Did’nt put it in the Cafe society because I think its a GQ question, but…
In the Movie Pearl Harbor, there is a scene where a low flying Japanese plane encounters some baseball playing lads, and the pilot waves them to get away.
I can only find one either cite for it; via Google
What it says. Bolds are mine.
So whats the straight dope? I find it not impossible, but difficult to believe, especially considering the whoppers the movie made on history anyway. Apparently there were no bomber pilots in the US for the Doolittle raid.
I find it a little tough to believe that a pilot would wave anyone off because it doesn’t make sense to do so. If he was firing on what appeared to be a sporting event then he would have just stopped shooting. It would be impossible to identify someone as a Boy Scout traveling at 200 mph. They’re a little busy flying the plane.
That a gunner waved is believable enough, but what were the motivations? This incident can only have been reported by either the aircrew themselves (unlikely) or by people on the ground. They may have seen someone wave but how do they know it wasn’t a “ha ha I burning your dog” wave?
I’ve done bombing runs in flying club contests at MUCH slower speeds and lower altitudes. I’d be hard pressed to take the time to interact with anyone on the ground. An attacking plane would be looking for targets, enemy defense positions and other aircraft while manuevering their aircraft to stay on the mission mission objective.
Before anyone asks, bombing runs are done with small amounts of flower in a paper bag dropped out the window of the plane.
I know what you meant, but you might consider switching to flowers: Imagine a plane dropping dozens of rose blossoms as it roars past. Impossible to get them to stay in a reasonable circle, most likely, but that almost seems beside the point.
Well IIRC it was one of the rear gunners who waved. And apparently it was during the second wave attack so later in the morning. The IJN was a professional force, I would not put it past them to do as is claimed, but I would like to know if it did actually happen as is claimed.
Hey guys, the Harbor was bombed earlier this morning and a bunch of people are dying and ships are sinking right over there…You all wanna go play some baseball?
I’ve done bombing runs in flying club contests at MUCH slower speeds and lower altitudes. I’d be hard pressed to take the time to interact with anyone on the ground. An attacking plane would be looking for targets, enemy defense positions and other aircraft while manuevering their aircraft to stay on the mission mission objective.
**Before anyone asks, bombing runs are done with small amounts of flower in a paper bag dropped out the window of the plane.[/**QUOTE]
I am currently reading a book by Hans von Luck Panzer Commander, who was a colonel in the German Army in WWII. He tells a similar story about a British pilot in Africa 1942. A group of British planes were attacking Luck’s armored vehicles in the desert and all the men left the trucks and hit the deck, except the radioman. At one point, one of the planes flew very low over the radio truck and waved the radioman to get out. He then turned and destroyed the truck on his next pass. Judging from the rest of the book, I have every reason to believe he’s telling the truth.
So that kind of thing can definitely happen.