Subdeacon Joe

That looks like the critter. Thanks, Bob. I tried five or six versions of Navy, dive bomber, training, with various other words and couldn't find it.

Some random WWII training films. In the first one, what the heck is that plane used for the training? I can't find anything online.

I vaguely recall reading something about these a few decades ago. This, I think, is the first film about them I've seen.

The problem is getting the vehicle and track aligned.

Yep. I'm the same way. The Great War ended "only" a little over 100 years ago. The War of 1861 started not quite 160 years ago. The last veteran of that war had passed before I was born. BUT, the last surviving dependent of a vet of that war, still drawing something like 73 bucks a month as a pension. just passed in June of this year. I've related this before, but when I was knee high to whatever I was knee high to I Met a Spanish American War vet at my dad's VFW post (and a whole raft of Doughboys who had been Over There). He had likely known Civil War vets, heck, he might have been the son of one. They likely knew people who participated in the First War of Secession. So, me to Mr. Miller, to the vets he likely knew, to the vets they likely knew. That's four handshakes, four lifetimes, to span the history of our republic. Not long at all.

Guy has the right idea of how to deal with 'em!

Moscow Burro.

It depends on the program. None cover all the added expenses, some don't cover any.

Pluto seems to be between Jupiter and Saturn in the sky. I'm making the assumption that you have a smart phone. If so, you should find a sky map app that you like. Useful and fun.

I'm watching on Amazon Prime "The Women Of World War II." It's made up of films by the Signal Corps, Navy, etc al. In a segment about the jobs that women could be doing the job of "Pigeoneer" was mentioned. Pigeoneer. https://images.app.goo.gl/1g2eMu3WXe2W4B7Z7 http://www.pigeonsincombat.com/thepigeoneerswebpage.html

Cone doesn't fall far from the pine, does it?

I want to see your saddle scabbard for that!

Carr, Paul Henry, GM3c Service Photo Service Details Last Rank Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Last Primary NEC GM-0000-Gunner's Mate Last Rating/NEC Group Gunner's Mate Primary Unit 1944-1944, GM-0000, USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) Service Years 1943 - 1944 The Roberts' skipper, Lt. Commander Copeland, later wrote in his report: On Board the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) No. 2 gun, which had fired about 300 shells during the past hour, continued to bark defiance as its crew, Gun Capt, commanded by Gunner's Mate Paul Henry Carr, loaded and fired six more rounds by hand - ignoring the hazards presented by the failure of the gun's gas ejection system. Indeed, while they attempted to fire a seventh shell, an internal explosion killed all but three of the crew outright. Lt. W. S. Burton described what followed: "The first man to enter the mount after the explosion found the gun captain, Carr, on the deck of the mount holding in his hands the last projectile available to his gun. He was extremely injured. Nevertheless, he held in his hand the 54-pound projectile, held it up above his head and begged the petty officer who had entered the mount to help him get that last round out" The Petty Officer, who entered the mount, took the projectile from Carr and removed one of the other men, who was wounded and unconscious, to the main deck in order to give him first aid. When he returned to the mount, there was Gunner's Mate Carr again with the projectile in his hand, still attempting, though terribly wounded, to place the projectile on the loading tray. Dragged from the gun mount, Carr died minutes later, as did another of his wounded crewmen. Only one of the gun crew, Samuel Blue, survived. "To witness the conduct of the average enlisted man aboard this vessel, newly inducted, unaccustomed to Navy ways and with an average of less than one year's service, would make any man proud to be an average American. The crew were informed over the loudspeaker system at the beginning of the action of the Commanding Officer's estimate of the situation, that is, a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival could not be expected, during which time we would do what damage we could. In the face of this knowledge the men zealously manned their stations wherever they might be, and fought and worked with such calmness, courage, and efficiency that no higher honor could be conceived than to command such a group of men." Comments/Citation Name of Award Silver Star Year Awarded 1944 Details behind Award: Awarded for actions during the World War II The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Gunner's Mate Third Class Paul Henry Carr (NSN: 8497679), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Gun Captain of a 5"/38 Mount on the U.S.S. SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE-413), in action against enemy Japanese forces off Samar Island during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 25 October 1944. With the power of the rammer lost and mechanical failures in the ammunition hoist, Gunner's Mate Third Class Carr manned his station steadfastly in the face of continuous close-range fire of enemy guns during an attack by a numerically superior Japanese surface force on the SAMUEL B. ROBERTS. By his outstanding technical skill and courageous initiative, Gunner's Mate Third Class Carr was instrumental in causing rapid and heavy fire from the gun to inflict damage upon an enemy heavy cruiser. Although mortally wounded by the premature detonation of a powder charge, fired by hand, Gunner's Mate Third Class Carr tried unassisted to load and ram the only projectile available to that mount after order to abandon ship had been given. His aggressive determination of duty reflected the highest credit upon Gunner's Mate Third Class Carr and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. Action Date: October 25, 1944Service: NavyShip: U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) https://www.okhistory.org/historycenter/militaryhof/inductee.php?id=333 Paul Henry Carr Gunners Mate 3rd Class Paul Henry Carr, US Navy, was born 13 February 1924 in Checotah, Oklahoma. He was a brother to eight sisters, an athlete, and graduated from Checotah High School in 1942. Paul enlisted in the US Navy in May 1943 and went to boot camp and Advanced Gunnery School Training in San Diego. He reported to the escort destroyer USS Samuel B Roberts. The ship’s Executive Officer later wrote: “Paul’s leadership and sterling qualities…won for him the battle station of gun captain of one of the ship’s five inch guns. His gun and gun crew were the pride of the ship.” At 0645 on 25 October 1944, a powerful Japanese naval force took aim at the Leyte Gulf landing beaches. The surprised, outgunned, and outnumbered American escort carrier group known as Taffy 3 attacked the Japanese in the largest naval battle in history. At 0740, the Roberts’ commander addressed his crew: “This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can.” At 0800, the Roberts launched its torpedoes against the cruiser Chokai crippling the ship. After 0810, the Roberts, returning to protect the escort carriers, ordered the two 5-inch guns into action against the cruiser Chikuma. During the next 35 minutes, Carr and his aft gun crew fired almost all of their 325 rounds, devastating the Chikuma bridge and superstructure. At 0851, enemy shells disabled one of the Roberts’ boilers. The power loss to Carr’s gun forced the crew into manually firing until a breech explosion destroyed the mount. Within moments rescuers found Carr mortally wounded, yet trying to load the last round. Even when he was laid down beside his gun he tried a second time before he succumbed from his wounds. At 0900 the Roberts was again struck. At 0910 came the order to abandon ship. Gunners Mate 3rd Class Carr was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal. The citation reads in part: “…for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Gun Captain on the USS Samuel B Roberts. He gallantly gave his life for his country.” He was also awarded the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation (Taffy 3) and the Award of the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge. The Roberts’ commander, LCDR Robert W. Copeland, wrote to Paul’s wife, Goldie Lee, five months later and said that Paul Carr “…was one of our most outstanding men…His gun was the pride of the ship’s ordnance department, due not alone to his tireless energy…but due to his inspiring leadership, which shown forth like a beacon during the battle of October 25th. Gun “2” was always the outstanding gun, that day it was superb…from anyway we looked at it Paul was the outstanding example of American inspiration [and] courage on board the Samuel B Roberts that day, a courage and devotion to duty which was with him until his last breath.” The guided missile frigate, USS Carr (FFG-52), was named in his honor on 27 July 1985.

Well said, sir. That was pretty much the reasoning given in the NRA instructors class I mentioned above. Although the guy teaching the class never corrected the Gunny that was taking the course when he called all the firearms "weapons." "So my cowboy irons are all guns. " Parrott? Ordnance Rifle? James Rifle? Whitworth?

Way back when, when I went through the NRA Pistol Instructiors class, we were told to avoid calling firearms "weapons " because of the scary, negative connotations connected with the word. That aside, a weapon is anything from a stick to a nuclear weapon.

Was it at St. Nicholas in San Anselmo?

Why bother? Just use it.

Yeah, I know the feeling. With my hearing being so bad I think that even if they were singing in English I wouldn't understand them. Might be why I like so much instrumental music and songs in foreign languages.

Little Joke Recently, a Marine Corps Harrier Squadron was invited to attend the annual Air Force Red Flag exercised at Nellis Air Force Base, NV. This is one of the USAF's big exercises where they test Combined Arms employment of tactical air assets. The USAF F-15 pilots showed up on the ramp with dozens of rear echelon airman types and tons of equipment such as Ground Power Units, Accessory Power Units, Hummers, Trucks, Air Conditioners, etc. The Marines appeared ready to operate in a combat environment and showed up with only their Harriers. The Air Force commander commented to the Marine commander: "Where is all your support stuff? Geezz, you guys really are just Grunts that know how to fly." Not wanting to disappoint the Air Force commander, the Marine commander got an idea of his own to carry on the comment. He talked to his First Sergeant and later that night, the First Sergeant had his Marines make up bayonet studs on hose clamps. You see, there is a Pitot tube sticking out of the nose of a Harrier. In the late hours of darkness, the First Sergeant had the clamp with the bayonet stud tightened onto the Pitot tubes of each Harrier. The next morning, the Air Force pilots fell out on the ramp in front of their F-15s. The Marine pilots fell out on the other side of the ramp in front of their Harriers. Each Marine pilot had on his deuce gear with a bayonet in the scabbard. The USAF commander ordered his pilots to "man your planes." The USAF ground crews by the dozens scrambled to their trucks, APU's, GPU's, etc. and the pilots ran to their planes. The Marine commander ordered his Marines to "Fix Bayonets." Each pilot ran to the front of their Harrier and fixed his bayonet on the stud attached to the Pitot tube. The Marine commander then ordered "CHARGE" and the Marines jumped in their Harriers, dusted airborne, and flew off. The Marine commander turned to the USAF commander and said; "Now that is what we Marines consider Close Ground Support."