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Post by captbudman on Jun 4, 2024 12:26:22 GMT -6
80 years ago today, the Battle of Midway began. The Battle of Midway, fought between June 4 and June 7, 1942, was a pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Taking place six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, it marked a significant turning point in the war against Japan. After Pearl Harbor, Japan sought to eliminate the United States as a strategic power in the Pacific, aiming to lure the U.S. Pacific Fleet into a trap and destroy it, securing Midway Atoll as a strategic outpost. Led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese plan involved a complex operation to distract the U.S. fleet and launch a surprise attack on Midway, with a fleet that included four aircraft carriers: Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu.
However, U.S. cryptographers had broken Japanese naval codes and knew of the planned attack, allowing Admiral Chester W. Nimitz to prepare an ambush. The U.S. had three aircraft carriers: USS Enterprise, USS Hornet, and the repaired USS Yorktown. On June 4, Japanese aircraft attacked Midway Atoll, but U.S. carriers were already in position to counterstrike. U.S. dive bombers launched a surprise attack on the Japanese carriers, sinking Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu, and later, Hiryu was also sunk. The Japanese fleet suffered significant losses, including four carriers, a heavy cruiser, and numerous aircraft and pilots.
The battle significantly weakened the Japanese Navy, which lost many of its best pilots and four of its six large aircraft carriers. It halted Japanese expansion in the Pacific and put them on the defensive. The victory at Midway boosted American morale and proved that the Japanese Navy could be defeated, marking a significant turning point that shifted the balance of naval power in the Pacific toward the Allies. It allowed the Allies to take the initiative in the Pacific, leading to subsequent victories in battles such as Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands campaign. It also marked the beginning of a strategy of "island hopping," where Allied forces aimed to capture key islands, moving closer to Japan.
The loss at Midway damaged Japanese morale and the prestige of their navy, forcing Japan to adopt more defensive strategies and conserve resources, impacting their overall war effort. In summary, the Battle of Midway was a decisive Allied victory that changed the course of the Pacific War, shifting the strategic initiative to the United States and paving the way for future successes against Japan.
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Post by Billy John Davy on Jun 4, 2024 12:38:25 GMT -6
If Midway didnt work out, Japan would have had the west coast of the US.
Devine intervention allowed the US to succeed at Midway and turn the tide of the war in the Pacific
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solly
Junior Member
Posts: 299
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Post by solly on Jun 4, 2024 12:49:47 GMT -6
The foundational major battle of naval aviation. Nimitz, Spruance, Fletcher and their crews sank 4 carriers, a heavy cruiser and a destroyer which crippled the Japanese fleet.
I loved the movie as a kid.
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Post by captbudman on Jun 4, 2024 12:58:54 GMT -6
35 years ago today, the Chi-Comms cracked down on the freedom protesters in Tiananmen Square. Technically, it was June 3rd in America when the crackdown started, although it was the 4th in China.
The crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, and across China in 1989 is one of the most significant and tragic events in modern Chinese history. This event, often referred to as the Tiananmen Square Massacre, involved a brutal government response to peaceful protests calling for political reform, freedom of speech, and other democratic principles.
In April 1989, following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former Communist Party leader known for his reformist views, thousands of students gathered in Tiananmen Square to mourn him and to call for political and economic reforms. The movement quickly gained momentum, with more students, intellectuals, and workers joining in the demonstrations, which spread to other cities across China.
By late May, the Chinese government, led by Premier Li Peng and backed by Deng Xiaoping, declared martial law in Beijing. Despite this, protests continued to grow. On the night of June 3 to June 4, 1989, the government ordered the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to forcibly clear Tiananmen Square and suppress the demonstrations.
The PLA troops, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, moved into the city. They used live ammunition, tear gas, and other means to disperse the crowds. Soldiers fired on unarmed civilians, including students and other demonstrators, as well as bystanders. Many were shot or crushed by tanks.
The exact number of people killed in the crackdown remains unknown, as the Chinese government has never released an official death toll. Estimates vary widely. The Chinese Red Cross initially estimated about 2,600 deaths but later retracted this statement under pressure. Western diplomatic sources and human rights organizations estimate the number of deaths to be between several hundred and several thousand. Thousands more were injured in the violence.
Following the massacre, the Chinese government launched a nationwide campaign to arrest those involved in the protests. Thousands of people were detained, many were imprisoned, and some were executed. Student leaders and other prominent activists were among those targeted.
The Tiananmen Square Massacre had profound and lasting effects. The Chinese government intensified political repression, cracking down on dissent and tightening control over political expression and media. The event highlighted severe human rights abuses and led to widespread international condemnation. While the government continued to pursue economic reforms, it became clear that political reforms and democratization were off the table. The massacre created a legacy of fear and caution among those who might oppose the government, shaping Chinese political life for decades to come. The crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square and other parts of China in 1989 resulted in the deaths of hundreds to possibly thousands of people, with many more injured and imprisoned. The event marked a significant moment of political repression in modern Chinese history and continues to be a sensitive and heavily censored topic within China.
In response to the slaughter and crackdown, George H.W. Bush (the former US Ambassador to China and former head of the CIA) agreed to work with Deng Xiaoping to support the communists over their citizens. This marked the beginning of the deindustrialization of America, as Bush, Clinton, Bush 43 and Obama continued to shift our jobs to China.
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Post by arrass on Jun 4, 2024 13:02:16 GMT -6
If Midway didnt work out, Japan would have had the west coast of the US. Devine intervention allowed the US to succeed at Midway and turn the tide of the war in the Pacific
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Post by bedfordforrest on Jun 4, 2024 19:35:13 GMT -6
It's also the 20th anniversary of Killdozer.
Rest in Peace King.
Rest in Peace.
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Post by captbudman on Jun 5, 2024 11:26:03 GMT -6
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Post by stargatebabe on Jun 5, 2024 11:32:44 GMT -6
June 5, 1968, presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated in Los Angeles Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. Immediately after he announced to his cheering supporters that the country was ready to end its fractious divisions, Kennedy was shot several times by 24-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan. He was pronounced dead a day later, on June 6, 1968. The summer of 1968 was a tempestuous time in American history. Both the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement were peaking. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated in the spring, igniting riots across the country. In the face of this unrest, President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek a second term in the upcoming presidential election. Robert Kennedy, John’s younger brother and former U.S. Attorney General, stepped into this breach and experienced a groundswell of support.Read more @ www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bobby-kennedy-is-assassinated
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Post by captbudman on Jun 5, 2024 11:47:17 GMT -6
June 5, 1968, presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated in Los Angeles Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. Immediately after he announced to his cheering supporters that the country was ready to end its fractious divisions, Kennedy was shot several times by 24-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan. He was pronounced dead a day later, on June 6, 1968. The summer of 1968 was a tempestuous time in American history. Both the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement were peaking. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated in the spring, igniting riots across the country. In the face of this unrest, President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek a second term in the upcoming presidential election. Robert Kennedy, John’s younger brother and former U.S. Attorney General, stepped into this breach and experienced a groundswell of support.Read more @ www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bobby-kennedy-is-assassinatedIs the illegitimate Biden regime still denying his son, RFK Jr, Secret Service protection?
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Post by stargatebabe on Jun 5, 2024 11:49:56 GMT -6
June 5, 1968, presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated in Los Angeles Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. Immediately after he announced to his cheering supporters that the country was ready to end its fractious divisions, Kennedy was shot several times by 24-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan. He was pronounced dead a day later, on June 6, 1968. The summer of 1968 was a tempestuous time in American history. Both the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement were peaking. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated in the spring, igniting riots across the country. In the face of this unrest, President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek a second term in the upcoming presidential election. Robert Kennedy, John’s younger brother and former U.S. Attorney General, stepped into this breach and experienced a groundswell of support.Read more @ www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bobby-kennedy-is-assassinatedIs the illegitimate Biden regime still denying his son, RFK Jr, Secret Service protection? Yeppers, last I heard, and Kennedy was threatening legal action
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Post by captbudman on Jun 5, 2024 12:00:55 GMT -6
Is the illegitimate Biden regime still denying his son, RFK Jr, Secret Service protection? Yeppers, last I heard, and Kennedy was threatening legal action Thx for the update Babe. This illegitimate regime is clearly nothing more than a post-Constitutional Banana Republican, intent on either arresting or killing the candidates they can't beat at the polls.
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Post by stargatebabe on Jun 5, 2024 14:00:04 GMT -6
Yeppers, last I heard, and Kennedy was threatening legal action Thx for the update Babe. This illegitimate regime is clearly nothing more than a post-Constitutional Banana Republican, intent on either arresting or killing the candidates they can't beat at the polls. You're welcome! Well, the Wall Street Journal has raised the flag and now there are even more people worried about Biden being too damned old to be President
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Post by floridaanticub on Jun 5, 2024 14:06:16 GMT -6
At the risk of being "that guy", July 5, 1942 is 82 years ago, but ... oh well.
Today is the actual 80th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion being delayed for 24 hours, making tomorrow the 80th anniversary of D-Day. A date certainly to be remembered.
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Post by captbudman on Jun 6, 2024 8:07:13 GMT -6
At the risk of being "that guy", July 5, 1942 is 82 years ago, but ... oh well. Today is the actual 80th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion being delayed for 24 hours, making tomorrow the 80th anniversary of D-Day. A date certainly to be remembered. My Bad! I went to Public Schools...
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Post by captbudman on Jun 6, 2024 8:10:41 GMT -6
80 Years ago today the Greatest Generation stormed the beaches of France, beginning the fight in Europe to rid the world of Fascism. The D-Day invasion, known as Operation Overlord, occurred on June 6, 1944, marking the 80th anniversary of this pivotal event in World War II. This massive Allied assault aimed to liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation and began with a significant amphibious and airborne operation on the Normandy coast of France. The Landing and Beaches
On the morning of June 6, 1944, over 156,000 Allied troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast. The beaches were code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. (insert bullet points below) Utah Beach: Located on the westernmost flank, Utah Beach was assigned to the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. Despite strong currents that caused some landing craft to drift off course, the troops met relatively light resistance and quickly secured the beach, suffering about 197 casualties. Omaha Beach: This beach saw the heaviest fighting. The U.S. 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions faced well-fortified German defenses. The initial assault was chaotic and bloody, with around 2,400 American casualties. However, by the end of the day, American forces had established a precarious foothold. Gold Beach: British forces, specifically the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, landed on Gold Beach. They faced moderate resistance but managed to push inland and capture the town of Bayeux by the end of the day. British casualties were around 1,000. Juno Beach: Canadian forces of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division landed on Juno Beach, encountering heavy resistance and underwater obstacles. Despite significant losses, estimated at about 1,200, they managed to penetrate farther inland than any other Allied force. Sword Beach: The easternmost beach, Sword Beach, was assaulted by the British 3rd Infantry Division. They faced strong German opposition but managed to secure the beach and link up with airborne forces, suffering about 630 casualties. Airborne Operations
Airborne operations played a crucial role in the D-Day invasion. Paratroopers from the U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, along with the British 6th Airborne Division, were dropped behind enemy lines in the early hours of June 6. Their objectives were to capture key bridges, disrupt German reinforcements, and secure the flanks of the landing beaches. The U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions faced scattered and disorganized drops due to heavy anti-aircraft fire and poor visibility. Despite these challenges, they succeeded in securing key objectives, such as the town of Sainte-Mère-Église, and blocking German counterattacks. The British 6th Airborne Division achieved notable success by capturing the vital Pegasus Bridge and the Orne River bridges, ensuring that German reinforcements could not reach the beaches from the east. Delayed German Response
The German general in charge of the defense of Normandy was Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal) Erwin Rommel. He was appointed by Adolf Hitler to command the German forces in France, including the Normandy region, in January 1944. The German high command was uncertain about the exact location of the invasion, suspecting it might occur at the Pas de Calais. Rommel had been instrumental in building up the German defenses in Normandy, including the construction of the Atlantic Wall, a series of fortifications and obstacles along the coast designed to prevent an Allied invasion. However, despite his efforts, the Allies were able to breach the defenses and establish a foothold in Normandy. One of the significant factors contributing to the success of the D-Day invasion was the delayed German response. At the time of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, Rommel was in Germany, attending a meeting with Hitler and other high-ranking German officials. He had been away from Normandy for several days, and his absence was one of the factors that contributed to the success of the Allied invasion. Crucially, Adolf Hitler, who held direct control over the reserve Panzer divisions, was asleep during the early hours of the invasion. His staff were reluctant to wake him and did not release the tank forces without his explicit orders, causing a crucial delay in the German counterattack. After the invasion, Rommel returned to Normandy and took command of the German forces there. He led a series of counterattacks against the Allies, but ultimately failed to drive them back Battle Duration and Allied AdvanceThe battle for the Normandy beaches lasted until the end of June 1944. By then, the Allies had successfully secured the beachheads and were beginning to push inland. The capture of the deep-water port of Cherbourg by the end of June was a significant milestone, providing a crucial supply route for the Allied forces. The Battle of Normandy continued throughout the summer, with the Allies breaking out of the bocage (hedgerow country) and advancing toward Paris, which was liberated on August 25, 1944. Casualty CountsThe D-Day invasion resulted in significant casualties on all sides. While exact numbers vary, estimates are as follows: (insert bullet points below) American forces: Approximately 2,500 killed, with total casualties (including wounded and missing) around 6,000. British forces: Approximately 1,000 killed, with total casualties around 3,000. Canadian forces: Approximately 340 killed, with total casualties around 1,200. German forces: Estimates suggest between 4,000 to 9,000 killed, with total casualties (including wounded and missing) significantly higher. The D-Day invasion was a turning point in World War II, leading to the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. The courage and sacrifice of the Allied soldiers on June 6, 1944, laid the groundwork for the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany and the restoration of peace in Europe.
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