The Bombing of Rabaul, November 11, 1943
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
- In November 1943, the allies in the Pacific launched a series of desperate, nearly unprecedented, and extraordinarily risky attacks that culminated on November 11. Armistice Day 1943 is history that deserves to be remembered.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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Script by THG
#history #thehistoryguy #WWII
I've recently been talking to my Dad's old boss a WWII vet. He was on Bougainville, 3d Marine Division 21st Regiment, part of a mortar crew. Nov. 11th, 1944 is also the day my Grandfather landed on the European mainland with the 12th Armored Division, 714th Tank Battalion. Big thanks and much gratitude to all the Vets out there.
My father was a B-24 gunner in the 90th Bomb Group stationed at Port Moresby, New Guinea, in 1943. He flew many missions to Rabaul and hated every one of them. Did you notice THG said there were 5 fighter strips at Rabaul. That’s a lot of Zeros to get past. The air war over New Guinea and New Britain SHOULD be remembered.
There is an interesting interview with a RAAF pilot who was the co-pilot on a familiarisation flight on a US Liberator on a bombing run from Port Moresby to Rabaul. He commented on the difference in in-flight discipline between the two air forces.
@@blueycarlton Americans and discipline under fire hahahahahahaha Americans are only good at war with overwhelming material strength and even then they've only managed beat Panama and Grenada post ww2
@@mathewkelly9968 Then you are ignorant of our history of military battles, when we won with lesser forces and equipment. The battles since have not been officially wars, where our military was not allowed complete freedom of action. If the military had its way, China would have been nuked in the Korean war, and North Vietnam bombed into a desert early on and taken out. All other conflicts were just that--Conflicts and not unrestricted warfare like WW2. BTW, what country are you from to make such a statement?
My respect to your uncle. The best Japanese fighter pilots were stationed at Rabaul to protect it, like Saburo Sakai and several other noted aces. They made US missions pay a high price, and were a force to be reckon with.
Thanks very much for a sweet remembrance of your Dad and for his being an American Hero every time he climbed in his plane.
Sure: Training makes good pilots, sailors and soldiers, -but living it and doing it ; and risking your young life every day had to take huge resolve, fortitude, and
Guts !
And your Dad, and All of them did it !
They were just Great and I salute him and ALL of them.
🇺🇸 🍸
26-year Navy veteran salutes The History Guy. And thanks him for his service. KCD, CDR-MC-USNR (Ret)
Thank you for your service!
Thank you for your service!!
Thank you, Sir. it was my pleasure.@@TheHistoryGuyChannel
@@tamipalin8171 Thank you, Tami. Be well & be safe.
@@KCODacey No No - Thank you
Lance,
Thank you very much for this video and your Veterans Day tribute. My father was a WW2 veteran who served in the USAAC/USAAF 1943-1945. He was a B-29 navigator in the Pacific. He died in 2016 at age 94 and I miss him terribly.
God bless
Paul (in MA)
My dad served in the European theater. He was anti aircraft. He was injured in the Battle of the Bulge. Veteran's Day reminds me of all the men who have fought to make sure we can live free. My dad was my hero. I appreciate all you do to make sure history is remembered.
Thank you for recounting our attack on Rabaul. During the spring of 1964 my ship visited the port of Rabaul. My dad had been a Pearl Harbor survivor so our visit to Rabaul was meaningful to me. On the same trip we also visited Bougainville. These were simply a couple of former WWII battle sites we visited during our patrols.
I knew my Grandfather was at Rabaul during the war. I assumed it was later in the war. Nope. He was there until his squadron got blasted out by the Japanese in late January 42. One of very few who got back to Moresby. A black day, and still not widely acknowledged and known about. Not just a great military tragedy, but one of the greatest tragedies in Australian history. A shameful episode, and it shouldn't be forgotten
He went on to serve widely across NG, Papua, and island hopped all the way up to Borneo. Never made it back to Rabaul, but he would have loved to have seen the tables turned and the defeat inflicted on the scale that is was. He finished up a 7 year veteran and I'm immensely proud of that effort by such a humble unassuming fella.
Magnificent stuff this campaign. Thanks for another great vid History dude!
My grandfather served in the AEF. I always heard it referred to as Armistice day, thank you for your sober and sensitive exploration of the subject. Thank you THG for educating, entertaining me and helping to make me little smarter.
me too!
My father was born in 1910 so missed WWI but he always called it Armistice Day until he died in 1985. Because of the damn virus I didn't get a chance to buy a poppy this year, the VFW and the Legion are usually out in force.
These episodes are excellent. Think my grandfather was there. He's passed now some 17 years. When I was young he mentioned his military times as a cook. Until a few years ago, I always wondered why his mind would stop go away, and changed the subject, as soon as he would get into the actual events. Seeing your episodes, makes me think, he saw stuff that effected him severely. Miss him big time, thanks for the great stories and history lessions
I think there's a lot of us with similar memories of our parents/grandparents from that time.
I thought my Grandfather coasted through the war behind the lines somewhere, because he never told any stories. He did get that far-off look at times. I assumed it was from losing friends.
After he passed away, we learned that he had been under fire in Kiska(from American "allies"), and then landed on Juno, and fought his way across to the Netherlands. I can't even imagine what that would be like. The guy was a living action-hero but had no interest in talking about it, or receiving any recognition.
I know what you mean. My Dad and I were playing golf in Florida on a hot. breezy, day. The course surrounded an airport which was extending a runway. The bulldozers, graders, and other heavy equipment lined up under the swaying palm trees. He was standing there staring down the runway - his mind far away. I asked him what was wrong. He said that if he did not know he was standing in Florida, he would have sworn he was back on Okinawa. He said the equipment lined up along the runway, the wind blowing, trees swaying were exactly as he remembered it 55 years before. They never forget James. They never forget.
Thank you for this. My step-Grandfather was a Marine fighter pilot flying F4U-4 Corsairs with VMF-215 in the Solomon Islands, made many flights down "The Slot" to Rabaul, meeting up with the bombers and escorting them down. He wound up shooting down seven Zeroes around November of '43.
Thank you for remembering our Vets today THG. You are a true patriot.
Have you ever done a story about the US Navy aircraft carriers Wolverine and Sable? They were unique in that they only served on the Great Lakes, but they trained many of our carrier pilots. They never saw combat but they contributed a great deal to the war effort.
That sounds interesting, Jesse.
@Ron Lewenberg That would be a good topic for Drachinifel.
That would be good to see but leave it to the US to not only train carrier pilots and sailors 1000 sea miles/800 land miles from the ocean with coal burning side wheel carriers but they also built ships for the war on the great lakes. Mostly small cargo ships like in Mister Roberts but also 180 foot ice breaking cutters for the USCG and some did server on convoy duty but most went to work on the great lakes.. Yes, the ships that were built were small, they had to be because they had to make it to the ocean via the Chicago River and the Mississippi but they were the worker bees that kept the troops and sailors supplied.
@Ron Lewenberg They weren't even liners, they were ferries that ran from the Wisconsin coast to Michigan. Our training system had one great advantage over almost everyone else. We pulled our flyers out of the line after they had been there and their replacements were or far higher quality than other countries could provide because of our training regimen that created new pilots that would be experienced in any other country. Look up Jefferson J DeBlanc who had 10 hours in the Wildcat and became an ace in a day and got the Congressional Medal of Honor for it.
Thomas B good info
Thank you for this episode. I watched it twice and will watch several times more, as it puts into perspective my father's WWII service in the Pacific Theatre. He never wanted me to go through what he had to do, but never would talk about his experiences. After going through his personal items recently, I discovered that he had been awarded a number of medals and citations, including five bronze stars. I also found a log of his travels and the dates of arrival and departures. These are bread crumbs that circle Rabaul. Your video has provided me with a key to learn more about his heroic efforts. Thank you very much!
Dear History Guy, Wonderful as usual. But today a special thank you as you remembered to include the contribution of the Royal New Zealand Airforce in the isolation of Rabaul. This is most often overlooked or forgotten. Thank you & best wishes.
ANZAC efforts impacted the entire SW Pacific theater, but McArthur took any credit.
Considering that the A Team's were in Africa and Middle East at the time, the brave few that defended that theater fought very hard and slugged it out to protect Australia and at first hold, then push back the Japanese.
We couldn't have done half this without brave allies like ya'll.
Thank you for this video!!! I am an Amateur historian, with a special focus on WWII which I have studied in detail since I was a child (I am 41 now). I thought I was aware of every major fleet action in the Pacific but had NEVER known about this! Just goes to show...history is so vast that it is impossible to ever know 'all of it'.....even within a narrow timeline. Thanks again! Fascinating story!
Happy Veteran's Day to all who served. From a retired Navy Sailor; OS1(SW/AW)
Thank you sir for your service
@@jeffdillon8816 You're welcome sir
Five years in the USAF. I sometimes wish that I had stayed in but about 10 years after I got out they started pushing people out so retirement might have been a dream anyway. A high school buddy that became an officer was rifted out at about the same time.
Thank you for a former fleet sailor SK3 76-80.
Whoo-hoo! Thank you for this episode it came in handy for extra credit on a pop quiz yesterday. Now my history teacher wants to give a short lesson on forgotten battles of the war. Thanks again for history that needs to be remembered.
Armistice Day in parts of the midwest is also remembered for the Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940, where up to 27 inches of snow in places left drifts that reached up to 20 feet in height, and caused approximately 150 deaths. The same storm system had been the cause of the Tacoma Narrows bridge, "Galloping Gertie", collapsing just a few days earlier. Also history that deserves to be remembered.
I you haven’t check out the newsreel footage of the bridge collapsing. I would like to here a report about the guy who had to abandon his car to escape with his life.
@@gregfroehlich4442 There are a few misconceptions about the film of the bridge collapsing.
1) There are 2 speeds that a (standard professional) movie camera can film at. Normal is the faster speed, which means that you can't film as long, and the "B Roll" speed which allows you to film for notably longer time. B Roll is also commonly used for doing stunts where you can have cars, etc. moving slower for increased safety and then run it at the standard/normal speed to make it look like the car is moving very fast. (prior to Computer Graphic Special Effects.)
>>The cameraman filmed at B roll speed, but you're viewing it at standard speed, which makes it look much more graphic. There's a small debate whether or not this was a misunderstanding of the speed that the film was to be played at -OR- a deliberate attempt to dramatize the bridge's collapse.
2) The cameraman abandoned his car, once again a debate if he thought he could go back to it and drive it off (but it got too bad and he realized that he couldn't) -OR- the car started to slide and he realized that he had to abandon it.
3) Cameraman's dog was left in the car and died when the collapse occurred. He tried to save the dog, but the dog was in a panic, backed into a corner and snapping at him.
Another attempt was made by 2 men, the dog bit one of them severely 1 man's hand and they stopped trying to pull the dog out at that point.
>>These are the 2 men walking toward the camera that you see in some (longer) versions of the film.
Love this man I’m from wa state and that moment is a super important piece of history here
@@KSL042 It was a hell of a storm. It nailed you guys, then angled to the SE over Colorado, then made a left turn up through the eastern Dakotas, Iowa, MN, and into the Great Lakes. Places over Lake Michigan recorded winds in excess of 80 mph. I seem to recall reading that some of the lowest barometric pressures ever were recorded from that storm.
My dad remembered that day in Minnesota as a child, he said it started out as a warm beautiful day then turned bad. Caught many people by surprise.
Thank you to all of the veterans across the world. My friend Eddie Bent Box Spiritual leader of the Southern Ute tribe of southwest Colorado told me about the Solomon islands campaign. His ship was bombed and sank while he was on a supply mission. I miss you Eddie. Thanks History Guy for recognizing the importance of this.
Remarks on Remembrance Day are highly appreciated. Well done.
Excellent presentation Mr. History Guy. Thanking all those who served and remembering those who never returned.
My great uncle was 1st Marines in WW2, in his words he was “lucky enough to see the most beautifully deadly islands such as Guadalcanal, New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa”. He could never get over the alliance we had with Japan post-war.
And how did he justify Commodore Perry's threat to destroy Tokyo, if they did not agree to trade with America? Some things, are left out of our school books, to keep us as good, patriotic, Americans! On July 8, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States Navy, commanding a squadron of two steamers and two sailing vessels, sailed into Tôkyô harbor aboard the frigate Susquehanna. Perry, on behalf of the U.S. government, forced Japan to enter into trade with the United States and demanded a treaty permitting trade and the opening of Japanese ports to U.S. merchant ships. This was the era when all Western powers were seeking to open new markets for their manufactured goods abroad, as well as new countries to supply raw materials for industry. It was clear that Commodore Perry could impose his demands by force. The Japanese had no navy with which to defend themselves, and thus they had to agree to the demands. afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1750_perry.htm
Convair - Irrelevant to this video or this discourse. Too bad you were brainwashed at a US university. Darren - thanks to your dad for keeping the world free!
@@ConvairDart106 it’s fairly simple to a Marine that just watched thousands of his fellow Marines die, dozens of which were by your side. He hated the Japanese to the day he died and not a soul on this planet can fault it. The politics of the day literally didn’t matter to him.
And ironically I was born in Japan, on an Air Force base, during Vietnam, he never understood how my parents could live in Tokyo.
It’s Veteran’s day, lose the politics.
@@videodistro Not brainwashed at a U.S. University. I am the veteran son, of a veteran son. I also had a great uncle who had been sunk twice in the South Pacific as well. I am also, a descendant of the great Sioux nation, and in particular, Mendota Lakota, the victims of the largest mass execution in American history. You can watch the Dakota 38, right here on YT, if you even give a shit at all. for American history. Just the good, and none of the bad, is just all they wish for you to know! Just look at the hurdles put in place for the Tuskegee airmen, and the racism still prevalent in America today. We have a long ways to go yet........
@El Guapo mas macho I am 60 now, and sadly, will not be around to see that day.
Uploaded “25 minutes ago” - The perfect way to start my day! Thanks History Guy!
I felt the same!
Happy Polish Independence Day, happy Veterans Day, happy Armistice Day, happy Independence Across Europe Day. Lest We Forget.
This American will always remember Polish courage and determination. I don't have any Polish blood, but my admiration is undiminished.
Witaj bracie!!
Salute to Poland and it’s people.
STO LAT!
vsk237
“Nostdrovya !” 💌 to ALL the brave people of Poland who put up with that rat hitler and saw their fight, strength and resolve through to his destruction and their Victory at the War’s end .
Arguably one of your best narratives to date Lance. Well done..
Had a great-uncle, a USAAF bomber pilot, who was killed during this campaign (prior to Nov 1943) so this is a fantastic overview of the reasons as to why he was there (and died)! Thank you very much for this!!
Always fabulous! Very good! TY for the brilliant choice of topic, balanced detail and perfect narration adding a sense of drama and urgency.
Good morning everyone. I am getting ready to go to The Veterans Memorial Cemetery to visit my Mother and Father. I want to say thank you for your service and we will remember you! If you're lucky enough to had a veteran in your family. Go visit them or at least pray for them and their memories! 💯🤓
Great, great Episode! St. Martins' Day here in Germany!
Dear HG, you have done it again. So many kids were involved in these ‘backwater’ operations which you are rightfully bringing to light.
Today we remember our Veterans, those who served and those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Salute.
Actually Memorial Day is set aside for those who paid the ultimate price, they deserve a day of their own.
@@stanwolenski9541 It was originally called Decoration Day, because they decorated the graves of the fallen. (Other theories abound, and I'd love to hear them.)
@@BillB23 You are correct, My late father-in-law, a WWII vet, always called it Decoration Day until his death in 2015. As a Vietnam vet I cannot bring myself to put myself in the same category as those honored on Memorial Day aka Decoration Day. I gave up some of my time, they gave their lives.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@stanwolenski9541 Thank you for your service.
History Guy, please research the Interstate TDR-1 Bomber. Supposedly 44 we're used on the attack of Rabaul. TDR stood for Target Drone Remote controlled. Two of them could be flown from inside a B-25. They had TV cameras it the nose of the TDR-1's and the remote pilots just kept the camera pointed at the target until impact.
I've seen vintage film of them being used somewhere. They were amazing in their simplicity of construction. The engine instruments were located on the inboard side of each engine, hence no plumbing to the cockpit. This feature required the ferry pilot to actually look at the engine rather than just monitor a dial on the instrument panel. Once the airplane was at it's staging location, the canopy was removed and replaced with a flush cover. A 2000 pound torpedo was hung under the airplane, and the landing gear was un-safetied. This allowed the gear to fall away on takeoff.
The center section structure was steel tubing with molded wood covering. Everything else was wood and fabric. It would be so interesting to see more info about these strange airplanes. I can truly say I'm a cruise missile pilot!
Ferried one to Tulsa from Antique Airfield in Iowa. It's a great story if anyone is interested.
As much as I enjoy the stories, I spend at least as much time reading the comments no matter the subject.
My hat is off to all Veterans on this day and all others. Thank you for your service.
Thank you “History Guy” for this video. My father was a radio operator in the 405th Signal Company, assigned to the V Bomber Command, Fifth Army Air Force. Station in Nadzab, New Guinea, Feb 1944; Owl, Schouten Islands, Aug 1944; Leyte, Nov 1944; Mindoro, Jan 1945; Clark Field, Luzon, Mar 1945; Okinawa, Aug 1945.
I visited Rabaul to work many times in the '80s and '90s. I have been inside what I was told was Yamamoto's office underground in Rabaul. It has a map of the pacific drawn on the ceiling. I have also seen many zeros and parts thereof in the bush around East New Britain. There are tunnels I have also seen around the perimeter of Rabaul harbour (as it was before the recent earthquake) that I was told contain many brand new tanks and other Japanese war machines.
I cannot understand why someone would give this a thumbs down. This was an excellent lesson in WW2 history.
Dad was stationed on Okinawa for the majority of the war. He was in The Navy. He never shared much about it with me. But I understand why. Thank you for sharing this with us. I really appreciate it.
Mike, you might want to get more detail from your dad. We invaded Okinawa on April 1, 1945, and didn’t “secure” the island until the end of June. The war was over in August.
Another excellent and informative episode and one that makes history in and of it's self in that this is the first time I can remember any "Item", originating from the USA that includes the work of the RAAF and the RNZAF as part of the full story and not as an afterthought if at all. Thanks for your help guys, and you did do a lot of the heavy lifting, but you did not do it alone.
Suggestion for a story, have a look at the last 100 days of WW1and the efforts of the KIWI'S
Stumbled upon your channel last week and have been binge watching since! Your videos put me in my happy place.
The History Guy, The Pacific Theater, and fresh coffee. My life is good.
As I sit here in the rain in my RV in Central Tennessee way out in the country I'm doing the exact same thing!
Same here. But in Germany and with a Beer not a Coffee.
Greetings to all people Who read this.
I really enjoy the History Guy.
@@nickjaust3490 that will work too! 😊👍 I'm particularly glad that our countries are friends now.
The History Guy, The Pacific Theater, and a nice bowl. Life really is good. Cheers.
@@tennesseehomesteader6175 I'm in suburban tennessee. What a small world
As an Australian trust territory the town is pronounced Rab Bowel. I grew up there. Our family arrived in 1960--1983. There were many relics of the war still present. The Japanese tunnels.....300 miles of them built into the caldera wall of Rabaul. Also perfectly preserved was Admiral Yamamoto's war bunker. It was underground made of concrete and once you entered via a stairwell it opened into a large round chamber. On the walls was the map of the Bismarck Archipelago, all the islands and the where the battlements were. A volcanic eruption destroyed Rabaul in 1994 with persistent further eruptions that continue today. Some parts away from the volcano remain and have been rebuilt. Today (2024) Rabaul is visited by many cruise ships that come to see the volcano and the remnants of the pacific war. In its hey day it was a very beautiful town and known as the 'jewel in the crown'. The allied force stationed in Rabaul was 2nd 22 Battalion with Lark Force. It was impossible for the allies to hold Rabaul once 5000 Japanese troops arrived. Many many stories are told of the atrocities during the occupation. Thank you for the video.
Had the honor of growing up around,working with and knowing many veterans of ww2 and Korea. They had reached a point in life where most were willing to talk of their experiences to an attentive young listener. God bless their sacrifice and memories.
Salute to all veterans.
Lived on the West New Britain side 1985 to 93. Visiting Rahul twice. The city was quaint, friendly with major Japanese population. Good food and Chinese markets. I'd go back. Your reporting brought back my Indiana Jones adventures. Thank you THG.
Outstanding....Thanks....But l do miss your high definition videos....!
Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Luzon,,,,,these are places where my late father waded ashore and helped secure the islands for further Allied advances. He was a great guy, not only for his devotion to country, but also for his quiet intellect and many positive contributions to our society. He was my hero, though he never thought of himself as such. Thanks Dad, you will always be loved. Wright Flyer, USAF (1968-1972).
Thank you HG for helping me to remember Rabaul and honoring those who served.
At 5:39 you see Royal New Zealand Air Force P-40N fighters of 18(?) Squadron taken in late 1943 / early 1944 at Torokina(?). Potentially the fighter in shot is the famous "Gloria Lyons" - at least the fuselage this aircraft still exists, and it is currently undergoing restoration in Omaka.
An excellent historian . Along with the Brit Mark Felton the only 2 X true academic historians on RUclips . THG always good value . Often unique research . Especially liked the session dealing with the lead up to the gun battle between US and Australian soldiers at Brisbane Qld Aust railway station . Emphasised the beginning of a long and firm friendship after a deadly confrontation which really couldn't have been avoided .
Awesome history - I’m glad I found his channel & always learn something new
These are stories never covered in US History class. Thank You History Guy!!!
Oh, what a great episode! Thank you very much!
Remembrance Day as it is called in the Commonwealth (since 1920).
@R Mack Believe he meant either NZ, Australia, or Canada
Edit: Based on his screen name, I'd guess Australia lmao
@@merryc.5466 All of the above, plus the UK and other nations of THE Commonwealth.
@@burgoyne5225 of course :)
To be clear for others tho, KY & VA are part of the USA & NOT part of the commonwealth under HRM QE2.
@@merryc.5466 Not to forget the Commonwealth of Massachusetts! (And yes, I did have to check the spelling.)
@@merryc.5466 Not only the British Commonwealth. It is also celebrated in the Republic of Ireland - because during World War 1 Ireland was still part of the UK and almost 100,000 "neutral" Irishmen fought with the British armed forces in World War 2.
There are still two Irish regiments in the British Army.
as always so much information, so well narrated.... history guy ICON ! ! !
Absolutely outstanding coverage of that action! The battle of Empress Augusta Bay and the Rabaul raid always fascinated me. Very bold actions at a time when the Allies still had limited resources in the area. Very well done. You covered the background very concisely. Explained where this fit into the overall situation, and the reason it took place. Conducting an invasion with such a small supporting force was quite a gamble. When the Navy invaded Guadalcanal, they had all the available major units, as limited as that was, supporting it. This invasion was done on a shoestring. The Japanese still had the interior lines, being able to move ships quickly from one front to another, where the US had to go around the long way. The four US light cruisers guarding the invasion fleet were the newest, most modern but also the least experienced ones in the fleet. Supporting them was a handful of destroyers, who had launched all their torpedoes the night before. Unlikely to stop the force the Japanese were gathering. The US carrier force was built around the USS Saratoga, the oldest carrier left. She was large, fast, but was missing many newer elements found on newer carriers. Particularly, her elevators were all in the center, and really designed around biplane aircraft. One was very small, so the other had to do most of the work. This made it difficult to move aircraft quickly to the deck to launch an all out attack. The USS Princeton was small and new. Probably the last 2 carriers you would have chosen to perform this attack. The fact that they were able to execute the attack was just an outstanding example of planning and leadership. Thank you for covering this often forgotten operation.
I hope to revisit the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay in another episode.
A heartfelt Thank You for Your Service to Our Country to my fellow Veterans.
November 11th, respect to all who have ever served. My father fought on Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Bougainville. Thank you for this video. Let us never forget the generation who gave us this day, the Doughboys.
No day dawns, no night returns, but we remember thee.
Fascinating! One tends to forget how much strategy played an important part in the Pacific War on both sides. Of course with the benefit of hindsight, the winner's plans are always portrayed as brilliant and the loser's as fatally flawed. The reality is that an accumulation of determined small actions on the part of many brave soldiers and sailors, despite all the grand plans, is what determines the final outcome. From one veteran to all others past and present, thanks for your sacrifices that allow us to enjoy the freedoms we have on this Veteran's Day.
Tony,you are walking point man with that statement.Case in point the navy dive bomber pilot who sank 2 nip carriers during the battle of Midway.
History is written by the victors!
Thank you History Guy for mentioning the Pacific Theater of WW2. It is not widely discussed.
I suggest for further reading a book, "Into the Shadows Furious" for very accurate descriptions of the battles.
My father served in the Marine Corps during WW2 from 1939 - 1944.
He was in the Solomon islands. Bougainville & Rabaul are mentioned in his discharge papers.
He would have been 101years old this year.
Semper Fi.
Rest in peace, dad.
1919 - 1990.
I must say, you have the greatest stories!
Thanks for doing what you do.
Thanks for the video.
I was born to Aussie parents in the Highlands of New Guinea, but we lived on Buka Island off Bougainville until we left for Australia when I was 5.
I subscribe to more than a dozen general history channels, as well as half a dozen war channels, (at 60+, dont play games though) and buddy, yours are superb, many thanks, much gratitude. And a shout out to the souls who died for our nation, to them I worship (pray for) my ancestors!!!!!!!
History Guy. Today is not just Veterans Day, it would have been my father's 99th birthday. Happy day to all vets and fathers.
Outstanding !
The World's Finest US Naval Aviation.
Semper Fi
A wild *Fleet Air Arm* appeared!
I am 61. I grew up hearing the old folks talk about WW2. Many of the old men living in my area were former soldiers. So I always enjoy hearing about ww2 history. Thank you for posting.
As a Vietnam veteran, I'd like to thank all of those that have thanked me for my service.
It means a lot to all Vietnam veterans God bless you.
Your more than welcome... and thanks again👍
Thank you! My dad, a Korean vet, used to go nuts to see the Vietnam vets being disrespected. I absorbed it from him. I have been privileged to help two Vietnam vets toward the end of their lives. Hope all the blessings necessary rest upon you.
@@sheilatruax6172 Thank you so much!
I had a Technical School instructor. He was there. He graceful smile...is remembered. .Tough dirty work...Be Grateful.
From this Veteran🇺🇸 Happy Veterans Day🇺🇸 to Past Present and Future Vets , And Remember those who gave the Ultimate Sacrifice!
Just another great video. Brilliantly done!!!
A mine of information as always , thank you . Would you consider an episode on operation tidal wave , the bombing raids on ploesti in 1943 .
Friend of mine's father was a Corsair pilot in the RNZAF based in the Solomons. Thanks for crediting the Kiwis.
Always putting out videos of history I have not heard of before. Amazing job as usual!
Absolute brilliant presentation as always. Thnak you.
The "aging fleet carrier Saratoga " was my Dad's home from the Solomons until Bikini Atoll in 1946. DAD IF YOU ARE LISTENING UP THERE HAPPY VETERANS DAY
my father, bless him, was on guadalcanal during the japanese assault, as well as our baptist minister. my uncle was a vet (cavalry company) during WW1. some pretty grim, 1000-yd-stare stories.
My dad too
@@JuliusGalacki then you are practically family
Happy Veterans Day to all my fellow vets.
Same to you, brother. Fly Navy 🇺🇸
@@navret1707 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿 Army Strong 🇺🇸
God bless you and thank you so much for your service Sir!!
You as well!! US Army Aviation, above the best!
Thank you H.G!! Great work sir!! Nice nod to Victory At Sea!
Yet again nice one Lance!
You should do an episode on Tarawa, where the Japanese commander said it would take a million men a hundred years to take the island. Ten thousand Marines took Tarawa in under four days. That's something that deserves to be remembered.
The Japanese lost a lot of experienced pilots in this battle but the Battle of Midway Island in June, 1942 was where the Japanese first lost so many cream of the crop pilots along with three of their carriers. They never recovered their losses and ceased to be the dominant naval force in the Pacific; especially after America started building ships & planes on an unimaginable scale. The Japanese would also keep most of their best pilots in the fight, where America sent many of it's best pilots back home to train more pilots and this was a critical difference.
They lost 4 of the 6 carriers that attacked Pearl Harbor at Midway. 3 in the first counterattack and the 4th (Hiryu) in the 2nd counterattack. (After the Yorktown was very seriously damaged. She was sunk by an I-Boat returning from picket duty a few days after the battle)
@@timengineman2nd714 Oh, that is right...forgot about that 4th carrier...thanks for clearing that up. I claim "Senior Moment"..LOL..!!
Thanks for another wonderful lesson on a most important day!
Fantastic story for Veterans Day to all my fellow veterans thank you THG for sharing
Thanks. My father was an intelligence officer and a bombardier in the 5th AAF Bomber Command, 42-44. A few years ago, while researching Qingdao, China, I learned that in World War I the Japanese attacked the German base there by aircraft carrier. I can't remember how successful it was, and I haven't learned whether Admiral Yamamoto employed the lessons learned from it when he attacked the US fleet in Pearl Harbor a generation later. Please help.
I love this because I am a history buff, and other than here, I rarely see history videos that tell me things I did not know already! Not always, but usually.
As always, your videos are informative, entertaining, and well produced.
Everyone seems to be amazed that the USS Saratoga CV-3, carried so many aircraft and fougt so well. She and her sistership, were 900 ft long, carried 70-90 strike aircraft, and fought just fine, thank you. Just like like the USS Yorktown CV-5, USS Lexington CV-2, USS Enterprise CV-6, USS Hornet CV-8.. et all.
Lest we forget, the Great War.
Indeed! Of all the wars of the modern era (1854-present) the Great War seems to me to be the most frightening. Trenches, poison gas, charging into machine gun fire and blasted by Artillery pieces 20 miles away. Men dying of both disease and infections from simple scratches. Trench foot, rats, and so many unburied corpses that death becomes an eternal smell. The utter nihilism of warfare. No Sir, I'd rather fight on the Eastern front of WWII or the invasion of Peleliu in the Pacific campaign than fight through the Western Front of the Great War.
Agreed!
it's my birthday men
These battles, coming on he heel s of the Guadalcanal campaign, are often overlooked. Excellent presentation!
Gotta love The History Guy
Great video, you always come through when it matters.
Just love this Vid. My Dad was in the 40th Division. He talked about these cities. On 20 December 1943, the first units left for Guadalcanal, and by mid-January 1944, movement was completed, and the division prepared for its first combat assignment. On 24 April 1944, it left Guadalcanal for New Britain. The regiments of the division took positions at Talasea on the northern side of the island, at Arawe on the southern side, and at near the western end. Neutralization of the enemy was effected by patrols. No major battle was fought. Heavy rain and mud were constant problems.
The 40th was relieved of missions on New Britain, 27 November
Amazing how a critical piece of ground and a major asset can so quickly turn into a wasted effort and deterrent to success. Thank you for this History Guy!
Always interesting topics, superbly presented, way of emphasis and varying pitch of THG's voice makes you better remember content. I wish my legal professor had some of THG's skills
Absolutely amazing!!! Thank you sir!!!
Great channel and great videos!
One thing, though: I am not sure, but I think the recording level is too high....
Great episode as all ways.
Remembrance Day in Canada.
Thank you! Great story. This hits home for me since I’m an American living in Papua New Guinea. My company was started in Rabaul in 1945. Reminders of WWII are all over the country, like it just happened, including anti aircraft guns still at intersections and crashed planes in the jungle. But those ditched aircraft in the sea make great scuba diving sites!
2:45
(For those curious)
-- Equator --
Kavieng
Rabaul
New Britain Archipelago
An episode on VMF-214 (The Black Sheep) would tie into this one nicely. Led by Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, based on Munda and Vella lavella during the later part of '43.
Thank you for the great content!
Very good. Strongly suggested listening ‼️