Rat Patrol Radio

26/04/2024

US Personnel examines a destroyed German Tiger I tank near Béja, Tunisia - April 23, 1943

Credit: Signal Corps - SC 171656

24/04/2024

French Children tend to the roadside graves of fallen British/Commonwealth Soldiers in Normandy ten months after the D-Day landings - April 1945

LIFE Magazine Archives - Ralph Morse Photographer

24/04/2024

Canadian Sherman Firefly IC in Groningen Netherlands - April 16, 1945

Public Archives Canada

24/04/2024

Today, we share an aerial shot from AirVenture 2017 featuring 11 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. This gathering of B-25s commemorated the brave men who served in the Doolittle Raid on April 18, 1942, which occurred 82 years ago today.

This raid marked the initial response to the attack on Pearl Harbor and showcased the U.S. military's capability to strike Japan's homeland through air forces.

📷 Chris Miller

02/04/2024

Sad news. They're all fading away.

Lou Conter, the last known survivor of the USS Arizona battleship, which sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor, has died. He was 102.

29/03/2024

One turret from the Japanese battleship Yamato, weighs more than an entire Fletcher-class destroyer.

The Yamato's main armament consisted of nine 46 cm (18.1 inch) Type 94 main guns, which were the largest caliber guns ever mounted on a warship. The guns were arranged in three gun turrets, each gun weighed 147.3 tons and were 69.3 ft (21.13 meters) long.

https://navalhistoria.com/the-yamato-japans-behemoth-with-18-inch-guns/

23/03/2024

https://hasanjasim.online/a-welcomed-sight-the-rms-queen-elizabeth-returns-home/

Imagine the jubilation that filled the air as the RMS Queen Elizabeth pulled into New York Harbor. This iconic ship, known for its luxurious accommodations and massive capacity, played a pivotal role in World War II. With a staggering capacity of 15,000 passengers, the Queen Elizabeth served valiant...

14/02/2024

On this day in WWII, 14 February, 1939 love was in the... wait, no...

On this day in WWII, 14 February, 1939, the Bismarck was launched. She was the first of two Bismarck-class battleships. Bismarck and her sister ship, the Tirpitz. At the time, they were the largest battleships built by Germany.

Bismarck's claim to fame was the notable "Battle of the Denmark Strait," British battlecruiser, HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales engaged Bismarck and Prinz Eugan. In the ensuing battle, HMS Hood was destroyed, taking down 1,415 British sailors. Only three men survived.

Two days later, Bismarck was attacked by the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. Bismarck suffered a torpedo hit from a Fairey Swordfish of the HMS Ark Royal, that damaged it so that it could not turn.

On the next day, the Bismarck was attacked by two British heavy cruisers and two battleships. As her steering gear had been knocked out by a torpedo the prior day, she was unable to maneuver. After forty-five minutes of shooting, all of Bismarck's guns were knocked out of action.

After the span of over an hour, the Bismarck was hit with an estimated 500 shells over 13.5cm in size, ultimately reducing the Bismarck to a flaming wreck before sinking.

To this day, it is uncertain whether she sunk due to the British guns, of if she was scuttled by her remaining crew.

27/01/2024

Today is the 79th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

On January 27, 1945, soldiers of the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front opened the gates of Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

Over 200 Soviet soldiers died in combat, liberating the main camp, Birkenau, and Monowitz. In the main camp and Birkenau, corpses of 600 prisoners were found, who had been executed by the withdrawing SS.

Watch a commemoration event streaming LIVE, by the Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau (https://www.auschwitz.org/en/):

On 27 January 2024 we will commemorate the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the German N**i concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz.The theme of ...

07/12/2023

"A date which live in infamy." - Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dec. 08, 1941

An image of the edited speech that FDR wrote on Dec. 7th, to be delivered on Dec. 8th, 1941, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, propelling the United States in to WWII.

07/12/2023

Dec. 7, 1941

Jim Armstrong of Pacific Beach recently found the letter written by his late mother, a Red Cross nurse who was nearly killed in the raid

23/11/2023

Some turkey for your Thanksgiving today! So why does the Grumman TBM Avenger have the 'turkey' nickname? Compared to the size of the smaller F4F Wildcats, sailors on Es**rt ships commented that the larger size and less maneuverability made the Avenger a 'turkey'. Happy Thanksgiving!

© Britt Dietz - http://www.warbird-photos.com
Instagram:

23/11/2023

During WWII, the U.S. military was determined to get every man overseas a traditional Thanksgiving meal. In 1943, two Liberty ships set out across the waves, carrying not just a massive quantity of turkeys, but also hoards of trimmings, cranberry sauce and even various pies.

From Rat Patrol Radio to you and yours, happy Thanksgiving.

To those who don't observe the American holiday, be thankful for what you have and eat a bunch of good food today!

22/11/2023

The Republic P-47D is definitely a favorite of Rat Patrol Radio. Basically a flying tank. The 'Jug' was a huge, chunky, and dangerous warbird.

Of the 15,683 P-47s built between 1941 and 1945, only about 3,500 were lost in combat. Over 7,000 enemy aircraft were claimed by P-47D pilots, who almost unanimously loved the plane.

The "Jug" had incredible firepower from its eight .50 caliber guns in its wings. It carried 3,400 rounds, so it could stay in the fight and see the job done. It was very effective as a ground attack aircraft; arguably more effective than a in fighter role. It was capable of carrying up to 3,000 pounds of external ordnance. All told, it claimed around 6,000 armored fighting vehicles thousands of railroad cars, and tens of thousands of supply vehicles.

In 1943, the P-47C's first mission failed, due to issues with their radio systems. They were refitted with British radios. By late 1943, the P-47D was unleashed and it promptly began building its legacy.

22/11/2023

These are a few of the more peculiar planes from WWII.

15/11/2023

US ARMY Creamed Ground Beef
1 lb ground beef
2 Tablespoon butter
1/4 cup flour
1 cube beef bouillon
3/4 teaspoon salt
pepper to taste
2 1/4 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Brown beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain excess fat and set beef aside.
Melt butter in skillet over medium heat.
Slowly add the flour, stirring constantly, to form a brown roux.
Add the bouillon.
Gradually stir in the milk and Worcestershire sauce, mixing well.
Add the cooked ground beef, salt, and pepper.
Bring all to a simmer, stirring constantly. Serve hot over buttered toast.

24/10/2023

This November (2023), the National WWII Museum in New Orleans officially celebrates the completion of its $400 million campus with the opening of the Liberation Pavilion. On November 3rd, WWII veterans, most 100 years of age, or older, will gather to be among the first guests to view the new exhibitions.

In a continuation of the war years that the museum so eloquently lays out, the new pavilion takes visitors through the end of of the fighting and the Holocaust, before moving on to the postwar years and the war's continuing impact.

This three-story pavilion houses two floors of exhibit spaces: Finding Hope in a World Destroyed and Forces of Freedom at Home and Abroad (1945-present). On the third floor, a revolving theater offers audiences a brand-new cinematic experience

www.nationalww2museum.org
1-877-813-3329

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world - why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today.

01/10/2023

18/09/2023

heartfelt narrative of a returning WWII soldier as he recalls a powerful conversation with his father.

17/09/2023

Three years ago today, we lost one of the last of the Tuskegee Airmen, Malcolm E. Nettingham. He was 101 years old.

Nettingham joined the military in 1944 as a member of the 617th Squadron, 477th Composite Group, the unit was also known for the Tuskegee Airmen. The Airmen were famous for fearlessly defending bombers with their fighter planes.

Black servicemen and women were restricted to noncombat units prior to the Tuskegee Airmen. He was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey and trained as a radio operator/gunner on a B-25 bomber in 1945.

Today, only one known member of the Tuskegee Airmen is still alive; Sgt. Victor W. Butler. He is also 101 years old at the time of this post.

31/08/2023

Thursday, August 31, 1944 - Combined forces of the U.S. Fifth Army and British Eighth Army broke through the German "Gothic Line." The defensive line was drawn across northern Italy.

This offensive cost the U.S. 5th army over 100,000 casualties, with nearly 20,000 of them K.I.A.

09/08/2023

On August 9th, 1942, 19-year-old Navy Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples was serving aboard the cruiser USS Astoria near Savo Island, of the Solomon Isles. Around 0200 hours on the 9th, the USS Astoria was torpedoed by Japanese Cruisers. One of them hit the Astoria's #1 gun turret and it exploded, rocking the USS Astoria and sending Seaman Elgin into the air and overboard.

200 sailors from the USS Astoria died that night.

Shrapnel had damaged Elgin's leg, but he was kept afloat by an inflatable rubber belt that he had put on just before the explosion. This inflatable rubber belt kept him afloat in the ocean for four hours, until he was scooped up by the destroyer, USS Bagley. Bagley went back to help the badly damaged Astoria, who was trying her best to limp back to shore.

At 1200 hours, the Astoria finally listed and sunk, dropping Elgin Staples back into the ocean, still wearing the rubber life belt. He was rescued a second time by the transport ship, the USS President Jackson. While on the ship, he examined his life belt and saw that it had been made in his hometown, Akron, Ohio, by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.

When he got back home to Akron, he told his mother about the ordeal and showed her the life belt and told her it had been made in the Firestone factory, right here in Akron. She looked at the belt and was stunned. She pointed to the inspector label and said to him, "Son, I’m an inspector at Firestone. This is my inspector number.”

Elgin's mother had put her arms halfway around the world to save her son.

04/08/2023

Peter MacDonald, born in 1928 (now 95 years old), served as a Navajo Code talker during WWII. As a young radio operator his code was never broken by the Japanese during his time in Guam and China with the 6th Marine Division.

Peter is the acting president of the Navajo Code Talker Association one of the last remaining survivors. During the war, twelve Native American dialects were spoken, including Mohawk, Seminole, Iroquois, Choctaw, Mohegan, and Pawnee.

28/07/2023

On July 28, 1935, the plane that would become the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress first took to the skies.

Although used in the Pacific Theater, it is most remembered for its use in the round-the-clock bombing of German industrial, military and civilian targets. RAF Bomber Command's night bombing, combined with the USAAF's daytime bombing operations put a severe damper on Germany's ability to wage war in Europe

One of the most recognizable B-17s to come out of WWII was the legendary Memphis Belle. The original plane is on display at the The National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Almost 13,000 B-17s were built between 1936 and 1945. Nearly 5,000 were lost during combat missions. Most were scrapped after the war. Today, only about 40 are in existence in museums and only about 12 of them are in flying condition.

22/07/2023

A U.S. 57mm anti-tank gun at Le Pont Brocard, France, SE of Saint Lo. This picture was shot from an interesting and uncommon angle. US gunners named their gun "Bonnie-1."

21/07/2023

A large British offensive called Operation Goodwood took place soon after the Normandy Invasion, between 18 and 20 July 1944. The objective of the operation was to capture the rest of Caen.

This is considered to be the largest tank action that Britain has ever been involved in. Ultimately, Operation Goodwood failed. However, their assault on Caen diverted much-needed German forces away from the Canadians and U.S. that would attack from different sides of Caen.

20/06/2023

1940 - The Battle of the Atlantic was in full swing and German U-Boats dominated the Atlantic Ocean. Six Allied ships were sunk, or damaged on this day.

June 20th

Around 1 in the afternoon, German submarine U-30 attacked the British merchant steamer Otterpool, of Allied convoy HG-34F, but all of her torpedoes missed. Six hours later, U-30 attacked again. This time, U-30 scored a hit with one stern torpedo. Otterpool sank West of the French island of Ushant. The Master, 21 crew members and one gunner were lost. 16 crew members were picked up by British sloop HMS Scarborough.

U-30 had an impressive run, claiming 17 ships sunk, with 2 damaged, before being decommissioned in January, 1945.

Later in the day, Dutch motor tanker Moordrecht was hit in the engine room by a torpedo from German submarine U-48, the most successful U-boat in the war. Moordrecht exploded and sank by the stern within two minutes. The Master and 24 crew members were lost. Only four survivors made it to a lifeboat.

In all, the U-48 sunk 51 ships and damaged 3 more, before it was decommissioned in October, 1943.

16/06/2023

Glory, glory, what a helluva way to die.
Glory, glory, what a helluva way to die.
Glory, glory, what a helluva way to die.
He ain't gonna jump no more!