F35 down and missing in SC

[AV8R_87]

The money and human capital spent on the V-1, V-2, Me 262, Arado 236, Tiger and Panther tanks, artillery on railroad carriages that required four parallel sets of tracks, and other so called super weapons, could have been used to build thousands of Panzer Mk IV tanks and StuG III tank destroyers.

Arthur C Clarke wrote a nice short story on the topic, called "Superiority". Worth reading.

- Chapter 5

The ultimate cause of our failure was a simple one: despite all statements to the contrary, it was not due to lack of bravery on the part of our men, or to any fault of the Fleet's. We were defeated by one thing only—by the inferior science of our enemies. I repeat—by the inferior science of our enemies.

 

[Bill]

Years ago, I had a hand in the original development of the F35’s electro-optical targeting system. I really enjoyed watching the F35s fly at SNF last week. Always cool to see an idea become reality.

I supplied components into EODAS for a large majority of my career, and was working with Uncle Ray on EODAS next gen when I retired.

As for WWII, it is my thinking that we were behind the 8-ball when the war started, both in quantity and technology, but had surpassed the Germans in both by the end of the war.

 

[WDD]

I supplied components into EODAS for a large majority of my career, and was working with Uncle Ray on EODAS next gen when I retired.

As for WWII, it is my thinking that we were behind the 8-ball when the war started, both in quantity and technology, but had surpassed the Germans in both by the end of the war.

And did that in essentially 3 years. 1) It was the greatest generation, and 2) I wonder if faced with such a crisis we would today be able to do that.

 

[Half Fast]

And did that in essentially 3 years. 1) It was the greatest generation, and 2) I wonder if faced with such a crisis we would today be able to do that.

Well, it did help a little that US factories were out of reach and weren’t being bombed 24 hours a day, along with railroads, highways, refineries, etc.

 

[Bob Noel]

Arthur C Clarke wrote a nice short story on the topic, called "Superiority". Worth reading.

yup - I think about that short story when the topic of quantity vs quality comes up.

anyone hear about what happened the first few times in US war games when the guard units, using F-4 phantoms, went up against active duty units flying the new F-16? Rumor has it that the F-16s got smoked by the older, much more experienced pilots flying the F-4s. Maybe that's a myth.

 

[WDD]

Well, it did help a little that US factories were out of reach and weren’t being bombed 24 hours a day, along with railroads, highways, refineries, etc.

It did. But doesn’t take away from the incredible achievement our parents/grandparents parents did.

 

[Mikey52]

And then getting all the stuff they built across the globe to where it was used.

 

[Pugs]

anyone hear about what happened the first few times in US war games when the guard units, using F-4 phantoms, went up against active duty units flying the new F-16? Rumor has it that the F-16s got smoked by the older, much more experienced pilots flying the F-4s. Maybe that's a myth.

Not surprised given the F-16A’s BVR capability but every time you read “ so and so smacked so and so in an exercise” remember exercises all have objectives and scenarios and often the outcome is prescribed for good reasons.

 

[2-Bit Speed]

Not surprised given the F-16A’s BVR capability but every time you read “ so and so smacked so and so in an exercise” remember exercises all have objectives and scenarios and often the outcome is prescribed for good reasons.

Who learns more? The winners or the losers of such an exercise?

 

[Bob Noel]

hopefully, everyone learns.

 

[3393RP]

As for WWII, it is my thinking that we were behind the 8-ball when the war started, both in quantity and technology, but had surpassed the Germans in both by the end of the war.

I am about to start on the third book of a four volume set that encompasses the life of General George C. Marshall. It was written by respected historian Forrest Pogue.

The first two volumes covered the General's early military career in detail and the lead into WWII, and Volume 3 picks up at the beginning of Operation Torch, the Allies' invasion of North Africa. The unpreparedness of US Armed Forces to fight in WWI and again after we entered WWII was pervasive and extremely difficult to overcome.

I suspect if the US soon finds itself at war, those same conditions will again be present.