WWII Forums Quiz Part VII

OK, lunch hour allowed me to find this question:


The building of the first German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin was begun in the Deutsche Werk shipyard at Kiel on Dec 28, 1936. With a displacement of 28,000 tons, it was launched on Dec. 8, 1938 by Countess Hella von Brandenstein-Zeppelin in honour of her father.

What caused the Graf Zeppelin never to become operational??

 

Well, this question really has more than one answer:

Lack of suitable aircraft due to stalling on the part of Göring. By the time the Graf Zeppelin would have been completed the aircraft proposed for its use were really obsolesent.

The war interfered with completion. There were more important projects and production than a carrier for limited naval use.

Design deficinecies. For one the catapult system and use of trollies for launching aircraft was marginal. This likely didn't become completely apparent until after the carrier was well advanced in construction. Changes to allow for rolling take offs and a more practical catapult system would have required major design changes as one example.

Low priority given to most naval projects also lenghtened the completion time projecting it into 1944. Again, war priorities got in the way.

Take your choice.

 

Another one would have been Hitler's loss of faith in big ships, he came close to ordering them all scapped after the JW-51B convoy fiasco.

 

Yep, TA Gardner has provided enough correct reasons to take over the next question.

TiredOldSoldier is correct too.

 

This famous American was assistant navigation officer and (most inappropriately) director of physical fitness during WW 2 on the USS Monterey. Who is he?

 

This guy?

Not that I knew it before I looked it up.

 

That's him. But a klutz as a physical fitness director?!

 

Probably not too klutzy back in the day....the media also took great delight in reporting ANY misstep Ford took.....

After all the man pardoned Lt Nixon years later!


(LBJ always said Ford had played too much football without a helmet!)

 

Ploesti

50 bombers were lost.
How many German fighters (FW-190's, Me-109's, Me-110's, Ju-88's, unidentified bi-planes) were lost?

That is according to the USAF in 1980 ... or close is good.

 

Three Shot down, nine damaged?

 

My source says 51, but it's probably a "Propaganda Sheet" like many Vets I knew called "The Stars & Stripes".
I meant to say "Axis" fighters since some Italian, Romanian, and Bulgarian fighters participated over the Mediterranean, Greece, and Bulgaria.
Between 200-227 participated/were available.
Most didn't find targets until the return trip because they were looking too high for them.
Most bombers were lost as the "wounded" were picked off on the way back, and since ("ball" turrets were removed to save weight & perceived as unnecessary for a low level mission?)(the "infinite" wisdom of the un-knowing ... again) stragglers/loners were in all directions from the git-go.

Close enough ... You're on

sad about the "Lady" ... lost for 16 years.

 

OK, Probably an easy one for the Brits on here.

Which RAF squadron was the first to reach 100 confirmed Victories(kills)?

 

Hmm, I forgot some squadrons fought in WW1 and worded my question badly, so go ahead.

 

Mike,
I'm on business travel...please offer up another question, if you don't mind.

 

Sure.

Throughout WW2 the US Merchant Marine lost a total of 1554 ships sunk to "war conditions." How many of these ships were over 1000 gross tons?

The list includes ships of Territories(PI for example) and foreign flag ships(I'm not sure why).

 

Hint: It's less than half the previously provided number.
Anything close will be enough.

 

Last hint: Half minus 44

 

That was a difficult math question !!! 733