made me wonder; If you had to choose would you be the front, tail or belly gunner on a B-17?"

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'd prefer the upper turret actually :)"

I would go for the ball turret. Statistically, it was the safest position on the aircraft.

[Cate's Book Nut Hut]

Gerald wrote: "Cate wrote: "Hi all,

I was watching Twelve O'Clock High last night, and it made me wonder; If you had to choose would you be the front, tail or belly gunner on a B-17?"

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'd..."
Gerald, that does surprise me... personally I think I'd plump for being one the bicycle riding maniacs on the airfield when they came home.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

The ball turret position put me off after reading about a B-17 that had to do a belly landing with the gunner trapped in his ball turret still.

[Gerald]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "The ball turret position put me off after reading about a B-17 that had to do a belly landing with the gunner trapped in his ball turret still."

Rick, I read that story and decided that I would play the percentages. When your number comes up in a ball turret, though, it could do so in a gruesome way.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Very true - and since I'm a bit of a short-arse I would have been bound to have been shoved into the ball turret anyhow :(

[happy]

I guess I would go with top turret - there is no way I could fit in a ball turret - even at my skinniest :)

[Chin Joo]

I always get the impression that the tail gunner always gets to see the enemy fighter creeping up on the plane first. I don't think I'm up to it. The top turret gunner has a bit more time to react after the tail gunner has shouted.

[happy]

THe bombing episode of World at War was on Military Channel this past weekend. They were interviewing a German fighter pilot ( don't remember his name, but he was one of the major surviving aces) - He came up behind a B-17 and said he got close enough to see that the tail gunner was a scared as he was. He also said that he told his new pilot, just close your eyes when getting close (that way they wouldn't be as frightened)

[Cate's Book Nut Hut]

happy wrote: "THe bombing episode of World at War was on Military Channel this past weekend. They were interviewing a German fighter pilot ( don't remember his name, but he was one of the major surviving aces) ..."

I thoroughly enjoy that series World at War. Seeing the episode you spoke of some time ago, gave me a new understanding and respect for the bomber crews.

[A.L.]

I might have to say tail gunner, because I don't think my knees would be happy in a ball turret, and I don't know enough about mechanics to be the flight engineer/top turret gunner.

I think I'd be happiest with Cate, on the ground, handing out doughnuts to returning fliers.

Of course, I'd rather be on a B-17 than in a Red Army penal battalion, which is where we decided I'd end up during the buddy read.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I'm not sure about position but I wondered if people would have a preference to the 4-engined bomber they would have to operate in: B-17, Lancaster, B-24, Stirling, Halifax?

Personally I'd plump for the Lancaster but I also know I have the luxury to write this and choose and the guys of the RAF, RCAF, RAAF, RNZAF, RSAAF, USAAF, Poles, Czech and many others had no choice and how they did 1 mission let alone in the fortunate cases completing one or 2 tours is beyond me - quiet courage of the highest order by very young lads despite them being scared even terrified in many, many cases.

[Cate's Book Nut Hut]

If I'd been given the choice what I flew, I think I would've bypassed bombers totally, and opted for a Spitfire

[Gerald]

Cate wrote: "If I'd been given the choice what I flew, I think I would've bypassed bombers totally, and opted for a Spitfire"

So would I. Give me a Spitfire, a Mustang, a Lightning, a Thunderbolt, a Corsair, or a Hellcat any day.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Cate I agree: Spitfire, Mustang or Mosquito for me :)

[Cate's Book Nut Hut]

Purely a spitfire girl here. Raw power, speed and amazingly good lines.

[Gerald]

Geevee wrote: "I'm not sure about position but I wondered if people would have a preference to the 4-engined bomber they would have to operate in: B-17, Lancaster, B-24, Stirling, Halifax?

Personally I'd plump f..."

I would go with a B-17. Its survivability was amazing.

[Gerald]

Geevee wrote: "Cate I agree: Spitfire, Mustang or Mosquito for me :)"

Throw in the Mossie for me as well.

[Cate's Book Nut Hut]

We looked at favorites in air warfare, what would you choose on the ground?

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

A commander or gunner in a German Tiger I tank :)

[Gerald]

Cate wrote: "We looked at favorites in air warfare, what would you choose on the ground?"

A Firefly.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Well it's rather mad and not given to survival especially in WWII but as a former armoured cavalry soldier I'd choose the British Comet - finally in the war a British tank that had manoeuvrability, firepower and protection; or failing that the King Tiger.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "A commander or gunner in a German Tiger I tank :) "

I knew that'd be your answer ;) Not a mortar man after your own experience ??

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Well ..... I think I might have more fun in a Tiger tank :)

[Cate's Book Nut Hut]

I'm a little torn over this one. I like the Comet for all the reasons Geevee stated plus (and not being biased because I'm English)I feel it gave Britain a foothold in tank warfare.
The Tiger, while being a good piece of machinery, was over engineered I feel and, as well as suffering from all types of track failures it was definitely limited in its range by its huge fuel consumption.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Can't argue with your well reasoned and considered view Cate - the King Tiger is one of personal wish to see what the beast performed like.

[Tionne]

My feet! I'm not keen on burning to death inside a tank. But if I had to pick one, I guess I'd go with a Sherman.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Not sure I'm keen to jump into a 'Tommy-cooker' or 'Ronson-lighter' there Tionne :)

[Cate's Book Nut Hut]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Not sure I'm keen to jump into a 'Tommy-cooker' or 'Ronson-lighter' there Tionne :)"

have to agree with you there, not my idea of fun :)

[Colin]

Chin Joo wrote: "I always get the impression that the tail gunner always gets to see the enemy fighter creeping up on the plane first. I don't think I'm up to it. The top turret gunner has a bit more time to react ..."

German aces Egon Mayer, Josef Priller, Anton Hackl, Walther Dahl and Georg-Peter Eder (among others) found great success in developing the head on attack against bombers. The front was the worst place to be in combat. That was where the defense was weakest until the addition of chin turrets on B-17Gs and B-24Js, but the Luftwaffe pilots adapted, using a higher angle frontal approach, rolling over into the attack, then pulling out, thereby negating the elevation factor of the twin fifites in the front. Only the top turrett gunner had a good view.

[Colin]

Geevee wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "A commander or gunner in a German Tiger I tank :) "

I knew that'd be your answer ;) Not a mortar man after your own experience ??"

Gunner was better protected with almost 5 inches of armor plate in front of him.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Yep, a good solid bit of steel plate in front of me rather than my khaki shirt!