Note that the recon version of the P-38 (F-4) was operational in April 42 from Townsville. This differs significantly from the air reinforcement timetable for scenario 15
Also note that B-26's are hitting Rabaul from PM. Isn't that out of range in the game? Perhaps this is a transcription error. Odd they would send the B-17's to Lae and the B-26's to Rabaul.
You mean there might be inaccuracies in WITP?? I'm shocked, shocked i tell you!![X(][:'(]
Hey, Capt. Mandrake - is this something that you actually found, or is it a creation of yours??
As far as I know, Ernie is not real. The time line mirrors game action. Lord Admiral Hunter really did send the Empire Heath all the way from the West Coast, skirting Wake and Saipan, making it all the way to within a few miles of Bataan. The sally toward Clark and the doomed Empire Heath were are last efforts to save the boys at Bataan. I think you can deduce what happened from the abrupt end to PFC Stile's diary. The good news is they held out till the end of May and killed a fair number of Japs and damaged at least 20 transports trying to run in to Manila (I guess). The bad news is now there will be some elite bombers and a lot of infantry to resume their offensive efforts elsewhere.
BTW..there really were nurses and children in the Malinta Tunnel (the bombproof tunnel on Corregidor) when the Island fell in a fashion similar to that described in the diary.
The whole thing LOOKED real and i was thinking it probably WAS real, except the scan was done in color, which was why i asked.
Interesting that you would say that about the color. I couldn't seem to get the B&W scan thingy to work. Still, my daughter may wonder who this Ernie guy is who absconded with the last 3 pages of her 5th grade diary.[;)]
SCENE: USN PT Boat Base, Townsville, June 3, 1942
<a sheepish junior officer climbs off the lead PT boat to report to his visibly angry CO>
Lt. Commander Swanson, USN: "Lt., would you mind explaining to me what the Hell you are doing in my PT Boat Base? Am I confused? Did I not issue orders for your flotilla to deploy to Deboyne Island? Did you lose your map?"
Lt. Gaskins: "Sir, no. Sir, the maps were excellent sir"
Lt. Commander Swanson, USN: "Perhaps you have a complaint with the boats the taxpayers
and the USN supplied you?"
Lt. Gaskins: "Sir, no Sir. The boats performed flawlessly."
Lt. Commander Swanson, USN: "Well, what is it son. I am waiting."
Lt. Gaskins: "Well, sir, when we performed a weapons check about 140 mi south of Deboyne, we discovered an irregularity."
Lt. Commander Swanson, USN: "Irregularity? Irregularity? What is it son? I have a war to run."
Lt. Gaskins: "Well sir...sir <he looks downward, voice trailing off> we found fishing poles instead of torpedoes in the toprpeo tubes on two of the boats"
Lt. Commander Swanson, USN: "FISHING POLES? <a perplexed look comes over his face, followed after some seconds by a look of astonishment>.................. MILO"
The National Research Defence Committee was formed on June 27, 1940
Here are their apropriations through June '41. Note that they spent $187,000 on "uranium" research and $70,000 on "travel". It seems their priorities are about to change. [:D]
Also, note the pitiful appropriaton for "cryptography" (the NDRC was tasked with the application of cutting edge scientific knowledge to a future war effort....of course, other government entities were spending on similar lines of investigation)
Here it is 1941, the Brits are in a life and death struggle with the Nazis and the NDRC is corresponding with the British scientists by diplomatic pouch transported by SHIP [X(] The pouches take 4-8 weeks to reach the recipient and a few are lost to U-boats? Good grief. Lincoln had better communication with McClellan during the Peninsular campaign. Hurry up Mr. Gore. Invent the Internet already, would ya?
Here's hoping Klaus Fuchs is on the "need to know" list.