War is hell...often said and truer words never spoken. War in an environment that will itself kill you, is a special circle of hell. Both the PBY crew and submarine crew knew that and still went at each other tooth and claw. "One came home...". Lived to 105 years of age...perhaps an immortal plotline in "Highlander"? Naw, it would get laughed out of the proposal pitch meeting...
Hail the travelers. May God give wisdom to our leaders that our young men and women be kept from harm's way when possible, and may He protect them and bring them safe home when they must needs go to the fight. And when they fall, as fall some must, may He welcome them to their Eternal Home.
I had an uncle who served on a Royal Navy hospital ship. My father said it needed courage to sail in the far North Atlantic and Arctic, defended only by a large red cross.
Fullbore. One of Scoobs' quirky bachelor mannerisms is an affinity for going to the National Archives and harvesting the fruits of the WW2 Anti-Submarine Warfare Incident Reports (9000+ individual records) and trying to fill in some the holes in the WW2 ASW narrative. Grandpa Scoobs (the blackshoe) commanded two DDs on convoy duty in the Atlantic; Papa Scoobs came up through the Cold War S-2 / P-3 ASW Mafia; one of his favorite stories is of an alert launch out of Moffett Field CA and trucking hundreds of miles offshore (EMCON) to put a line of sonobuoys in the water and tag the first Yankee-I SSBN to venture across the pond...
Nurse Jane here, my Squadron Commander USAF (03) Captain Pilot son, age 28, has completed his Flying and now flies the Desk for the next fourteen (14) days. Yes, over there in Germany! Deutchland Uber Alles! To the South are burning wildfires in Bordeaux France!
Further South in a little Spanish enclave near Morocco Africa, chaos has erupted as thousands of African men, women and children are Breeching the gates for sanctuary! Italy and France have heightened their boarder controls!
Further East… toward the South Pacific, CCP Navy has been patrolling near the Philippine Islands!
My prayers are with my son and his crew!
My father hosed out the returning planes prior to D-Day on UK soil. Private Irvin Schneider, Army Air Corps, taught me to be careful and save money, like a Bank!
Monday past, 27 July 2026, I observed a person in distress 400 feet East-South East in the Chesapeake Bay. I called 911 and initiated that “Rescue”. The person, over 75 years old, had no business in a flotation device with 20 mph winds and white caps. Some people choose to die … fate steps in… I shouted so he’d hear me! His boat sprung a leak… 400 feet in the Chesapeake Bay. On record with AAPD, EMS, Galesville Fire Department, that man denied distress, refused care, wife colluded and shortly there after, drove his Toyota plates ending in 53 North on First Avenue.
Thank you for sharing this story of a very brave Pilot-Banker, living to 105 years! Pray please, my son lives and enjoys our home here at Forevermore by the Chesapeake Bay, Deale, MD 20751. Nurse Jane
"Heroes walk all around us" - Made me think of my youth in the 50's & 60's where many/most everyday men all around me had been through life-and-death combat situations, many had taken lives, many had seen close friends die. Yet upon their return they were draftsmen, salesmen, mechanics, school bus drivers, garage shop owners . . . and yes, bankers - people living ordinary lives. My father flew 43 combat missions as a gunner on B-24s in the South Pacific (5th AAF). My father-in-law experienced combat for the very first time at the Battle of the Bulge (99th Infantry Division). Both were ordinary men who had been through extraordinary life experiences, which is why their generation seems to have been so different and achieved so much.
Absent Comrades, Fallen Friends, and Honorable Opponents!
Fullbore all.
War is hell...often said and truer words never spoken. War in an environment that will itself kill you, is a special circle of hell. Both the PBY crew and submarine crew knew that and still went at each other tooth and claw. "One came home...". Lived to 105 years of age...perhaps an immortal plotline in "Highlander"? Naw, it would get laughed out of the proposal pitch meeting...
Hail the travelers. May God give wisdom to our leaders that our young men and women be kept from harm's way when possible, and may He protect them and bring them safe home when they must needs go to the fight. And when they fall, as fall some must, may He welcome them to their Eternal Home.
I had an uncle who served on a Royal Navy hospital ship. My father said it needed courage to sail in the far North Atlantic and Arctic, defended only by a large red cross.
72 wounds...my goodness. And refused mophine and still came back to the cockpit to ensure a safe landing. Fullbore and then some!
20mm frags?
U boats carried a mix of 37mm, 20mm and sometimes 13.5mm hmg
if carried the 37mm was a single or 2 single mounts
the 20mm varied with up to 8 carried, a quad, and two twins
Now, THAT is some toxic masculinity!
In a related story. The American Heritage Museum’s historic Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, BuNo 2459, was named World War II Grand Champion at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. https://vintageaviationnews.com/restorations/american-heritage-museums-pby-5a-catalina-named-world-war-ii-grand-champion-at-airventure-2026.html
Fullbore. One of Scoobs' quirky bachelor mannerisms is an affinity for going to the National Archives and harvesting the fruits of the WW2 Anti-Submarine Warfare Incident Reports (9000+ individual records) and trying to fill in some the holes in the WW2 ASW narrative. Grandpa Scoobs (the blackshoe) commanded two DDs on convoy duty in the Atlantic; Papa Scoobs came up through the Cold War S-2 / P-3 ASW Mafia; one of his favorite stories is of an alert launch out of Moffett Field CA and trucking hundreds of miles offshore (EMCON) to put a line of sonobuoys in the water and tag the first Yankee-I SSBN to venture across the pond...
Passed at 105, remember the old Timex commercials?
Jetcal1: "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking."
Well done, Sir!
Nurse Jane here, my Squadron Commander USAF (03) Captain Pilot son, age 28, has completed his Flying and now flies the Desk for the next fourteen (14) days. Yes, over there in Germany! Deutchland Uber Alles! To the South are burning wildfires in Bordeaux France!
Further South in a little Spanish enclave near Morocco Africa, chaos has erupted as thousands of African men, women and children are Breeching the gates for sanctuary! Italy and France have heightened their boarder controls!
Further East… toward the South Pacific, CCP Navy has been patrolling near the Philippine Islands!
My prayers are with my son and his crew!
My father hosed out the returning planes prior to D-Day on UK soil. Private Irvin Schneider, Army Air Corps, taught me to be careful and save money, like a Bank!
Monday past, 27 July 2026, I observed a person in distress 400 feet East-South East in the Chesapeake Bay. I called 911 and initiated that “Rescue”. The person, over 75 years old, had no business in a flotation device with 20 mph winds and white caps. Some people choose to die … fate steps in… I shouted so he’d hear me! His boat sprung a leak… 400 feet in the Chesapeake Bay. On record with AAPD, EMS, Galesville Fire Department, that man denied distress, refused care, wife colluded and shortly there after, drove his Toyota plates ending in 53 North on First Avenue.
Thank you for sharing this story of a very brave Pilot-Banker, living to 105 years! Pray please, my son lives and enjoys our home here at Forevermore by the Chesapeake Bay, Deale, MD 20751. Nurse Jane
You have to love the way the British understate his condition:
“seriously prejudiced his chance of survival “
Thank you
Fullbore, Aye!
Truly inspiring.
"Heroes walk all around us" - Made me think of my youth in the 50's & 60's where many/most everyday men all around me had been through life-and-death combat situations, many had taken lives, many had seen close friends die. Yet upon their return they were draftsmen, salesmen, mechanics, school bus drivers, garage shop owners . . . and yes, bankers - people living ordinary lives. My father flew 43 combat missions as a gunner on B-24s in the South Pacific (5th AAF). My father-in-law experienced combat for the very first time at the Battle of the Bulge (99th Infantry Division). Both were ordinary men who had been through extraordinary life experiences, which is why their generation seems to have been so different and achieved so much.
I miss my dad and my father-in-law.