The Beach Jumpers and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
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- Опубликовано: 3 авг 2017
- The History Guy remembers when a movie star served in World War II: Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and the Beach Jumpers.
The History Guy uses images that are in the Public Domain. As photographs of actual events are often not available, I will sometimes use photographs of similar events or objects for illustration.
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Several viewers have noticed that I say that Operation Dragoon targeted the port of Toulouse, when the target was the port of Toulon. I give the name of the Chief of Naval Operation as Earnest Young. Actually, his name was Earnest King. I apologize for the errors.
You should do a piece on Operation Chariot.
Deception is a Interesting part of war, I liked the miget dummy paratroopers used to fool the Germans on D Day and the work of the Double Agent Garbo, a very interesting story. Liked your channel enough to subscribe, keep them coming!
Do you have a piece on "The Man Who Never Was"? This was the deceased British soldier who was dressed up as a Major and fake plans for an invasion of the "Soft Underbelly" planted on his body, which was then allowed to wash up on shore where the Nazis would find it -- more deception.
@@rabbi120348 Yes, this actually worked, the British went to amazing lengths on all the details of this Imaginery Officer's life, a Bait Hitler couldn't resist! So Bizarre the Germans couldn't believe it was a Fake! Great Story!
Try Adm Ernest King
I met Douglas fairbanks in the 1980's and he was as polite and debonair as the roles he played. Wonderful story.
That modest reluctance to speak about their war experiences was typical of the "Greatest Generation" My dad was one. We never knew he was at Bastogne, remagen bridge,and the liberation of the death camps until many years later when we convinced him to write down his experiences. He often said, "nothing special. just did my job like all the other guys I served with" RIP Dad
Smart man, tough soldier, great actor and true patriot! Real man when the country needed real men! Thank you for your service, RIP!
Now I understand why he and David Niven were such close friends! Niven was also in the British special operations, and he must have met Fairbanks while he was assigned there.
Fairbanks was friends with the British film community in the US. He used those connections to get into the war "early".
Both were outstanding people with extraordinary lives and accomplishments. Very humbling stuff to a scrub like me. :)
The father of our family friend was on a B-17 during the bombing campaign of Dragoon. Shot down and spent the remainder of the war in Stalag-17. Thank you for bringing this piece of history to the light!
My uncle, Hugh Fox, was a Beach Jumper.
He was member of the Beach Jumper Unit 4 Special Operations Group. Beach Jumpers Unit-4 were assigned to assist Marshal Tito's forces as well as British Commandos operating in the Adriatic during the later part of 1944. They were also instrumental in the rescue of Airmen of the 15th Air Force who were forced to evacuate their aircraft on return to their bases in Italy from missions over the Polesti oil fields. In addition some of them took part in land combat missions on several Islands along the Dalmation coastal area.
Thanks for making this video!!!
This video explains a lot. My father Leonard Williams who is in the RAF air/sea rescue during World War II as Skipper on a boat with twin V12 rolls Royce engines. We came to the states in the early 50s and my father worked as an engineer and surveyor. He had surveyed many of Hollywood movie stars properties in Southern California where he met Douglas Fairbanks Junior. He never talked much about the meeting but received an aluminum ashtray that said USS wasp. I never thought much about this over the years, but seeing Douglas Fairbanks Junior connection With the air/sea rescue boats exactly like my fathers makes things much clearer on their connection. Robin Williams
@@robinwilliams5961 What a cool thing to find out. :)
Slightly off -topic, but your mention of Clark Gable spurred me to comment. After the death of his wife, Carol Lombard, in a plane crash, Gable was despondent and signed up for the most dangerous job available at the time- joining a B-17 bomber crew as a waist gunner. He ended up in the same air wing my father served in, and Dad got to know Gable well. Several of his war stories featured Gable; attending dances on the base or in the nearby town of Bassingbourne, Gable - who could have his pick of beautiful women to dance with- always chose the three plainest women at the dance for his first three dances. My father asked him why, and Gable told him that he'd "go home after the war and back to Hollywood", and these women would always be able to "brag about how Gable chose them first, of all the women in town." It was very hazardous duty; at one point of the war, the casualty rate of that air wing rose to 80%, and the war-long service of that air wing suffered 60% casualties overall. The USAAF quickly realized that Sargent Gable was more valuable alive than dead and promoted him out of bomber duty; Gable ended up making propaganda films and a war documentary of the aerial war as well. He (and my father) were in the same group of bomber crews as the famous Memphis Belle. That crew was made famous solely to prove to the soldiers and their families back home that it was , indeed, possible to survive a tour of duty in the strategic aerial war... they were the first crew to do their required 25 missions with no casualties in the ten-man crew. This is the same air wing that were the very first American combatants in Europe, arriving in Britain in late 1942. The air wing received a Presidential commendation in recognition of their efforts, signed by Roosevelt. My father opted not to return to the US after his initial 25 missions, and flew a total of 53 missions. (91st Bomber Group, Heavy, 8th Air Force. If you watch the old propaganda films of the war, you'll often see planes with a big "A" on the tail- as the first bomber group to enter the war, they were assigned the A . The movie "12 O'Clock High" is loosely based upon that air wing and the combat footage used in the movie has many scenes of planes with the "A" tail marking. Bassingbourne's air field today is a memorial museum to the American air crews who served there and in all the other bases across England. When I visited England in the late seventies, many citizens, upon realizing I was a "Yank", would tell me how grateful they were of the American role in defeating the Nazis. All seemed to have a personal favorite stories from that time they wanted to share with their thanks. )
Great story! Thanks! I di think I will eventually do an episode on Gable's WWII service.
I just read your comment, it is so fascinating!! I've come across several personal anecdotes regarding Gable, and in every one he seemed to be a very courageous gentleman. He never seemed to "act like a star" when he was interacting with the public, but still had tremendous charisma.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful memory!
Clark Gable during WWII links
ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=clark+gable+ww2+usaaf
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@@TheHistoryGuyChannel
Story deserves a movie....
Thank you for that information. I spent many sweaty nights under the covers with my sister's small, and very hot, black and white tv watching 12 O'clock High with my older brother in the next bed. Very neat to think of the connection to your father's service. Just need the son of a Desert Rat to chime in here to bring everything home. LOL. Best Regards.
Fantastic stories.. I was aware that Doug Fairbanks Jr. had served with the USNR in WW2 but had no idea that he was literally a bonafide 'war hero' to the extent that you wonderfully illustrated here. THANKS for all these fascinating stories.
read his book about his time at war, you'll LAUGH. He's so self effacing, that you never feel he's bragging and thinks he did anything special. Also, he was married and had two young daughters at the time. That was a very long and happy marriage.
My wife's father was a 19 year old signalman on LST529 when they landed troops on Utah Beach on D-Day....LST529 then sailed around France and landed troops during Operation Dragoon. So Robert saw a bit of action. He's living in a nice retirement home now, having spent his working career as an engineer for Caterpillar. He is 94 and in good shape...we visit for lunch every Tuesday.
It's interesting to hear about your father in law. He sounds like a person who *deserves to be remembered.*
Thanks for sharing the story.
Definitely one of "America's Greatest Generation"
I hope he knows just how much we appreciate what he and his countrymen did for us.
My grandmother's brother, Max MacMeekin (sp), captained an LST on D-Day, too. The Navy ended up having to choose between awarding him a court martial or a medal. He got the Silver Star for violating orders. He drove his LST up the only clear lane available to offload his tanks while at risk of blocking the lane because the Germans had it zeroed in with artillery. His LST took several direct hits, but he was able to get the tanks off and his LST out of the lane. My father said the Navy had a little building named after him somewhere.
@@LawtonDigital I hope that you may have or could /can get a video of him telling this story if possible. He has True Grit! The Navy should name an LHA or Hovercraft after him.
When I was a young boy (13 or 14) I got to meet Douglas Fairbanks Jr at the most famous Hotel in Singapore. My Mother and us 5 kids were sitting on one of the round sofas in the lobby of the Hotel. When my Mother exclaimed. "there is Douglas Fairbanks Jr". We all responded "Who". Well my Mother told me to go over and ask him for his autograph. And be very polite about it. Well I walked over to where he was sitting on another round sofa and identified my self, stuck my hand out to shake his (as we were taught to do by our Father) and I asked him if I could have his autograph for my Mother. The man was quite old (like every other adult over the age of 30 was) and was polite and shook my hand. He said some very nice things about my manners and said he would love to give my Mother an autograph. He signed the paper I had brought with me and turned and waved to all of my brothers and sister and Mother. From that day forward I have always been interested in Mr Fairbanks work.
Thank you so much, I salute the courage and patriotism of Mr. Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
I served in this unit.
Due to the nature of our mission, we never got much attention.
Thank you for your service!
opsec understood thank you...
well done Herb!! many thanks for your service !
Mr. Padgett, As a proud U.S. NAVY veteran myself, I salute you sir! ✌🏻🇺🇸
Thank You for helping defeat the Nazis. The world owes you a debt of gratitude.
Had no idea. Always liked Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Now I respect and admire him so much more.
read his auto biographies. The war one is the BEST. You come away just laughing and it is NOT the typical auto biography, he's almost claiming he sort of fell into these situations.....and claims no bravery, just mainly not wanting to lose face. HIs first trip by plane across to the UK is hilarious, he almost froze to death, and ... well proudly says he peed himself and felt much warmer.
I struggle to imagine ANY of todays movie "stars" conducting themselves in a manner that so many of those in the Hollywood of the 1940's did.
Mike Brown I tend to agree. But, to be fair, these are different times, and we don't see an enemy as clearly as we did in WWII. There are some stars- like Gary Sinise and his foundation- that very much stand up for veterans, and quite a few visited troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it is hard to see a conflict where so many stood up as they did in WWII.
Fair points.
I think I was referring to people who put their Hollywood careers aside for the duration of the conflict to actually serve their nation in whatever capacity they could.
This obviously precludes most from, say, flying F-22s or commanding M-1A2 Abrams MBTs (owing to the advanced technical skills required, which most current entertainment personalities are unable to grasp), but it's striking that the people who really did try to leave their careers and join the fight (Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman) get ridiculed- posthumously- by their peers and "fans".
We truly are in a completely different era; one that I fear we may not survive.......................
Mike Brown Pat Tillman was actually the example I was thinking of. Again, to be fair, we are not facing conflicts where such a high percentage of the population is under arms. We just don't see the whole nation mobilizing like World War II, so it is difficult to judge. And it is difficult to imagine a conflict that would draw the sort of national unity and patriotic zeal as we had fighting Hitler. But the political atmosphere is also much different in Hollywood today, and it does feel like the famous today are cut from different cloth.
Don't Forget that Actor/Comedian Rob Riggle is a retired Lt. Col. from the Marine Corps! There was also Dean Martin, Jr. Capt USAF reserve. F-4 Wild Weasel pilot. If he had not smacked the side of a mountain, he would have been flying that mission in the First Gulf War. The current enemy is a stateless bunch but every bit as ruthless and murderous as were the Nazis and the Communists. It's a very strange and different war like no other we as a nation will have to contend with. George W. Bush said that shortly after 9/11 somehow either the country didn't listen or pay much attention. Robin Williams never said no to the USO. It is a different time, people tend to forget that the people who fought the Second World War, or worked in the factories and shipyards were tested first by the Great Depression, they were hard because the times demanded it. That generation is leaving the stage now. Just yesterday Lefty Kreh the noted fly fisherman and author, died, he was 93 veteran of the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of a Concentration Camp. Soon they will all be gone.
I would love you to do a show and tell of your hats, “covers.”
"Too cool!" great story. This stuff should be taught in school.
I was a late baby and graduated high school in 1988. I am proud of the fact that I had four uncles and an aunt (WAVE) who served during WWII. My last uncle died in May of 2022. I shall miss them. They were patriots, did their duty, and were fortunate enough to come back alive after seeing major combat. My Uncle Jack (aboard the USS Hinsdale) served during the Easter Sunday attack of Okinawa. He was making Easter eggs for all the troops on the ship (cook) when the Hinsdale was hit by a kamikaze strike. Many men were lost that day. The ship survived, but my uncle said that after the attack, he was covered in Easter egg dye and rope burns. He survived the attack, regained composure, and began to help save and search for wounded and survivors, and recover the dead. I saw him tell that story in later years with tears streaming from his eyes. God Bless all of The Greatest Generation.
Damn! This is the making of a movie! Are you listening, Hollywood? You ought to be. Outstanding, Professor, thanks for sharing this and keeping the memory of it alive.
Thanks for posting this story my fathers first exposure to combat was in Operation Dragoon. He served in the 36th Infantry Division, 141st Infantry Regiment. 3rd Battalion, Company M. The 1st Battalion would become known as the "Lost Battalion" They were rescued by the 442 Regimental Combat Team and sustained heavy casualties in the effort. The movie "Go for Broke" memorialized this action. My father was wounded in fighting in the Vosges mountains as well. Thanks again!
I was so impressed by the story of Douglas Fairbanks Jr's wartime service and wanted to learn more that I just had to order his "A Hell of a War" biography. My thanks to The History Guy for this video and all the other amazing history stories that deserved to be remembered on this channel!
I hoped you enjoyed reading the book. YOU NEED this video to tell you how truly brave he was, as in the book he's so matter of fact about all that happened.
Great book.
I didn't know he put out a book. Now I will be looking to buy one. Thanks for this story. I admired Douglas Fairbanks JR when I was growing up as a child in the late 60's watching re-runs.
I am a fan of old Hollywood, knew that Fairbanks had been in the Navy (he was an avid sailor), but was not aware of these amazing activities! Thank you! I am now off to find a copy of his book =)
Edit: book ordered!
What a formidable man he was.. Had he not been so unasuming, he would probbaly have made rear admiral. Thank you for the great videos,
and topics you bring up.
The unassuming ones. Well, they're legends
Once again, I am amazed at a story I knew nothing about. Thank You History Guy! I actually did know of Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart's WWII service. One of my many treasures is a 1945 copy of a Life magazine with Jimmy Stewart on the cover. Stewart and Gable were movie stars before the war, one soldier who took part in Operation Dragoon was future Hollywood actor, and America's most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy. (Another one of my favorite treasures is a July 1945 Life magazine with 20 year Audie Murphy on the cover) Another highly decorated American soldier from WWII who later became an actor is Neville Brand. I always found it fascinating that men who saw so much combat would become actors after the war; and that men with such fame and money before the war would become soldiers. You'd not see that coming out of hollywood today sadly!
Thank you. Incredible. Other actors get more recognition for war service but he was the real deal.
Another 5 minutes of my life I can appreciate. Thank you Sir!
History guy your the best. I am learning so much from you. Thank you.
Great story, never heard of the Beach Jumpers.
Such an amazing story! Thank you so much for giving these stories that absolutely should be remembered!
I just came across this channel about a month ago. I love that you cover not just the "popular" history surrounding wars and major events, but cover important but little known history as well. Great Channel to subscribe to. I appreciate the enthusiasm you bring to each topic.
Great stuff. Thank you so much.
Another Dragoon participant was literal super-hero-soldier and future actor Audie Murphy......perhaps a piece on him would be nice?
Maybe- his story is not quite forgotten, but I suspect few knew that he came to Europe through Operation Dragoon rather than Operation Overlord.
Thank you for remembering such a great man who could have easily been lost to history! I had no idea of his service years! Thank you again!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR EPISODES as a history buff you bring to light stories I didn't know about THANK YOU and KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK
Jackie Coogan was a glider pilot in the CBI Theater of war.
That's a great piece! Thank you so much for sharing that.
Thank you very much mr. History guy you're awesome that is so needed that we hold on to our history so our tomorrow can be brighter I thank you so much for your time your love and support of History once again thank you so much you do a outstanding job. James
That was really good. It is one story I had not heard about WWII. Thanks that was great!
Another great story, thank you for sharing. You do great work.
Amazing. Didn't know this in any way, shape or form and I've been studying World War 2 for 45 years. Thank you.
another great true life story that would make a fantastic movie..thanks for enlightening us ...never heard this one before either!
Thanks History Guy - true stories are the best stories, and you have thousands!
This is my favorite channel on RUclips - Keep up the good work! 😎🥂😎
I feel pretty fortunate to have stumble onto your channel. Top level videos. Thanks, brother!
I was looking for another channel when I clicked on one of yours.
Every time I play a video of THG, I start by hitting the thumbs up button.
I just know I am going to love it, and I am never disappointed. Always very interesting and informative. Thank you.
I love your channel - fortunately there are so many more to be enjoyed!
Love your. Channel. I am in history fanatic as well believe that's how we learn keep up the good work I just discovered you today and I'm hooked thank you so much for all the effort and all the presentation is just as good as the information it's itself so you are doing a five-star production keep up the good work
I was assigned to FLTDECGRUPAC in the late 80's and it was awesome, still had fun with Ivan. I never knew the background on the Beach Jumpers and had even forgotten about it. Thanks so much for what you do, I really enjoy your channel!
A Beach Jumper unit existed at the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia, during my tenure there in 1963-1965.
James Ziemba - Go Gator Navy!
My tenure, BJU2, Team 28, Little Creek, Va. 1965 to end of 1967. Greatest adventure of my life.
Another great video. Thanks History Guy!!
Thank you for a very enlightening five minutes History Guy. I'll be doing more reading on southern France campaigns.
You are so needed on utube. Articulate and informative. "I SAY GOOD JOB - HERE HERE!!!"
Absolutely a great video , which instruct the masses bad me a better understanding of our history
You did it again! Extremely entertaining and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed it. My dad was in the Navy Reserves during WWII, so I especially like Navy History.
I really enjoy your videos. The narration, video, documentation & historical insight are commendable 😁😎
Excellent. Very well done. I am easily hooked and plan on watching more videos.
I knew Fairbanks served in the Navy, I didnt know the details....So awesome, they sure dont make'm like that anymore.....Thank you History Guy for you're post
Terrific, as usual...many thanks.
I could see this unit being ideal for a movie. Small unit tactics excellent. Thank you for this little bit of forgotten history.
Steven Lower it would make a good film. It was so super- secret at the time that mist of the men in the unit never told their families what they did in the war.
Created an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1949, awarded the British Distinguished Service Cross, the French Legion of Honour and Croix de Guerre with Palm for his services during World War II.
Douglas Fairbanks senior and his second wife Mary Pickford were acquaintances of the Lord and Lady Mountbatten and Douglas Fairbanks Jr was acquaintances of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
So not only did Douglas Fairbanks Jr serve under Lord Mountbatten when Mountbatten was in command of Combined Operations in 1942, but when Mountbatten was Allied Supreme Commander of South East Asia Command 1943-45, Fairbanks Jr would have been under command for Operation Zipper in 1945.
Operation Zipper was the British Commonwealth and Empire's vengeful sledgehammer coming to smash the Japanese nut and retake Malaya and Singapore.
The August-September 1945 time-line was very important as the allied code breakers had for many months gaining detailed information on Japanese plans for the September extermination of all allied prisoners of war and civilian internees in South-East Asia. The plans went into detail on different methods of mass executions, deposal of bodies and evidence. All this the allies knew about and had dropped some not very subtle hints to the Japanese Emperor, Japanese government and military on whose head the final judgement would fall.
Geoffrey Mowbray he has many friends in high places. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. accompanied him when he enlisted. But it doesn't seem that he was treated with any particular favor.
Would be good, but please start the film with the Royal Commandos as they were what inspired the unit in the first place and helped set it up.
Fantastic show, congrats, I was happy to see you get the CNOs name corrected.
LOVE your videos! Great research, great presentations.
Another reason for the delayed D Day in southern France was a lack of landing craft. There was not enough to for both invasions. I get this information from the book Guns at Last Light by Rick Atkinson.
The Trilogy he wrote starts with Army at Dawn, the Allied operations in North Africa. Followed by Day of Battle, the operations in the Mediterranean. The last book is called Guns at Last Light.
The books are an outstanding read about history and those who experienced it. Like this channel there are many insights into the actions of the past.
If you are interested in WW2 these books are a great read and you will learn a lot.
Thank you. Sounds like a great read!
indeed. And both landings in France were responsible for a lot of delays in the Malaya campaign that also needed landing craft for the invasion of Burma.
Thank you for sharing this fascinating story about Douglas Fairbanks Jr. What an impressive navy career. I'm a navy combat veteran who was part of the task force that established the coastal blockade of Vietnam. I can't elaborate but can say we were engaged is some deceptive operations and in one, may very well have had a joint operation with beach jumpers. That operation preceded seal landings in the area.
I never even heard of this! Amazing, Mr. History Guy!
Very interesting. I've never heard this story of the Beachjumpers and I am into a lot of WW2 history. Thank you History Guy.
Excellent story Lance and was definitely news to me! Thank you for a very engaging 10 minutes (ok 9:55). Btw I’m glad to see you let your hair grow out a little. Looks much better!
A very interesting story. I knew nothing of this. Thanks for posting.
Agreed! Thanks History Guy.
I love your stuff! I would appreciate coverage for Charles Lindbergh's WWII air actions, in particular the 50 air sorties he flew in the pacific as a civilian "consultant".
Another great job there "Guy". I knew Fairbanks did his own movie stunts, but your story showed him to be the "Real Deal". Thanks again for my education.
Love your work. Thank you.
I would disagree that Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable received special treatment. They were in front line combat AAF bomber crews.
well he does point out they DID serve on the front lines and in danger. Many others, such as Ronald Reagan, just did PR.
Tyrone Power served as well.
Yes flack does not stop for stars
@@somethingelse4878 Agreed. Look to Pat Tillman.
@@johnrbarton3504 kk
Thank you for the wonderful history lessons!
Very interesting story. I did not know anything about Fairbanks and even though I like to think I’m pretty rebuffed on World War II history, I was not completely aware of the secondary landings away from the D day invasion. Learn something new every day. Thank you so much for the story
Very interesting and enjoyable. Thank you
Another captivating story...BTW, my older teachers often remarked that my collegiate good looks resembled Douglas Fairbanks, Jr....
I really like hearing these stories about celebrities that enter the war and then are humble enough to want to leave their fame behind and really do something for a greater cause.
Awesome.
An addition to the list of stars that served, Eddie Albert drove Higgins boats
My Father's Commanding Officer. Thank you History Guy. Dad was OSS trained. He appeared in Director John Ford's O.S.S. Training Films. The Old Man was a U.S. Navy S.A C.O Weather Observer in China Station after Ernie fired Mary.
Another intriguing piece of history revealed,always a good presentation,thanks from Australia
Wow you sure come up with the best store's thanks again!
I realize you lean towards American History, but I would like to suggest 5 minutes on Lord Elgin,, the Governor General of Canada around 1847. Elgin upheld the provision of responsible government in Canada which led to rioting by the English and French in what is now Ottawa, Canada. He was also instrumental in creating a trade treaty with the US in 1854. I wrote a paper on it 30 years ago and found it quite fascinating and believe you would do a great job of painting a vivid picture for us. As you’ve likely guessed, I truly enjoy your snippets of history, that needs to be remembered, and really appreciate the work you do on this channel.
Kind regards,
Gordon Green
Vancouver, Canada
We need more published history of Canada on RUclips.
My new favorite channel!!!!
Love the name “The Beach Jumpers” jokingly and unassuming!
Wow, Just Wow !! "Very high, indeed"...
Great stuff THG, Great stuff indeed ! :)
Nice one! As usual..:-)
It reminds me of the rather entertaining movie "Galaxy Quest".
No need to apologize, just a correction is fine? Keep presenting great stories? Great job you are one of my top10 favs and that's saying alot
Always gr8. Thank you.
Wow! Didn't know any of this despite a lifetime (50+ years) interest in military and naval history. Thanks for posting.
Very good! People who have never served in the military often don't realize just how important a role deception plays in combat operations. Cheers, Russ
You can say more in 10 minutes than anybody can 30 minutes. Good job
@Marc Bondura When your.....
Fairbanks was also flag lieutenant ( or aide) to the U.S flag officer working with the British during the formation and initial transit of convoy PQ-17, before it was ordered to scatter. There is an interesting report on the convoy in the Navy's Operational Archives.
He talked about that in his memoir- it was his first taste of combat.
Had no idea, amazing story! Thanks.
I did not know this, thanks! I just now ordered the book!
Great story. You should talk about Jimmy Stewart sometime, as well. I never knew he made it to brigadier general. There must be some stories behind that as well.
Thanks - I’ve heard nothing of this before, and I was born in 1951, and have always had an interest. Overlord is about all I am familiar with
My experience with utube would be very disappointing without the humble History Guy!
Time and time again, you surprise me. Did not know anything about this history, both Douglas Fairbanks Jr. & the Beach Jumpers. Super interesting as I am an amateur WWII history buff
Thanks for the good show.
There is a photograph of Fairbanks aboard PT309 during Dragoon. PT309 still exists, at the Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas. Her sister boat which also served in Dragoon, PT305, also survives, at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
PT-305, the ‘USS Sudden Jerk,’ has been fully restored and still runs. (I’ve been a volunteer with her since 2010) She is in the water at Lake Pontchatrain - where she did her acceptance trials in 1943 - and the Museum offers deck tours and rides - PT-305.org.
Hello there, your series is awesome, however I can say with out reservation that the 63 foot ASR, AVR and ASRC were not Plywood hull but planked boats, I have served on three Miami and four Stephens boats , 2 of these used hall Scott defender 650 HP motors.
Your channel is amazing!
My dad's favorite movie and one of my favorites as well is Gunga Din interesting that of all the Hollywood stars who made real and significant contributions in military service I was completely unaware of perhaps the finest