Whatever

1buzzbait · Oct 30, 2021

Gritto[OP] said: ↑

Monitors, eh?
That reminds me of a story...

Story Time With Gritto

This one is actually several in one and in honor of my Father.
He's been gone for almost 20 years now.
It's sad to think that his experiences will be lost in time when all those who knew him are gone as well.

Anyway...

My Dad volunteered for the Army Air Force before Pearl Harbor.
He managed to get accepted for pilot training.
He ended up flying a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber.
He said all the most aggressive, arrogant guys got into fighters, while the steady men were preferred for bombers.

In '42 he was supposed to go with his Bombardment Group to England.
His plane had engine trouble and he and his crew were delayed.
Suddenly his orders were changed and he was deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater (MacArthur's Command).
So it was off to Australia and Townsville, the Fifth Air Force rear base.
Soon enough they were at the forward base, Seven Mile Field at Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea).

Conditions were very primitive, and they lived in tents.
There were quite a few native Papuans there and he picked up some pidgin English.
The Aussies called them "Fuzzy Wuzzies".
Pretty soon they were "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" because they served as stretcher bearers for Aussie wounded coming down the mountains.
They hated the Japanese with a passion because of their behavior and would take their heads when they got the chance.

There were Fuzzies who were willing to do various chores to help make life a little more bearable.
If you wanted to ask a Fuzzy to wash your clothes, you said: "You fella washy?"
He'd grin and nod and you would give him his dirty clothes and some rations.
Note that you didn't want to say "washy washy".
That meant take a bath.
They'd probably do that for you too.

Anyway, there were big Monitor Lizards there and one day my Dad and a couple of his crew decided to catch one for the Fuzzies.
Apparently it was considered a delicacy.
So they chased one around (a ten footer) and it headed for its hole.
Dad grabbed its tail and it dragged him along like he was water skiing.
A couple other guys got a hold on it, but nothing doing.
It got down its hole and that was that.

As the campaign progressed, Moresby became a main base and there were new advanced bases.

It was sometimes difficult to get enough sleep.
Big Flying Foxes (fruit bats) would land on a tree at night (if it had ripe fruit) and raise a racket.
He'd come out of his tent cursing with his .45 and blaze away.
Bats would leave...and half an hour later come back.
A couple times Japanese stragglers got into the supply tents at night...even killed a cook once.
These soldiers were cut off and starving...but they never surrendered.

The Japanese committed many atrocities early on and the Aussies in response took no prisoners.
MacArthur's Intel guys were always screaming for prisoners to interrogate, putting pressure on the Aussies.
So one day my Dad was ordered to ferry back to Moresby 2 Jap prisoners and 2 Aussie privates guarding them.
They arrive and...no Japs.
The Aussies shrugged and said:
"They fell out, mate".

Later in his tour, they'd do "heckler" raids on the big naval base at Truk, which was a very long flight over water.
The navigator had a heavy responsibility for getting the crew back to base.
These raids were designed to keep the Japs on edge, and deprive them of sleep.
So these were night missions, or sometimes dawn raids.
For a dawn raid you wanted to be well away before the Zekes (Zero fighters) could scramble.
But one time a Zeke caught up with them.

The tail gunner, Pedro, caught him in a burst and flamed the engine.
Jap pilot bails out and Pedro says on the intercom: "I got him, Cap, he bailed."
Dad: "Do you see any more?"
Pedro: "Nada".

So Dad hauls that big pregnant cow around (that's what they called the B-24).
His co-pilot was a brand new replacement.
BTW, his old co-pilot had been given his own plane, but was killed with all his crew during takeoff when fully bombed up.
Engine failure and the bomb load detonated on impact.

Anyway, new co-pilot says: "What are you doing?"
Dad: Target practice for the gunners."
Co-pilot: "You're gonna shoot that Jap in his parachute?"
Dad: "They do it to us. Besides, sharks down there."

That's how it was.

He had many more such stories.
He wasn't one of those men reluctant to talk about his war experiences.
He was a hard man.

I wish now that I'd collected all his stories and published them.
Click to expand...

lynyrd3 · Oct 30, 2021

Morning Whatevers

lynyrd3 · Oct 30, 2021

Gritto[OP] said: ↑

Monitors, eh?
That reminds me of a story...

Story Time With Gritto

This one is actually several in one and in honor of my Father.
He's been gone for almost 20 years now.
It's sad to think that his experiences will be lost in time when all those who knew him are gone as well.

Anyway...

My Dad volunteered for the Army Air Force before Pearl Harbor.
He managed to get accepted for pilot training.
He ended up flying a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber.
He said all the most aggressive, arrogant guys got into fighters, while the steady men were preferred for bombers.

In '42 he was supposed to go with his Bombardment Group to England.
His plane had engine trouble and he and his crew were delayed.
Suddenly his orders were changed and he was deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater (MacArthur's Command).
So it was off to Australia and Townsville, the Fifth Air Force rear base.
Soon enough they were at the forward base, Seven Mile Field at Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea).

Conditions were very primitive, and they lived in tents.
There were quite a few native Papuans there and he picked up some pidgin English.
The Aussies called them "Fuzzy Wuzzies".
Pretty soon they were "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" because they served as stretcher bearers for Aussie wounded coming down the mountains.
They hated the Japanese with a passion because of their behavior and would take their heads when they got the chance.

There were Fuzzies who were willing to do various chores to help make life a little more bearable.
If you wanted to ask a Fuzzy to wash your clothes, you said: "You fella washy?"
He'd grin and nod and you would give him his dirty clothes and some rations.
Note that you didn't want to say "washy washy".
That meant take a bath.
They'd probably do that for you too.

Anyway, there were big Monitor Lizards there and one day my Dad and a couple of his crew decided to catch one for the Fuzzies.
Apparently it was considered a delicacy.
So they chased one around (a ten footer) and it headed for its hole.
Dad grabbed its tail and it dragged him along like he was water skiing.
A couple other guys got a hold on it, but nothing doing.
It got down its hole and that was that.

As the campaign progressed, Moresby became a main base and there were new advanced bases.

It was sometimes difficult to get enough sleep.
Big Flying Foxes (fruit bats) would land on a tree at night (if it had ripe fruit) and raise a racket.
He'd come out of his tent cursing with his .45 and blaze away.
Bats would leave...and half an hour later come back.
A couple times Japanese stragglers got into the supply tents at night...even killed a cook once.
These soldiers were cut off and starving...but they never surrendered.

The Japanese committed many atrocities early on and the Aussies in response took no prisoners.
MacArthur's Intel guys were always screaming for prisoners to interrogate, putting pressure on the Aussies.
So one day my Dad was ordered to ferry back to Moresby 2 Jap prisoners and 2 Aussie privates guarding them.
They arrive and...no Japs.
The Aussies shrugged and said:
"They fell out, mate".

Later in his tour, they'd do "heckler" raids on the big naval base at Truk, which was a very long flight over water.
The navigator had a heavy responsibility for getting the crew back to base.
These raids were designed to keep the Japs on edge, and deprive them of sleep.
So these were night missions, or sometimes dawn raids.
For a dawn raid you wanted to be well away before the Zekes (Zero fighters) could scramble.
But one time a Zeke caught up with them.

The tail gunner, Pedro, caught him in a burst and flamed the engine.
Jap pilot bails out and Pedro says on the intercom: "I got him, Cap, he bailed."
Dad: "Do you see any more?"
Pedro: "Nada".

So Dad hauls that big pregnant cow around (that's what they called the B-24).
His co-pilot was a brand new replacement.
BTW, his old co-pilot had been given his own plane, but was killed with all his crew during takeoff when fully bombed up.
Engine failure and the bomb load detonated on impact.

Anyway, new co-pilot says: "What are you doing?"
Dad: Target practice for the gunners."
Co-pilot: "You're gonna shoot that Jap in his parachute?"
Dad: "They do it to us. Besides, sharks down there."

That's how it was.

He had many more such stories.
He wasn't one of those men reluctant to talk about his war experiences.
He was a hard man.

I wish now that I'd collected all his stories and published them.
Click to expand...

lynyrd3 · Oct 30, 2021

Yesterday randoms

lynyrd3 · Oct 30, 2021

More randoms

Gritto · Oct 30, 2021

lynyrd3 said: ↑

Yesterday randoms

Click to expand...

lynyrd3 said: ↑

More randoms

Click to expand...

We had heavy rain all day here.
Right before sunset we got a little peek of sun.

lynyrd3 · Oct 30, 2021

It rained last night ,more on the way . Random from edge of woods behind the house .

ReefSR54X4 · Oct 30, 2021

Morning Whatever’s

lynyrd3 · Oct 30, 2021

Gritto[OP] said: ↑

We had heavy rain all day here.
Right before sunset we got a little peek of sun.

Click to expand...

I’m leaving for Bangor Pennsylvania tomorrow to a friends house for a few days of Xbow on state land . He killed this guy yesterday

Tacotsubo · Oct 30, 2021

Whateverville...

The deer should be moving soon.

TnRedNeck721 · Oct 30, 2021

Canadian0rangeTaco said: ↑

we dont get the ice storms like the east coast when i lived over there but now and then we do get a bit of freezing rain and ice. Biggest thing here is they dont plow our roads(Other than main highways) so after a good storm the snow gets packed down hard and turns to ice. So all the side roads will be ice for weeks after a storm and i'll get a good test sometime this winter.
Click to expand...

Oh. That’s kinda what I deal with. When we get bigger storms( like 6” or more) back/ some side roads get hard packed. Would like to know how they do in those conditions.

1buzzbait · Oct 30, 2021

Taco critter said: ↑

Morning whats
Click to expand...

Mornin John..

Pibbles99 · Oct 30, 2021

Canadian0rangeTaco said: ↑

Click to expand...

tclavell · Oct 30, 2021

Happy Saturday, misfits!

HoboDave · Oct 30, 2021

I told my therapist “I feel like everyone hates me.”
She said “Don’t be ridiculous. Everyone doesn’t know you.”

Good morning whateverers

StayinStock · Oct 30, 2021

For my more aged friends....
When you were a kid did you think quicksand was going to be a bigger deal than it is?

tclavell · Oct 30, 2021

StayinStock said: ↑

For my more aged friends....
When you were a kid did you think quicksand was going to be a bigger deal than it is?
Click to expand...

Can a simple no suffice?

HoboDave · Oct 30, 2021

StayinStock said: ↑

For my more aged friends....
When you were a kid did you think quicksand was going to be a bigger deal than it is?
Click to expand...

Yes. And falling into rivers near a waterfall.

StayinStock · Oct 30, 2021

Cooldood said: ↑

Of course. Tarzan was constantly saving some one from quick sand
Click to expand...

Exactly!

StayinStock · Oct 30, 2021

TacomaDave said: ↑

Yes. And falling into rivers near a waterfall.
Click to expand...

That too!

Log in or Sign up

Welcome to Tacoma World!

Whatever

Memorial Day Weekend Checklist

Buy Food and Beer

Check the Grill

Chlorinate the Pool

Book Tee Off Time at the Country Club

Family Reunion (Yay)

Work Around the House and Yard

Don't Forget Beer

Get Drunk and Call in Sick Tuesday

Do Nothing

Leave Town

Whatever

Remember Why There's a Memorial Day

#303201
1buzzbait yer not gone like my honesty

#303202
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303203
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303204
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303205
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303206
Gritto [OP] Mrs Gritto's First Husband

#303207
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303208
ReefSR54X4 JerzeeBwah

#303209
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303210
Tacotsubo Mediocre at best

#303211
TnRedNeck721 Nick Namer

#303212
1buzzbait yer not gone like my honesty

#303213
Pibbles99 One more cast

#303214
tclavell Assistant to the Assistant Manager

#303215
HoboDave Homeless Prius Dweller

#303216
StayinStock Set it and forget it

#303217
tclavell Assistant to the Assistant Manager

#303218
HoboDave Homeless Prius Dweller

#303219
StayinStock Set it and forget it

#303220
StayinStock Set it and forget it

Products Discussed in

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

Welcome to Tacoma World!

Whatever

Memorial Day Weekend Checklist

Buy Food and Beer

Check the Grill

Chlorinate the Pool

Book Tee Off Time at the Country Club

Family Reunion (Yay)

Work Around the House and Yard

Don't Forget Beer

Get Drunk and Call in Sick Tuesday

Do Nothing

Leave Town

Whatever

Remember Why There's a Memorial Day

#303201 1buzzbait yer not gone like my honesty

#303202 lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303203 lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303204 lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303205 lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303206 Gritto [OP] Mrs Gritto's First Husband

#303207 lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303208 ReefSR54X4 JerzeeBwah

#303209 lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303210 Tacotsubo Mediocre at best

#303211 TnRedNeck721 Nick Namer

#303212 1buzzbait yer not gone like my honesty

#303213 Pibbles99 One more cast

#303214 tclavell Assistant to the Assistant Manager

#303215 HoboDave Homeless Prius Dweller

#303216 StayinStock Set it and forget it

#303217 tclavell Assistant to the Assistant Manager

#303218 HoboDave Homeless Prius Dweller

#303219 StayinStock Set it and forget it

#303220 StayinStock Set it and forget it

Products Discussed in Entire Site Forum: Off-Topic Discussion Thread: Whatever

#303201
1buzzbait yer not gone like my honesty

#303202
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303203
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303204
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303205
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303206
Gritto [OP] Mrs Gritto's First Husband

#303207
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303208
ReefSR54X4 JerzeeBwah

#303209
lynyrd3 STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER

#303210
Tacotsubo Mediocre at best

#303211
TnRedNeck721 Nick Namer

#303212
1buzzbait yer not gone like my honesty

#303213
Pibbles99 One more cast

#303214
tclavell Assistant to the Assistant Manager

#303215
HoboDave Homeless Prius Dweller

#303216
StayinStock Set it and forget it

#303217
tclavell Assistant to the Assistant Manager

#303218
HoboDave Homeless Prius Dweller

#303219
StayinStock Set it and forget it

#303220
StayinStock Set it and forget it

Products Discussed in