D-Day and Hastings

[Richard]

I can't fathom what the 'D' in "D-Day" stands for - anyone know?
Also did you see the two planes flying low over Hastings earlier today?
No idea what they were, but probably flying in connection with those remembrance services across the channel.

[Technique]

It doesn't stand for anything - it is a military reference point D-Day. It is the day when a military operation is due to take place. D minus one would be the day before, D plus one would be the day after and so on. They also use H-Hour as well. It just so happens that today's D-Day is the most famous one.

Sobbed my socks off today watching all the old gents on the telly - it was like the years fell away and you could see the boys they were at the time it all took place..

[Derek Jempson]

And we all should be eternally grateful. Can you even begin to imagine what the world would be like today if Hitler's Third Reich had triumphed?

[Richard]

I think the vast majority of people don't even give it a thought!
What troubles me slightly is the rise of the 'far right' in EU countries, including France - - and the attempts by 'mainstream' politicians to jump on the band-wagon, if only to placate those who are in sympathy with the populism of the 'Neo-facists'.
There are still people out there who are totally ignorant of the potential dangers they are supporting, but at least we have a fairly accountable democratic process now, unlike some parts of the world.

[Gerry Glyde]

Today I do not think we can easily understand what was expected of the youth of the 1940s. Pilots of 19 or 20 with very little flying time being required to fly Spitfires or Huricanes whilst concentrating on trying to fire at on coming opponents and making quick avoidance manouvres. Or the young infantry men walking across fields for miles wondering if an attack may come from the next hedgerow. I had not realised that servicemen were digging trenches for cover in the 2Ww. In Northumberland there is a small Commonwealth cemetery of about 30 graves near what was one of the many local airstrips that comprises of men who died in 2ww non combat air accidents all of whom were under 24.
I have recently read a biography of three 2ww deserters two from US and a Scot. They were imprisoned but all had been volunteers and engaged in combat. One American aged 18 was trapped behind German lines with 7 mates and all teamed up with the French Resistance before rejoining their unit. The young man then 19 was promoted to corporal to lead his platoon when the officer was killed. After more combat he could take no more and walked away in a daze. Even though he was given medals by the US and the French awarded him two Croix de Guerre, honorary French citizenship he was imprisoned and all before he was 20.

[tcheerfool]

Has anybody seen the Hurricane plane doing acrobatics over West Hill yesterday? A lot of people gathered to see the event and were disappointed there weren't more planes; two more planes were meant to join but it turned out they had broken down on the way to the coast.

[Richard]

Oh, was it a "Hurricane" then?
It was announced on the promenade, earlier, as a "Lancaster Bomber" with a supporting "Spitfire" but I suspected there may have been 'technical issues' with the latter.
In that case the 2 planes I saw originally were "Hurricanes" but the markings seemed strange to me - surely they would originally have had the circular RAF markings and not the black & white stripes we all saw under their wings yesterday?
I think the fighter airplanes (Hurricanes or Spitfires) would have originally gone ahead of the 'bombers' to clear the skies of planes that would have attacked the slower 'bombers' as easy targets?

[Richard]

As for the age of young people fighting, it was partly because the Military Forces were were under-staffed as there was no conscription in force at the outbreak of WW2.
There was a shortfall in the numbers of people trained to fight.
Consequently people from the age of 18 to 41 were required to enlist, with 6 months military training to bring them to readiness, clearly this was inadequate.
That seems to be the general rule but not sure if the Navy, Air force and Army had different rules/selection procedures.
Clearly you'd have to have special skills to fly a plane at the age of eighteen after only minimal training or experience of combat.

Other countries had already conscription (National Service) in force from the days of WW1.

[Geoff]

Aerial photo from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Display.

[Richard]

thanks Geoff - great picture !!
I did not know exactly what was going on when I walked past, but saw the small 'drone' machine that was used to hover overhead and take the picture.
On that day the 'Fire Brigade' seemed to be displaying their skills up a 'cherry-picker' on the car-park-backed promenade, near Pelham Beach, but I couldn't fathom what they were really up to.