"Transformers/G.I. Joe"

"Its World War 2 and a threat worse then the Nazis is obliterating everything it can lay its hands on in Europe.  The United States brings together a group of the toughest soldiers it can find for an infiltration mission but will it be enough?"  This mini series is pretty interesting with the mashing up of GI Joe, Transformers and WWII all into one!  It really is a Weird WWII tour de force so give it a read here!

Crazy ass cross-over but fun all the same,

Brian & Mel

Medal of Honor Monday: Lloyd H. Hughes

Lloyd Herbert Hughes

 

"For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.  On August 1943, 2d Lt. Hughes served in the capacity of pilot of a heavy bombardment aircraft participating in a long and hazardous minimum-altitude attack against the Axis oil refineries of Ploesti, Rumania, launched from the northern shores of Africa.  Flying in the last formation to attack the target, he arrived in the target area after previous flights had thoroughly alerted the enemy defenses.  Approaching the target through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire and dense balloon barrages at dangerously low altitude, his plane received several direct hits from both large and small caliber antiaircraft guns which seriously damaged his aircraft, causing sheets of escaping gasoline to stream from the bomb bay and from the left wing.  This damage was inflicted at a time prior to reaching the target when 2d Lt. Hughes could have made a forced landing in any of the grain fields readily available at that time.  The target area was blazing with burning oil tanks and damaged refinery installations from which flames leaped high above the bombing level of the formation.  With full knowledge of the consequences of entering this blazing inferno when his airplane was profusely leaking gasoline in two separate locations, 2d Lt. Hughes, motivated only by his high conception of duty which called for the destruction of his assigned target at any cost, did not elect to make a forced landing or turn back from the attack.  Instead, rather than jeopardize the formation and the success of the attack, he unhesitatingly entered the blazing area and dropped his bomb load with great precision. After successfully bombing the objective, his aircraft emerged from the conflagration with the left wing aflame.  Only then did he attempt a forced landing, but because of the advanced stage of the fire enveloping his aircraft the plane crashed and was consumed.  By 2d Lt. Hughes' heroic decision to complete his mission regardless of the consequences in utter disregard of his own life, and by his gallant and valorous execution of this decision, he has rendered a service to our country in the defeat of our enemies which will everlastingly be outstanding in the annals of our Nation's history."

From 2nd Lt. Hughes Medal of Honor citation, awarded on April 18, 1944.

 

May you be at peace,

Brian & Mel

"Cross of Iron"

Sgt. Steiner and his platoon fight for their lives on the Eastern Front in Sam Peckinpah's war epic!  This is a fantastic flick and is one of the best WWII flicks ever.  If you haven't seen it, I can't recommend it enough so check out the trailer below and see what you are in store with, Cross of Iron!

A truly epic flick!

Brian & Mel

"Secret Weapon 69: Dick Grip"

 

More weird war drivel to rot your mind with!

Enjoy,

Brian & Mel

Enemy Elite Friday: Erich A. Hartmann (Germany)

Erich Alfred "The Black Devil" or "The Kid" Hartmann

 

"Awarded after 148 aerial victories."  from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on 29 October 1943.

 

"Awarded after 200 aerial victories."  from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves citation, awarded on 2 March 1944.

 

"Awarded after 239 aerial victories."  from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords citation, awarded on 2 July 1944.

 

"Awarded after 301 aerial victories."  from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds citation, awarded on 25 August 1944.

 

A truly deadly and skilled enemy elite,

Brian & Mel

 

Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe

"Operation: Arm's Reach"

Enjoy,

Brian & Mel

Honored Allies Wednesday: Ram S. Singh (India)

Ram Sarup Singh

 

"In Burma on the 25th October, 1944, two platoons of the 1st Punjab Regiment were ordered to put in a diversionary attack on the flank of an enemy position.  This feature was of exceptional natural strength and was defended by a large force of fresh Japanese troops who had turned the hill into a fortress.  Every approach was covered by medium and light machine guns sited in bunkers.  The platoon of Subadar Ram Sarup Singh at once charged the position with another section.  This instantaneous action completely bewildered the enemy, who fled from the bunkered positions suffering casualties in their retreat.  The Subadar was wounded in the legs but took no notice of his wounds.  While he was consolidating his position, the enemy opened heavy fire with grenade dischargers, and at the same time put in a strong counter-attack in three waves of twenty each from a flank.  It seemed that the platoon must be overwhelmed, but Subadar Ram Sarup Singh got another light machine gun into position and led a charge against the advancing enemy, bayoneting four himself, and checking them.  Although badly wounded in the thigh, he got up and, ignoring his wound, again went for the enemy shouting encouragement to his men.  He bayoneted another Japanese and shot a further one, but was mortally wounded by a burst of medium machine gun fire in the chest and neck.  It would be difficult to find a finer example of cool bravery, cheerfulness, leadership and determination.  His action had a profound effect on the rest of the Company, and when volunteers were called for to bring in his body, under the heaviest fire, the entire Company volunteered.  Subadar Ram Sarup Singh's gallantry will inspire the Regiment for all time."

From Subadar Singh's Victoria Cross citation, awarded on 8 February 1945.

 

May you be at peace,

Brian & Mel

"Days of Glory" aka "Indigènes"

This flick follows a unit of French colonial troops as they are recruited by the Allies to fight against the Germans.  It's a fantastic flick of a type of soldier that is often overlooked in the WWII war movie genera and a great insight of their lives and stories.  In fact, due to this flick it opened up the years long disgrace of how these soldiers were denied and caused the French government to give them the honors they deserved.  Watch it below and see what you think but it is in French.

A great movie,

Brian & Mel

Medal of Honor Monday: James H. Howard

James Howell Howard

 

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Oschersleben, Germany, on 11 January 1944.  On that day Col. Howard was the leader of a group of P-51 aircraft providing support for a heavy bomber formation on a long-range mission deep in enemy territory.  As Col. Howard's group met the bombers in the target area the bomber force was attacked by numerous enemy fighters.  Col. Howard, with his group, at once engaged the enemy and himself destroyed a German ME. 110.  As a result of this attack Col. Howard lost contact with his group, and at once returned to the level of the bomber formation.  He then saw that the bombers were being heavily attacked by enemy airplanes and that no other friendly fighters were at hand.  While Col. Howard could have waited to attempt to assemble his group before engaging the enemy, he chose instead to attack single-handed a formation of more than 30 German airplanes.  With utter disregard for his own safety he immediately pressed home determined attacks for some 30 minutes, during which time he destroyed 3 enemy airplanes and probably destroyed and damaged others.  Toward the end of this engagement 3 of his guns went out of action and his fuel supply was becoming dangerously low. Despite these handicaps and the almost insuperable odds against him, Col. Howard continued his aggressive action in an attempt to protect the bombers from the numerous fighters.  His skill, courage, and intrepidity on this occasion set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces." 

From Col. Howard's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on 5 June 1944.

 

May you be at peace,

Brian & Mel 

His autobiography.

Exhibit honoring General Howard in the terminal building of the county's St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.

Achtung! Cthulhu Introductory Mission 1 - "Operation: Turkey Shoot"

Enjoy the weirdness!!

Brian & Mel

Me on "Paint All The Minis"

Thanks for the time, Dan.

Brian

Enemy Elite Friday: Günther-Eberhardt Wisliceny (Germany)

Günther-Eberhardt Wisliceny

 

 "In the attack on 5.7.1943, the III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. "Deutschland" under the leadership of SS-Sturmbannführer Wisliceny, was ordered to take the combat outposts around the village of Jachontoff and to ready themselves there for further attacks.  In a resolute storming attack, SS-Sturmbannführer Wisliceny and his grenadiers destroyed the combat outposts, took possession of them and stood ready for their next attack.  After this Sturmgeschütze advanced together with the III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. "Deutschland" under the cover of a Stuka attack and their own artillery fire.  They achieved a deep penetration into the fortified anti-tank ditch and snatched these strong positions from the enemy.
During the night, heavy rain descended on them and this delayed the attack with the Sturmgeschütze by 2 hours.  The Stuka attack and artillery fire could not be fully exploited in this situation, therefore they needed an immediate attack by the Sturmgeschütze which would start after the last shell had been fired. But strong enemy artillery fire began to hit the German positions.  Recognizing this danger, one that threatened the entire assault, Wisliceny took the bold decision to attack the enemy positions and break into them in spite of the enemy artillery and infantry fire.  In doing so he was severely hindered by a knee injury, but he stayed at the lead of his grenadiers and fought through with strong momentum, into position after position within the anti-tank ditch.  With the occupation of the ditch SS-Sturmbannführer Wisliceny created with his advance and largest portion of the German break-in, which was the prerequisite for the further advance of the SS-Pz. Gren.Div. "Das Reich".  He himself stormed from there in the afternoon and reached the next objective, despite the unfavorably wet conditions and against the hardest enemy resistance.  The significance of the attack undertaken by SS-Sturmbannfiihrer Wisliceny was that because of it the further attack by the bulk of the II. SS-Panzer-Korps could begin. The advances in this sector made possible the splintering of the strong enemy resistance.  SS-Sturmbannführer Wisliceny has both courage and go-getting, seen in his heroic mannerisms in all pushes forwards and through his stubborn defiance.  In a fashion typical of his go-getting attitude this attack only brought with it light losses to his troops."  from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on July 30, 1940.

"Wisliceny received the Oakleaves for the following actions...
1) His successes as a Kampfgruppe leader during the battle of Normandy, where he defeated attacking US forces with his own counterattacks on 16/18.08.1944.  In less than 15 days Wisliceny's forces claimed to have destroyed 35 US tanks in close combat.
2) The defense of Elbeuf, a town on the Seine.  Wisliceny was able to hold this place long enough to enable three German divisions to escape to the east bank of the Seine without interference."  from Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves citation, awarded on December 28, 1944.

"Awarded for his achievements during the Ardennes offensive and in Hungary.  During the fighting in Hungary he and his Regiment especially distinguished themselves between Lakes Velence and Balaton as well as in the Leitha mountains."  from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords citation, awarded on May 6, 1945.

NOTE

"According to several sources this awarding was not confirmed by the authorities.  Confirmation is made on the basis of a statement under oath to the Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger made by Generaloberst der Waffen-SS Sepp Dietrich."

A deadly enemy elite,

Brian & Mel