Where would YOU serve in WW2?

The RAF as either Mosquito or Beaufighter aircrew, two of my favourite aircraft, or groundcrew of any airforce as the aircraft of the day were awesome, descent engines and real flying by the seat of your pants.

Though I’m enjoying the MOB at present just a shame I’m not working on BBMF, though my Shackleton days were great as being an engine man the mighty Griffon 57 certainly did do the job.

On a more serious note though, the Squadron I was with was bombed once, in the distance but still close to react to, quite a frightening experience not to be experienced in anger, and one certainly reacts quickly, dare I say it was the Americans having a practice but forgot to tell us, Kuwait is still a nice place though!!!!​

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Assistant G-3 for the US 6th Armored Div

 

LUFTWAFFE, with ME262 or FW190

 

I would rather be an Allied Pilot (Spitfire or P-51), a lot less interference from opposing fighters.
Although I would like to be a member of a bomber crew, preferably a navagator.

 

I'd be a cook in the USS Missouri, keeping the place warm for Steven Seagall

 

They may seem worlds apart but my choices would be

1. Sniper, any theatre as long as I could use the excellent M1903/4 in 30'06

2. Jug or Tempest driver in ground attack roles, particularly anti armour and anti artillary

p.s. I love sub tactics but I just wouldn't have the right nerve to serve on one.

 

I would searve as the USMC, the Airborne, the 2nd armored divison, or as the Rangers. I would also searve in any US conflict but mainly WW1 and WW2, And I would even try the British in WW2.

 

i would serve in the 506th more specifically easy comapny because they where beasts in WWII and id have a screaming eagle on my shoulder

 

If I was on the ground, I would be the Gunner in a Churchill Mk VII tank. Masses of Armour in front of you!
Or I would be a British/American AA Gunner. very little chance of shooting anything though.

 

I would serve in one of the following units:
1. SS infantry-They have the coolest uniforms
2.SS Tank commander-I have a place in my heart for tanks and not only would i get an awesome uniform, but also I would get to drive around Europe in one of the best tanks of the time
3. US tank commandr at Battle of the Bulge, or just any great battle in Europe
4. US pilot in the Pacific theater
5. Gunnery officer on either the Mighty Mo or the Iow. I LOVE Battleships!
6. Greek guerilla fighter

 

This would have been fun indeed, until your unit went to the Ost Front and then playtime was over

 

Belgian RAF volunteer. I'm obsessed with spitfires and see myself in one in the battle of britain.

off course if I survive that period I would fight further.

 

I'd like to be a pathfinder in either the 101st or 82nd Airborne.
I always had a fascination for flying but since I can't fly a plane, I might as well "fly" with my body.
Oh yeah, I know how painful it is to make a mistake while doing a parachute landing fall. Still, doing something that few can do is a very irresistable challenge.

 

USA P-51D Mustang Pilot in either the Pacific or European theatre escorting bombers.

 

SS-Hauptquartiermeister, padding up my several Swiss accounts and making several trips to Argentina and Paraguay to select some nice spots with pleasant landscapes, fine cattle, decent charcoal for the barbecues, etc.

 

Yeah, welcome to the Meat Grinder

Obss., have you ever been even inside a Pz? Not quite romantic, I assure you.

 

No. Whats it like? It can't be that bad. I mean if I was a fanatic soldier I wouldn't care about my comfort, only that I was fighting for my nation.

 

Ok Obss. Pay close attention to what I'm going to say.

I had the chance to go into several WW2 tanks in a museum. Mind you, I'm a small guy 1.63m or 5'5" and at the time I was fit enough, no belly.

I'm not going to say other nation's tanks are any better, except that as it seems natural, you could give a ball inside the JSU-152, band included.

But I'll tell you about the Pzkfw IV Ausf H.

Driver- He sits on a sprung and padded seat (rather comfortable!) has his hatch above his head where he can stick his head out, but ony with the turret straight ahead. If the turrets budges you better be warned and get down quickly. He has a letterbox slit ahead of him to see the way, some 12" away from his eyes. Now try and cover your car's windshield with a large card, cut open a 8x2" slot and tell me how well you can drive. If he has to leave in the hurry and the hatch is locked by the turret, he has to swing the seat back so he can escape through the gunner's position, IF it's not blocked by the turret basket of it the gunner himself isn't able to move away if his dead or wounded. You can't shift sideways because of the large grearbox. So you fry.

Ditto for the hull gunner, who can only peer through a peephole. He can only move his MG-34 a bit left and right, up and down with his head, which has a strange skull-cap connected to the gun. You move your head, you move the gun. Same problems in getting out.

The turret crew are better off:

The loader has half a dozen ready ammo available, but after these are spent he has to dig around the tank to find some more from under the turret basket and other crannies, on a moving vehicle and the said turret basket moving erratically, so he risks losing a hand if tryng to fetch a round from below. Thankfully he has a largish hatch on the side. Oh, only a small 6-8" rebatable round wooden seat for him when out of action.

The gunner is all right. A good padded seat with a low back, and a turret hatch. Miserable vision ahead, but all tanks are like that.

The commander, the sexiest position of all. Ha! The hatch is in direct line with the gun. He has a small wooden seat like the loader. Those pretty pics we see with the commander heroically standing up half-body outside the hatch only means that he can barely stand on his seat with one foot only! When he has to sit down his head will be above the turret top level inside that bucket of a hatch, full of sharp vision block levers, peering through those thick vision blocks which if not perfectly clean (rain, mud, dust) he can't see at all! And he has to keep his knees well back, and tuck his stomach well in, for if he gives his gunner a fire order the gun breech will be slamming back and if he relaxes his gut then you need a new commander because that one is now dead with a belly stove in by the gun breech.

And they say the German tanks were especially comfortable and ergonomical. If that is the truth then I can't imagine the others.

Remember I told you I was a small and fit guy. I could move with great difficulty from position to position, and had trouble moving in and out from hatches. Now imagine doing that wounded or dragging an uncounscious comrade.

After that, no more romantic ideas about tank warfare. It's horror!

At least in infantry when somebody shoots at you you can duck and won't die a fiery death!