How tough was the Flying Fortress?

FNG:
The statement was "First Hero" not the first-serviceman killed. Americans needed a few heroes in those dark, early days of setback after setback.

Notmi:
The initial claim was for the IJN battleship Haruna, but that ship was operating off Malaysia at the time. The light cruiser Ashigara was the ship quoted in my sources...

Tim

 

I'm pretty certain that's not correct, I thought some USN Sailors were killed before the declaration of war escorting convoys across the Atlantic.

 

I'm confused. Are you referring to the landing at Dieppe in August 1942?

Thousands of US servicemen had died before that time at Pearl Harbor, in various naval engagements and in the Phillipines.

 

Quick googlesearch gave me following info: apparently they hit a cruiser but its name escapes me.

What you are using, if I may ask?

According to Keith Enge's naval database, bethween 11/41 and 1/42 only 3 japanese ships were sunk by bombs; submarine I 70, destroyer Kisaragi and minesweeper W19.

 

Notmi:
Heres my info source:
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/wwii/ckelly.htm

In any case, the DFC was awarded, and he was recognized as America's first WW2 hero, ergo posthumously.

Tim

 

Thanks. That link doesn't claim Ashigara sunk by those bombs. Apparently Ashigara was there and apparently Kelly attacked it managing to get some near-misses and maybe a hit (sources are contradicting eachother in this matter).
But definitely Ashigara was not sunk by Kelly. And like I said earlier, Ashigara was heavy cruiser, armed with ten 8" guns.

 

Notmi:
After personally witnessing the might of the USAAF, the crew of the IPN Light Cruiser Ashigara promptly surrendered...
or not.

Tim

 

:lol: