Pacific-Episode 7 (2 Viewers)

[DCN1898]

It was interesting on last night's episode that the Corsairs that were flying towards the hills to attack, had their landing gear down. Was that a mistake or did they really do that for some reason? Does anyone out there know?

 

[BLReed]

...The other thing I am getting from this series is that our commanders in the Pacific were as lousy as our commanders in the European Theater.....

It's amazing that we won with such lousy commanders. Maybe we really didn't, and we are all living in an alternate world of Hollywood script writers knowing what makes box office.

 

[Fubar]

It was interesting on last night's episode that the Corsairs that were flying towards the hills to attack, had their landing gear down. Was that a mistake or did they really do that for some reason? Does anyone out there know?

As I recall they were on the shortest bombing run ever. They were using the captured airfield, bombing positions less than 1/2 mile away, and returning for more munitions.

Harold
fubar

 

[Louis Badolato]

It's amazing that we won with such lousy commanders. Maybe we really didn't, and we are all living in an alternate world of Hollywood script writers knowing what makes box office.

We won the war because of the men who fought, not the generals who led (poorly) throughout. If it wasn't for the sacrifices of the American, British, Russian, and ANZAC fighting forces, we would be living in hell, not an alternative world. With the exception of Bill Slim and Omar Bradley, you would be hard pressed to find an Allied General who was tactically and logistically sound in his approach, and put his men's welfare above his own personal quest for glory.

Oh, and its not amazing. The Germans were fighting against insurmountable American Industrial might (we produced 10 times the amount of Tanks and Planes the Germans could) in combination with inexhastable Russian manpower (the lost 20 million men and still had plenty to throw into the fight). Frankly, a five year old could have won the war as an allied general.

 

[Stryker II]

As I recall they were on the shortest bombing run ever. They were using the captured airfield, bombing positions less than 1/2 mile away, and returning for more munitions.

Harold
fubar

Fubar: I think I remember reading something to that event, possibly in Leckie's outstanding book--STRONG MEN ARMED..............Stryker

 

[binder001]

The other thing I am getting from this series is that our commanders in the Pacific were as lousy as our commanders in the European Theater. What the hell were they thinking sending men across that airfield in broad daylight? Or sending men into that island without adequate drinking water? Peleilu was both a tactical and logistic disaster. Its a sad comment on the lack of good leadership the brave Allied soldiers labored under through out the First and Second World Wars.

Unfortunately, bad leaders show up in industrial management, finance, law and politics, also. Their damage just isn't as immediate and obvious.

As mentioned earlier, the really sad fact is that due to the slowness of the decision making process and a LOT of faulty information, Peleliu shouldn't have happened at all. It could have become another "self-guarded prison camp" like many other islands. The realization that the island was no longer required came as the invasion force was underway. Remember, there were a lot of operations going at once. To the higher commanders Peleliu was to be a small side show between the delayed end of the Marians campaign and the beginning of the Phillipine campaign.

Gary B.

 

[lancer]

As I recall they were on the shortest bombing run ever. They were using the captured airfield, bombing positions less than 1/2 mile away, and returning for more munitions.

Harold
fubar

This is quite correct. The Corsairs were operating so close to the airfield that there simply was not time (or any reason) to put up the landing gear. The pilots made their runs and immediately returned to land, rearm and take off again. -- Al

 

[DCN1898]

This is quite correct. The Corsairs were operating so close to the airfield that there simply was not time (or any reason) to put up the landing gear. The pilots made their runs and immediately returned to land, rearm and take off again. -- Al

Great, thank you for the information!

 

[modwalls]

The series is everything it was cracked up to be. The one thing I am reading here is a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking. There were a lot of mistakes made during WWII. I am very surprised they did not know of the mountain fortress. As far as which theatre was worse, that depends on which side of Hell you were. I would not argue what branch was more important than another, they all had to work together. Speilberg Hanks did it again, this is every bit as good as BOB. The gory battle scenes I'm sure don't come close to the real life horror of war, but like Private Ryan, hit home. I'm so glad the Marines are getting their just do in this series, they sure as hell earned it. I wish they had more Marine interviews at the begining, I could listen to heros like them all day.

 

[marco55]

I would like to see a series about British and ANZAC forces in the Pacific.
Mark

 

[DCN1898]

Anzacs on New Guinea would be cool, or the British army in Burma, the Chindits or Merrill's Marauders. There are a lot of lesser known theaters of operation during WWII. A modern treatment of North Africa would be awesome.

 

[marco55]

Anzacs on New Guinea would be cool, or the British army in Burma, the Chindits or Merrill's Marauders. There are a lot of lesser known theaters of operation during WWII. A modern treatment of North Africa would be awesome.

New Guinea would be good.Haven't read alot about it but understand it was brutal.
Mark

 

[DCN1898]

I had an uncle who fought on New Guinea with the 33rd Infantry Division. (It was an Illinois National Guard Division.) He would never tell me anything about it except for an officer taking his Japanese sword away from him! I heard that it was brutal on both sides.

 

[marco55]

I saw a movie a long time ago called Yesterday's Enemy.I believe that was about New Guinea.Sorry I changed the thread a little.
Mark

 

[BLReed]

We won the war because of the men who fought, not the generals who led (poorly) throughout.

They are not separate entities. Neither exist without the other. Unless you consider Mobs (French Revolution). It's been a few years since I attended Command and General Staff College, but here is some reading to put next to your armchair.
http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CSI/WWIIPubs.asp#title

... The Germans were fighting against insurmountable American Industrial might ....

Well, that day certainly has passed given the current political climate.

 

[desk11desk12]

Hey Guys,

I watched episodes 4, 5, 6 and 7 yesterday and I’m left with the feeling horror. That is my most vivid memory and feeling I had. Frankly, it was very difficult at times to keep watching it.

My father and father-in-law were both Marines and I’ve grew up I the 60’s seeing my father’s old uniforms hanging in our hallway closet. John Wayne was my hero and I watched such movies as Sands of Iwo Jima, Battle Cry and the D.I. on TV. I was very patriotic and would have probably served in the Vietnam War if I were younger.

Seeing these episodes yesterday kind of puts things in perspective giving me a true sense of gratitude for those living and dead that fought for our freedom and liberty or just simply did their duty the best way they could.

So I say to all that have served regardless of branch of service;

THANK YOU,

Carlos

 

[Stryker II]

The series is everything it was cracked up to be. The one thing I am reading here is a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking. There were a lot of mistakes made during WWII. I am very surprised they did not know of the mountain fortress. As far as which theatre was worse, that depends on which side of Hell you were. I would not argue what branch was more important than another, they all had to work together. Speilberg Hanks did it again, this is every bit as good as BOB. The gory battle scenes I'm sure don't come close to the real life horror of war, but like Private Ryan, hit home. I'm so glad the Marines are getting their just do in this series, they sure as hell earned it. I wish they had more Marine interviews at the begining, I could listen to heros like them all day.

Modwalls: I agree, wish they had more interviews, perhaps that will happen with the dvd release. I have heard literally hundreds of stories from most of the island battles, and I never get tired of hearing from these old marine heroes. One of my close friend's dad was at Iwo Jima, and I have a family member that was at Tarawa---I find that campaign the single hardest 3 day battle in Marine Corps history. I wish Spielberg would have gotten there, but it was the 2nd Marine Division--not the first. I hope someone someday will honor those guys, because what they accomplished there was a miracle........Stryker

 

[jazzeum]

What I like so far is that Sledge was probably like most people: fearful, scared, not superhuman and just trying to survive.

 

[Warrior]

What I like so far is that Sledge was probably like most people: fearful, scared, not superhuman and just trying to survive.

This hit the nail square on the head for me; Sledge is by far my favorite character of the three main characters, probably because of the way his story has unfolded, going from being hell bent on enlisting to literally fighting in Hell.

Everything I have seen and read about Pelelieu has now come home to me through the past three episodes, especially the last one, just about THE most brutal portrait of combat I've ever seen anywhere, anytime; the beach scene on Omaha beach has met it's match.

The pillbox scene was horrific beyond belief and I was sad to see the skipper die, I felt for all of those Marines as they carried his body along the trail, specifically "Sledgehammer." Even poor Gunny snapped under the pressure of it all.

Some of the other scenes were just brutal as well, specifically the knocked out machine gun nest scene and the "Just put him out of his misery" scene.

And to lighten the mood, the pants crapping scene was priceless.

Kudos to Speilberg, Hanks and Dye; they got it right.

And to think Iwo Jima and Okinawa are still looming on the horizon.

I am totally impressed with this series in retrospect...........

 

[sammy719]

This series started out slow, in comparison with BOB, but can't wait til it comes out on box set, it is a winner hands down!!! I still will always love Band of brothers, that's what I collect... but the Pacific is a must have, and a awesome series...Sammy