World War 1 or World War II?

[k0ua]

Got em all but I wonder how many some of today's campus snowflakes could muster. My guess would be few, very few.

I started talking to a younger person at work a few years ago about World War II. Not only could they not tell me who the major players were on each side, Axis and Allies, they could not tell me who prevailed. I don't know what they teach in schools anymore.

 

[k0ua]

I would agree that in all of these "quizzes" that some of the questions are certainly open for interpretation.

 

[dragoneggs]

I started talking to a younger person at work a few years ago about World War II. Not only could they not tell me who the major players were on each side, Axis and Allies, they could not tell me who prevailed. I don't know what they teach in schools anymore.

With two 'kids' in their late twenties now, I can tell you history is not emphasized. And we all know what happens when we don't learn from history. That said, I will commend my son for taking an interest in history on his own accord.

 

[k0ua]

For extra bonus points and without looking them up: Our Japanese friends, had 2 interesting weapons in WWII. One was the Ohka or "cherry blossom" and one was the Kaiten. What were they?

Our German friends had an interesting weapon called Fritx-X What was it?

 

[turnkey4099]

One, the Kaiten I think, was a manned torpedo.

 

[k0ua]

One, the Kaiten I think, was a manned torpedo.

Winner, Winner, chicken dinner!. Anyone else on the others?

 

[dragoneggs]

I travel to Japan often and I'm in the aerospace industry. I am guessing the 'Cherry Blossom' is the representation of the explosion when the Kamikaze aircraft hits the ship. Just my wild arsed guess on the symbology. Maybe I will ask my Japanese sales rep when I see him in a couple weeks, if I dare. Touchy subject.

 

[k0ua]

I travel to Japan often and I'm in the aerospace industry. I am guessing the 'Cherry Blossom' is the representation of the explosion when the Kamikaze aircraft hits the ship. Just my wild arsed guess on the symbology. Maybe I will ask my Japanese sales rep when I see him in a couple weeks, if I dare. Touchy subject.

No, The Ohka (cherry blossom) was a manned therefore guided cruise missile. Air launched, and rocket powered, with short stubby wings like a cruise missile for control surfaces for the onboard pilot to control the missile to crash in to the target. It was a one way trip.

was a purpose-built, rocket powered human-guided anti-shipping kamikaze attack aircraft[1] employed by Japan towards the end of World War II. United States sailors gave the aircraft the nickname Baka ( "fool" or "idiot")

 

[dragoneggs]

No, The Ohka (cherry blossom) was a manned therefore guided cruise missile. Air launched, and rocket powered, with short stubby wings like a cruise missile for control surfaces for the onboard pilot to control the missile to crash in to the target. It was a one way trip.

was a purpose-built, rocket powered human-guided anti-shipping kamikaze attack aircraft[1] employed by Japan towards the end of World War II. United States sailors gave the aircraft the nickname Baka ( "fool" or "idiot")

Well I was close... just read up on it... Looks like it was next generation Kamikaze aircraft after the zeros.

 

[IslandTractor]

28/30. Missed the questions on ideology (dumb mistake) and Lend Lease Act timing (visions of old 4 stack destroyers associated with WWI threw me off).

By the way war buffs, I hope you have all read John Keegan's books. They are the most readable and interesting books on war that I've come across (except for the one on the Iraq wars which was written well before he had a good perspective on it). Face of Battle and Price of Admiralty are my favs. Antony Beevor's books on Stalingrad and Berlin battles are also superb. And, for historic novels it is hard to beat either Patrick O'Brian or Bernard Cornwell.

 

[IslandTractor]

I started talking to a younger person at work a few years ago about World War II. Not only could they not tell me who the major players were on each side, Axis and Allies, they could not tell me who prevailed. I don't know what they teach in schools anymore.

To be fair, most of us old farts grew up in the immediate aftermath of WWII and were bombarded with details about the war from families, TV shows and movies. Kids today are removed by at least four or five wars from WWII and they have grown up being bombarded by 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan. I bet that after high school most of us could not have picked out either Afghanistan or Iraq on a globe/map. I don't think the kids are dumber, just exposed to different history on a day by day basis.

 

[dragoneggs]

I don't think the kids are dumber, just exposed to different history on a day by day basis.

I do.

 

[k0ua]

To be fair, most of us old farts grew up in the immediate aftermath of WWII and were bombarded with details about the war from families, TV shows and movies. Kids today are removed by at least four or five wars from WWII and they have grown up being bombarded by 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan. I bet that after high school most of us could not have picked out either Afghanistan or Iraq on a globe/map. I don't think the kids are dumber, just exposed to different history on a day by day basis.

I will guarantee you this person knows nothing of world history from any era, including the one they grew up with. On another tack, if you get a chance you need to read "Killing the Rising Sun" It was very good. Yes, it is a Bill O'reilly book along with another author, (Martin Dugard) but I really enjoyed it and learned a few things along the way.

 

[k0ua]

I do.

Yep...

 

[Wagtail]

28/30. Missed the questions on ideology (dumb mistake) and Lend Lease Act timing (visions of old 4 stack destroyers associated with WWI threw me off).

50 obsolete US destroyers were transferred to the Royal Navy (RN) in 1940 in the "Destroyers for Bases" deal. The most famous of them was HMS Campbeltown: HMS Campbeltown (I42) - Wikipedia

 

[IslandTractor]

50 obsolete US destroyers were transferred to the Royal Navy (RN) in 1940 in the "Destroyers for Bases" deal. The most famous of them was HMS Campbeltown: HMS Campbeltown (I42) - Wikipedia

Yes. I just mixed up the old destroyers of WWI vintage with the fact that the lend lease deal actually was done at the beginning of WWII.

BTW, if you like those old destroyers, there is a great science fiction series called "The Destroyermen" you might enjoy. "Into the Storm" is the first book. It it set in the Java Sea and based "loosely" on the action of the Asiatic Fleet at the beginning of WWII. And remember, I said it was science fiction. About a dozen books in the series.

 

[turnkey4099]

No, The Ohka (cherry blossom) was a manned therefore guided cruise missile. Air launched, and rocket powered, with short stubby wings like a cruise missile for control surfaces for the onboard pilot to control the missile to crash in to the target. It was a one way trip.

was a purpose-built, rocket powered human-guided anti-shipping kamikaze attack aircraft[1] employed by Japan towards the end of World War II. United States sailors gave the aircraft the nickname Baka ( "fool" or "idiot")

Thanks, I knew that but like so many other things my memory is fading at 82 years of age.

 

[Looking4new]

Thanks, I knew that but like so many other things my memory is fading at 82 years of age.

No malice here, it just came to me.

Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.

 

[k0ua]

Doesn't look like there is going to be any takers on the Fritz-X.

Fritz-X was a guided, aircraft delivered, "smart bomb" It was equipped with a radio receiver, with integrated antenna and control surfaces on the bomb fins so that the operator up in the bomber could steer the bomb into the target. The Allies quickly developed a countermeasure in the form of jamming equipment to jam the radio link.

Fritz X - Wikipedia