World War II Chronicle: April 30, 1943

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World War II Chronicle: April 30, 1943​

World War II Chronicle: April 30, 1943 – UNTO THE BREACH

Click here for TODAY’S NEWSPAPER Page two reports that large formations of Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters are now flying across

www.untothebreach.net

30 Apr 2023 ~~ By Chris Carter

Page two reports that large formations of Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters are now flying across the Atlantic to reach combat units in Europe and North Africa. There is attrition, with several planes having mechanical issues or ditching in the ocean, and that brings up the logistics of how best to get everything from the United States to the front. You may not be terribly interested in the logistics of combat, but the economics behind the war can make just as important -- or even more so -- than the thrilling strategy and tactics. We had brilliant leaders and hard-nosed fighters. So did the Germans, and as we can see in Tunisia the Afrikakorps had more experience. I would argue a major factor in how well we fought was because our capitalist system was far more efficient than that of Nazi Germany. They are dumping tons of precious manpower and resources into super weapons like jets, missiles, and remarkable tanks that, while impressive and well ahead of their time, have little strategic impact. Meanwhile, the United States is determining what will have the biggest impact on the war and making a ton of it, despite having the challenge of having to split everything between two theaters -- both of which require shipping.
While we can wonder years later why they risked the losses of pilots and P-38s, back then it was someone's only job to figure it all out. And they determined that the reward of increased shipping space was more valuable than the risk of transatlantic flight. Since the twin-engine warplanes had enough range to hop the pond, the vast majority of planes still get there and the convoys could carry other things like fuel, camouflage netting, or cartons of cigarettes which can actually be just as crucial to the...

Commentary:
This was 15 months after the war began for America.
The decision to try flying P-38s to England was largely driven by the fact that in 1943 German submarines were playing merry hell with our convoys, so much so that some Army planners were concerned the England might have to be abandoned entirely. Only a herculean effort by England, Canada, and the U.S.A. finally beat back the wolf packs and made it economically feasible to supply England by sea.
It is also worth mentioning that, while the P-38 performed poorly in the ETO, but did fantastic work in the Mediterranean, and its’ long legs made it a natural for the Pacific campaign.
Strike threats are often on the front page. The phrase “Never let a crisis go to waste” was popularized in modern history but the idea isn’t new.
Robert McCormick (who served as an officer during the First World War) warned that Communists in the unions and Democrat Party were a far greater threat to the Republic than an invasion from the Axis. Yes, you read that right, 80 years ago an editor/publisher of a major paper warning American citizens of Marxist Democrat Leftists.
Not all Americans were devoted to winning the war as exemplified by John L. Lewis and is attempt to strike and stop coal production at the height of WWII.

World War II Chronicle: April 30, 1943 – UNTO THE BREACH

Click here for TODAY’S NEWSPAPER Page two reports that large formations of Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters are now flying across

www.untothebreach.net

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World War II Chronicle: April 29, 1943 – UNTO THE BREACH

Click here for TODAY’S NEWSPAPER American pilots have figured out how to attach 1,000-lb. bombs to their P-40 fighters and

www.untothebreach.net

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World War II Chronicle: April 27, 1943 – UNTO THE BREACH

Click here for TODAY’S NEWSPAPER On page three, Former Flying Tiger and top Army Air Force ace in the China-Burma-India

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Nazis and communists tried it too: Foreign interference in US elections dates back decades

Russians have been charged with interfering with the 2016 US presidential election. If true, it’s not an isolated incident. Twice before, foreign powers tried to influence who won the Oval Office.

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