Peter Jackson to remake Dam Busters

[Lou Girardin]

Indeed, but rightly so, his long term gunner got almost as much kudos.
His gunnery and reflexes were exceptional.

It was amazing to learn that he often pivoted the tank on it's tracks to aim the main gun instead of turning the turret, said it was quicker. He also used Kentucky windage (probably called Bavarian windage over there) instead of setting the range on the sight for each shot.

[James Deuce]

Is he the author of "I flew for the Fuhrer"? He pioneered dropping bombs on the B-17 formations? A good read!

I struggled with the unrepentant, unapologetic Nazism he showed throughout life. Still it was good to realise that even Nazis have parents. The forewords by his parents were quite illuminating.

I do not know about this person. What is the book title? Overview if you would enlighten me please?

The potted history isn't that good, but he's an interesting bloke.
http://www.aviationcollectables.co.u...roducts_id=147
I "lent" (more like permanent "you're not getting it back" loan) my copy to a friend. Stupid.

Just picked up two of Steinhoff's books last week.

[eliot-ness]

FFS. The Dog's name was nigger. We may as well concede that the Germans won WWII if we can't get past the FACT that the world of the 1940s was a very different place to today's world.

There used to be a fashion colour, Nigger Brown. That was discontinued for PC reasons.
The name 'Nigger' for a dog probably died out for reasons of personal safety. With the large numbers of West Indian immigrants after the war, walking the streets at night calling for your lost dog wouldn't have been the wisest move.

[mstriumph]

It was amazing to learn that he often pivoted the tank on it's tracks to aim the main gun instead of turning the turret, said it was quicker. .

it is...? and more fun

[SpankMe]

Nigger: This was the name of Gibson's black Labrador dog, killed in a hit-and-run accident on the day of the mission (in the film). In fact, the fatal accident took place the day before, and the car did stop (it was driven by an RAF officer). "Nigger" was also the codeword to indicate the breaching of the Möhne Dam; although today deemed politically incorrect (despite the fact that it simply stems from the Latin word for black), it is still used in the recent DVD release of the film, despite earlier suggestions that the film should be sanitized (some US releases of the film had all references to this word cut, although it does appear in the US DVD release). Sharp-eyed viewers may spot the "ghost of Nigger" running through the trees at the end of the film (where Gibson is talking to Wallis at Scampton) - no dog was known to be on the base when the film was made, so the identity of the animal seen on film remains a mystery!

http://www.computing.dundee.ac.uk/st...ay/dambust.asp

[James Deuce]

From the link Spankme provided:

"Nigger was as unpopular on the station as his master (being prone to urinating on aircrew's legs after drinking too much beer), and a rumour from the time says that he was not buried where he appeared to be, but his body was dumped in the woods, a rumour supported by the lack of bones found in his gravesite when the grave had to be moved post-war; the accident which killed him may not have been wholly accidental."

I'm not sure if they meant that Gibson urinated on the legs of aircrew, or Nigger did. I can see how it would make them both unpopular though.

[SpankMe]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046889/trivia

• American versions had "Trigger" dubbed for "Nigger" (the name of Gibson's dog, and one of the code words). The Morse code received in the Ops room was still "Nigger" though.
• The dog used in filming to play the part of Nigger was also called Nigger.

I bet the US version (if not all versions) will use Trigger again.

[Motu]

But wasn't Trigger Palimino? It's so confusing....

[MD]

Best tank movie I have ever seen was "The Beast of War" about a Russian tank crew in Afghanistan. Frickin fantastic.

Don't know if it's out on DVD though...I would assume so but I've never looked for it.

Second that. A brilliant war movie. Also Kelly's heroes is one of my favorites. There's an old b&W WW2 movie with a young Jack Pallance and Eddie Albert as his cowardly captain. Was a classic but I can't remember the name? They did a remake of 'All Quiet on the Western front' - I think. But I've never seen the remake.

DomPost reports PJ intends NOT to Americanise the Dam Busters- thank you!

[far queue]

They did a remake of 'All Quiet on the Western front' - I think. But I've never seen the remake.

Yep. From memory, the original movie was made in 1933 and the remake in 1976, although I could be wee bit out on those dates. I prefered the original - the remake had John-Boy Walton as the main character, which made it kinda unbelieveable for me.

[Kickaha]

History channel did an entire programme on him. He was a freak, wiping out an entire company of armoured vehicles with one tank. No-one else approached his skill. (or luck)

I think him and his crew just understood there Tank and how to use it to their best advantage agaisn't those they fought against

Also a lot of his (tank) kills were Shermans which were a pile of crap anyway, the Germans and the Russians built the best Tanks

Second that. A brilliant war movie. Also Kelly's heroes is one of my favorites.

My all time favourite

[Lou Girardin]

Also a lot of his (tank) kills were Shermans which were a pile of crap anyway, the Germans and the Russians built the best Tanks

Actually, more than half his victims were T34's, T34/85's and JS2's. He also wiped out more anti-tank guns than tanks. He considered them a far more dangerous opponent.

[Swoop]

the Germans and the Russians built the best Tanks

The German tanks were too well engineered (apparently), a hold over of the pre-war exactness of their engineering skills. They paid dearly for this in the conditions of the eastern front.
The Russians made plenty of tanks, quickly and with loose tolerances that functioned when the snow and mud held the German tanks in place. A bit like nowadays when the AK-47 will still be firing when the M-16 has long stopped functioning.

[Indiana_Jones]

The German tanks were too well engineered (apparently), a hold over of the pre-war exactness of their engineering skills. They paid dearly for this in the conditions of the eastern front.
The Russians made plenty of tanks, quickly and with loose tolerances that functioned when the snow and mud held the German tanks in place. A bit like nowadays when the AK-47 will still be firing when the M-16 has long stopped functioning.

High performance = High maintenance

T-34/85 = cool

-Indy

[Timber020]

The German tanks were too well engineered (apparently), a hold over of the pre-war exactness of their engineering skills. They paid dearly for this in the conditions of the eastern front.
The Russians made plenty of tanks, quickly and with loose tolerances that functioned when the snow and mud held the German tanks in place. A bit like nowadays when the AK-47 will still be firing when the M-16 has long stopped functioning.

The Russian tanks were miles ahead of the others in the design and battlefield stakes. Effective Angled armour, a great diesel engine so when they were hit they didnt burn like the crap explosive and petol filled tanks the allies had, a good gun, wide tracks and so tough even a peasant from the urals couldnt hurt em.
What the commonwealth and USA made, was an embarrasment. Our tank crews paid heavily for the ignorance of there makers.

The M16 got better once they started using the right ammo and did a few mods.