From here to...well...it SEEMS like an eternity

[Cap Mandrake]

*******65nm WNW Sansapor, New Guinea, 08:35, May 6, 1943*********

Col. Leggatt, CO of Sparrow Force braces himself as the LCT powers away from the AVD from which the craft has refueled. So far so good. Almost beyond belief, not a single Jap recon plane has been sighted since they left Kai. 15,000 ft overhead a half dozen P-38's do lazy 8's.

He turns to his XO, "Christ! This might actually work!"

[Cap Mandrake]

********Cape Sansapor, Dutch New Guinea (well, more like Jap New Guinea because the Japanese stole it from the Dutch who stole it from the locals and started naming things with silly Dutch names like "Vogelkop Peninsula". This was widely regarded as a bad move as the local names were much more colorful and full of unintended, one imagines, sexual innuendo and alliteration which made for good, or, honestly, more like passable, limericks. Now it seems the Aussies and the Americans have come to steal it back from the Japs. Come to think of it, Australia and America were both stolen from the locals, too. There is a lot of that kind of thing going on, which is why groups of people should endeavor to buy better weapons than potential rivals and why the world needs entrepeneurs. Anyway, I forgot what I was saying...oh yeah..Cape Sansapor) 07:15, May 7, 1943*******


An LCT approaches a beautiful sandy beach backed by a hardwood forest which begins only yards from the sea. Aboard the Pathfinder LCT, with a red lantern hanging from her stern, stands Lt. Col. Leggatt, CO of Sparrow Force. The engine screams and a small rooster tail follows the craft. He is consumed by the thrill of the moment. He steps up on the stern near the coxswain, holds his revolver aloft and screams over the engine, "TAKE NO PRISONERS!!!"

[Cap Mandrake]

The historical landings at Cape Sansapor were in July 1944. We are 15 mos early.

LCI's headed toward Cape Sansapor

Might be an LST in the foreground

[Cap Mandrake]

Airfield at Sansapor in August 1944.

BTW....there was no airfield at Cape Sansapor prior to the Allied landing....there were a few abandoned native gardens that the Allies mistook for Japanese airfield constrcution. Not to worry...I am sure we can get a few Kitthyhawks in there.

[Cap Mandrake]

..

[Cap Mandrake]

..

[witpqs]

Nice Mustang, Cap.

[Reg]

Er... Cap

Don't you mean...

last rites
pl.n. Rites performed for a person in danger of dying or in connection with burial, as the Anointing of the Sick in the Roman Catholic Church.

P.S. Yes that is a nice Mustang.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Reg

Er... Cap

Don't you mean...

last rites
pl.n. Rites performed for a person in danger of dying or in connection with burial, as the Anointing of the Sick in the Roman Catholic Church.

Oh, Bloody Hell! You are rite! [:)] All that money my parents wasted on a Catholic education! [:D]

Mr. Cheatham; however, can be excused for the mistake as one of his specialities is Constitutional Law. Mr. Cheatham also spelled his middle name wrong as I recall. Not to worry, the Congressman from Gilroy will never spot the ecclesiastical error.

[Cap Mandrake]

*********Office of the Honorable John M. Costello, Washington, D.C., May 8, 1942************


the Honorable John M. Costello: <depresses intercom button> Hey Betty, what is the name of that Secretary of War, guy?

Voice of Secretary, the regular kind..and with an ample bosom I might add: You mean Mr. Stimson, sir?

the Honorable John M. Costello: Yeah, that's him, Simpson. Set up a meeting with him please.

Voice of Secretary, the regular kind..and with an ample bosom I might add: Right away sir.

the Honorable John M. Costello: Oh...Betty, how do you spell "rite" as in "last rites"?

Voice of Secretary, the regular kind..and with an ample bosom I might add: I believe that is R-I-T-E, sir.

the Honorable John M. Costello: Yeah, that's what I though. Hot shot, primadonna lawyer types frost my ass....oh..sorry Betty. Say..Betty, I meant to tell you how much I liked your new sweater.....

[Cap Mandrake]

**********Cape Sansapor, New Guinea, 08:05, May 8 ,1943************


Lt. Col. Leggatt: <striding purposefully along the beach with his XO) Very well, what have you?

XO: All objectives achieved, no enemy found. The cleared area is free of stumps and the ground firm. I think the C-47's can come in.

Lt. Col. Leggatt: Splendid, and casualties?

XO: 43 with sunburn, 8 falling cocconut-related injuries, 68 with sand chigger bites, 23 foot blisters.

Lt. Col. Leggatt: Very well, and the firing I heard?

XO: Ah, yes. Well, some of the boys were a bit too enthusiatic after your speech and came across a family of howler monkeys.

[Reg]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Oh, Bloody Hell!

I just love the way Mandrake manages to squirm his way out of the situations he gets himself into. [X(]

Cap, you are an inspiration to us all!!! [&o] [&o] [:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Reg


I just love the way Mandrake manages to squirm his way out of the situations he gets himself into. [X(]

Here is a very effective strategy to deal with a missed deadline, which I have cleverly nurtured through a lifetime of feigned disorganization..."Oh crap! I forgot."

[Cap Mandrake]

*********Kai Drome, 11:20, May 8, 1943************


In celebration of the just completed runway extension to accomodate heavy bombers, the Kai Island Chamber of Commerce has pulled out all the stops to congratulate the engineers and welcome the impending arrival of the first USAAF heavy bomb group on the island. It hasn't taken long for the indiginous people of Kai Island to recognize the fantastic entrepeneurial opportunities which seem to follow the USAAF. Sure, they are comprised of an oversexed, culturally clueless, loud-talking, free-spending group of young men and all the young women must be carefully hidden away, but there is plenty of money to be made. Despite the dozens of ships and the hundreds of new airplanes they bring with them, some things are scarce..... and the color of scarcity is green.

At the end of the runway a giant sign has been constructed with white sand poured out on the black tarmac in 10 foot tall letters. It reads "8000 Ft..WELL DONE! MAY 8, 1943". There is a group of native muscians playing and hot iguana brochettes are being prepared over an open pit barbecue. The Mayor spots an approaching jeep and quickly commands the band to play a Sousa march. It's not easy without a brass section but it is vaguely recognizable. He smiles broadly as Col Irvine approaches rapidly in his Jeep. The Colonel stands upright as the Jeep stops, grasping the windshield. A look of amazement comes over the Colonel. He shouts over the band.

"What the **** are you people doing? Has nobody here heard of operational security? Jesus H. Christ! Get this God damned sign off my God damned runway!"

The mood of the welcoming group takes a nose dive. The band stops playing one instrument at a time. The Colonel's sense of discontent is evident to all, even those who speak no English. As the guy with the clarinet kinda thing stops playing, the sound of a large airplane can be heard to the NW. The shape is unmistakible. It is a Mavis seaplane......

[BrucePowers]

Well you know those little ops messages....

Kai Island increases airfield size to 4....................[:D]

or 5 or whatever[:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

*****Sitrep, New Guinea, the Moluccas and Sulawese, May 9, 1943****


Cape Sansapor: The base is now in Allied hands and is being resupplied by air. My original plan to leap frog Sparrow Bn down the north coast of New Guinea will have to wait a bit as the fuel demands of the thirsty LCT's drained the AK and AVD in support. In any event, developments at Kendari now require the LCT's return to Kai.

Kendari: A big Jap transport force just departed to the West. It appears they were evacuating troops from Kendari as the troop count seems down, but it my have been a replacement convoy. It looks like they are unescorted so Allied subs in the Makassar Straight are ordered to intercept. The 90+ bombers that used to be at Kendari are gone. It seems the sneaky little yellow bastards somehow deduced that Kai was ready for heavy bombers and wisely retreated to safer grounds. [;)] There are now aircraft at Balikpapan on Borneo and Davao on Mindanao. It looks like they may have deduced more than that.

Morotai: The Barisan Regt. will depart from Kai via LCT for the planned invasion of Morotai. Now that Kendari is free of bombers, D-Day has been moved up 10-11 days.

Manado (Sulawese): Another KNIL unit (Bn. sized) will embark on LCT from Namlea for a simultaneous landing with the Morotai operation. If there proves to be a garrison at Manado, the ladning will be scrubbed.

Amboina: The port and Jap brigade there are being hit almost daily. The invasion at Amboina is planned for the last week of May. 9th Australian Div and the long-lost PA 82nd will embark on fast transports and AK's from Darwin.

And a map for reference in case you haven't memorized all the islands in the Pacfic Theatre of Operations...but don't expect me to fetch your cigars and some Port or something. Seriously, the level of lassitude on this forum..sometimes..

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

*********Kai Drome, 11:20, May 8, 1943************

"What the **** are you people doing? Has nobody here heard of operational security? Jesus H. Christ! Get this God damned sign off my God damned runway!"

[bradfordkay]

"If there proves to be a garrison at Manado, the ladning will be scrubbed."

This sounds vaguely like plans for some sort of convention for pedophiles...[;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

"If there proves to be a garrison at Manado, the ladning will be scrubbed."

This sounds vaguely like plans for some sort of convention for pedophiles...[;)]

Whoa pardner...leave Father Emmanoulides out of this. [:)]

[Cap Mandrake]

So I am at Target buying dog food and I see this collection of DVD's for $7.50. I decided to do my part for the economy so I bought a copy of Team America. It was almost worth $7.50 to see what's his name blow himself up...but not quite. The good news is Stalker Girl got all turned on by the R-rated language.


Meanwhile, there is a turn in the inbox and guess what....five...count them five carriers showed up off Cape Sansapor.