Documentary ‘The Cold Blue’ (Full Version)

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Big B -> Documentary ‘The Cold Blue’ (5/24/2019 1:27:11 PM)

I just saw this at the local theater last night.
It is along the lines of They Shall Not Grow Old.

It was a fascinating and moving film about the 8th Air Force in WW2.
One of the facts I was never aware of is that the 8th AF lost more men KIA over Europe, than did the entire USMC in all of the second world war.

See it if you get a chance...



Lecivius -> RE: Documentary ‘The Cold Blue’ (5/24/2019 1:48:18 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Big B

One of the facts I was never aware of is that the 8th AF lost more men KIA over Europe, than did the entire USMC in all of the second world war.



It was decided sometime in 1943 once long range fighters started becoming available to use strategic bombing to force the Luftwaffe to defend, thereby fighting a war of attrition to gain air superiority prior to the invasion of Europe. It was becoming known that bombing, while impacting industrial production, would not eliminate it.

I pause every time I think of that idea. I understand the reasoning, but I still pause.



Korvar -> RE: Documentary ‘The Cold Blue’ (5/24/2019 1:50:00 PM)

Thank you for the tip - it appears it was only a one-night showing in theaters, so hopefully it will make its way to a streaming service soon. [:)]

Here's an interview which describes one of the dangers those guys faced, besides enemy fighters and flak:

Interview with Ball Turret Gunner Wilbur Richardson


FYI, I had the honor to speak to Wilbur, and believe it or not, the ball turret was the safest place on the aircraft. "Safe" being a relative term.



btd64 -> RE: Documentary ‘The Cold Blue’ (5/24/2019 1:59:25 PM)

Yup, I met a guy who was a ball gunner . The only good thing about that position was the view. That's what he said all right....GP



GetAssista -> RE: Documentary ‘The Cold Blue’ (5/24/2019 3:58:23 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Big B
One of the facts I was never aware of is that the 8th AF lost more men KIA over Europe, than did the entire USMC in all of the second world war.

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner
Randall Jarrell (1914-1965)

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare of fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.


That piece hit me deep back then when I first heard it



Canoerebel -> RE: Documentary ‘The Cold Blue’ (5/24/2019 4:08:29 PM)

Thanks for the link.

The 8th Army Air Force Museum is just outside of Savannah. I've never been, but I've heard glowing reports.

Regarding "Death of a Ball Turret Gunner," that is one of the few WWII-type poems found in modern literature anthologies used in college classrooms. There were a lot of poets in the various armies in WWI and WWII, and a lot of good poetry, but not much of it sees the light of day. Atkinson and Ambrose quote them, from time to time, which I think is particularly suitable in describing the hell of combat.



RangerJoe -> RE: Documentary ‘The Cold Blue’ (5/24/2019 9:01:14 PM)

Here is a link to an interview of someone who went from Private to Colonel in four years:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoY8Cj1larg

If you expand the notes, it will tell more about him.




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