Australian Trivia Only

Drop in and dribble on about nothing serious. Seriously a mad place to hang out. Better to avoid it if you're not in the mood!!! If you're determined to be sad, bad, mad & angry then move along!!!
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Greynomad
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by Greynomad »

Steve,
Try reading two at once. :P
I find alternate reading sessions are the way to do it successfully. One afternoon on book A, next day it's book B.
Occasionally I have to go back 4~5 pages to pick up the plot thread.
Sometimes, it doesn't matter. :lol:
If things get a bit predictable, or I've guessed who the Guilty Party is, I'll switch books.
Works for me...

ps. Which book on the Coral Sea Battle have you read?
Not telling where I got the question from... that would make it just too easy! :D :twisted:

pps. Prof Google's History Teacher only gives the Yank version of the story. Don't trust it.
According to the Yanks, John Wayne won WW2 single-handed! :shock:
Regards & God bless,
Ray
--
"Insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
Isaac Asimov, "The Last Question"

"I refuse to drink water, because of the disgusting things fish do in it"
W.C.Fields
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supersparky
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by supersparky »

Ray, was I close? Or didn't you like my answer. I recently read two versions of what happened in the western desert in WW2. One version was by a Brit attached to the US forces and the other was by an Aust bloke who was eventually attached to the AWM. I liked his version better. I only found the answer to your questions in another book dealing with history of the Aust 9th div, and their shift from the middle east to PNG and the Pacific Islands.

Steve, just keep reading. Anything, everything, whatever. Our brains all turn to mush when we stop reading.
Cheers
David

David and Terrie with Bandit the travelling companion
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Greynomad
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by Greynomad »

Sorry David,
Missed your answer, as Steve’s requoting & post came up as a new page.
While Capt (only reached Major just before retiring) Kennedy did spot Japanese troops near The Slot, he would not have been able to identify the flotilla 10 nautical miles at sea.
(Now there’s a hint as to which service!)
Kennedy’s report, from my reading, was on 7th May 1942.
My spotter reported the approach of the flotilla on the morning of 6th May.
Keep reading...
Regards & God bless,
Ray
--
"Insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
Isaac Asimov, "The Last Question"

"I refuse to drink water, because of the disgusting things fish do in it"
W.C.Fields
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SteveW
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by SteveW »

I'll have to go back through my books, Ray/David. I've read about 200 WWII books -almost all biographies. Plus some American Civil War, WWI, History of the Vatican and the Popes (there's some war stories - don't read these books if you are a devout Christian - you'll turn) and the Crusades. I can only read Biographies and History. I just can't get into fiction. I understand why people read fiction and I don't criticize that. It's just that I always know that it's all made up.
Steve Williams
http://stevew1945blog.com/

Every absurdity has a champion to defend it.
Oliver Goldsmith. 1728 -1774
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Newcastle George
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by Newcastle George »

That's why it's called fiction. :)

George
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Greynomad
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by Greynomad »

Plot twists can be creative & entertaining, but I, too, prefer non-fiction... although in these isolationist times, a bit of levity helps.
Even if I can frequently pick the villain ten chapters in.

Now, having dispensed with the hijack, back to my question:
Name, Rank & Serial Number, & which service?
(Actually, I don't know his serial number. So forget that bit.)
Don't need to know the colour of his underwear, just his uniform. :D
Regards & God bless,
Ray
--
"Insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
Isaac Asimov, "The Last Question"

"I refuse to drink water, because of the disgusting things fish do in it"
W.C.Fields
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supersparky
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by supersparky »

Ray, I have found a reference to an American pilot named Lt Nielsen, not sure if he was USAF or USN though. He was credited with discovering the aircraft carriers of the invasion fleet, but not the invasion fleet itself. I have found a few different versions of someones perceived view of the facts on Wikipedia and various military history forums. I think it depends on who wrote the story. I still like my original answer because at least he was an ANZAC of some description, even though more reading about that bloke suggests that he wasn't a very nice person.
Cheers
David

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2006 Winnebago Alpine
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Greynomad
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by Greynomad »

David,
Americans seem to write themselves into every major historical event.
They did have spotter planes searching for the Japanese fleet, after AUSTRALIAN codebreakers figured out that the enemy was planning to invade P-NG.
A hint, the Yanks were looking in the wrong place.
Regards & God bless,
Ray
--
"Insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
Isaac Asimov, "The Last Question"

"I refuse to drink water, because of the disgusting things fish do in it"
W.C.Fields
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supersparky
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by supersparky »

Ray, i have exhausted my search capabilities. I dont know how to search the AWM archives without being there. I know they were in the process of making it all electronic, but unsure if it is available online yet.
There are no decent second hand book shops within cooee of here, which is where most of my reading comes from.
When you are able to get out and about, there is a great little bookshop in the main street of Yarrawonga. The owner is very well versed in military history.
Cheers
David

David and Terrie with Bandit the travelling companion
2006 Winnebago Alpine
Recently retired and loving it.
Eddy
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Re: Australian Trivia Only

Post by Eddy »

Don't need to know the colour of his underwear, just his uniform.
So is he a Commando ?
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