@tamino78
Aussie ex-pat in France. Retired scientist, bibliophile, amateur historian. Focus on RAAF aircrew in NW Europe. Substack: https://tamino1959.substack.com Pics & info believed open source - please advise if not. Avatar: W/O Don Kairton 1921-1944.
A Japanese aviation chart showing the progression of world aircraft speed records from the early 20th century to about 1940, showing two trajectories -- land based aircraft & seaplanes
Spanish PM Sánchez responds to Trump:
"Spain is against this disaster... Govts are here to improve people's lives... It is absolutely unacceptable that those leaders who are unable to fulfill that mission use the smoke of war to hide their failure, and in the process, fill the pockets of a few."
’Tis the time’s plague, when madmen lead the blind.
Some light reading at #IWM today
💯
The Imitation Game
- don't get me started
The date of the paper is interesting. I had the impression that by winter 43/44 the dangers of overuse of H2S were well understood. It looks like any use of H2S significantly decreased survivability
Very likely it was mainly due to German nightfighters equipped to detect H2S signals? crews were soon advised strongly to be sparing in use of H2S for this reason. This was exacerbated by an "urban myth" among aircrew that using H2S disrupted radar controlled searchlights, which wpuldnt have helped
Historical accuracy of the cover is dubious 😆
(Not the best of quality, sorry.) A swarm of Mosquitos, returning to base. #WW2 #HISTORY
The Airing of Grievances occurring unusually early this year
Interwar British defence spending/what rearmament actually looks like.
(Table from Peden’s Arms, Economics & British Strategy).
I know you should be careful what you wish for but I truly hope this is true.
#SWW #WW2 #Histbookchat Finishing my Christmas/New Years reading. The first didnt meet expectations while the second far exceeded them. Left me wondering where we might be today if a "Dowding" figure had been in charge of Bomber Command in 1936 instead of the very much junior Fighter Command
L'histoire boucle la boucle ?
"The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions." | Robert Wilson Lynd
ANZAC Bridge, Pyrmont? Seems appropriate !
Tintin et Milou marchant dans la neige la nuit vers un village et une église avec marqué "Bientôt Noël !"
Bonjourrrr
(J-5)
This event and its geopolitical implications was also well covered in some depth by Rob Lyman in his book from 2006. Would be curious to know if the recent book provides any significant new insights
#SWW #LWF #RAAF The sixth post in my Substack series following the operational tour of F/Lt Robin Anderson DFC and his crew flying with 106 Sqn over the winter of 1943 during the "Battle of Berlin" is now live. tamino1959.substack.com/p/berlin-to-...
Donald Trump marks the murder of Rob Reiner & his wife, Michele, by insulting him in the vilest fashion & claiming that he was killed for criticising Trump.
I’m not often lost for words but…
To be fair Japan did deliver planes to Northern Australia at no charge not long thereafter. Just not quite in the manner envisioned by Aust. Government
Can confirm his referenced primary source is available at naa.gov.au - see item 50 in screenshot below
It is mentioned in passing in David Day's "The Great Betrayal" (Chpt 5). He states it was discussed at the level of the Aust Govt Advisory War Council and feelers were sent to relevant contacts in Tokyo.
An 82-year mystery ends with missing RAAF fighters found in PNG plane wreckage (via ABC News)...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
#WWII #WW2 #SWW #PNG #PapuaNewGuinea
Australia considered the option of ordering Zeroes from Japan in early 1941 when it was clear they would not obtain modern fighters from UK or US anytime soon
Mème avec le drapeau américain. Dessus est écrit: "comment préparer un voyage aux USA" "Réponse 1: "N'y allez pas"
W/Cdr Guy Gibson VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar Commander of 106 Sqn prior to the Dambusters Raid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gibson
Legendary American radio journalist Edward R. Murrow, who flew on a raid on Berlin with 106 Sqn in January 1943 in a Lancaster piloted by Guy Gibson
Currently posting a series following chronologically the individual sorties of the operational tour of F/Lt Robin Anderson DFC with 106 Sqn over the winter of 1943/44. Guest appearances include Guy Gibson, Leonard Cheshire, Edward R. Murrow and the VC-exploit of F/Lt Bill Reid of 61 Sqn. 2/2
In case anyone is wondering, my primary "original" content now appears on Substack. The frustration of having no editing or save draft became too much. Hope you will check in (no charge) if my stuff is of interest at tamino1959.substack.com. I will continue to post here on related ephemera. 1/2
Text of the DFC citation for F/O Hoboken, as published when the award was gazetted on 19th November 1943. His rear gunner that night, Sgt George Lucas, was awarded the DFM the same night. Hoboken was able to crash land his damaged plane on the grass airfield of RAF Colbey Grange despite both the port wing and tail tyres being punctured and the starboard fin and rudder shot away. Text of citation obtained from https://aircrewremembered.com/1943-11-26-loss-of-jacques-hoboken.html
He had been awarded an immediate DFC for skill and courage after a raid on Kassel on 22/23 October. His plane was badly damaged and five of his crew wounded after an attack by a nightfighter. Evading the fighter he had nursed the stricken plane back to crash land at a fighter base in England. 🧵 3/3
