Myths of WWII

[zraver]

Know of any popular but untrue myths from WWII post them here. Please make sure its possible to check the claims.

Myth: The first defeat of the Japanese in WWII occurred at Milne Bay.

Truth: The allies (Australian) forces did not stop retreating and begin a sustained offensive until 31 Aug 1942, the fighting ended on Sep 7. The battle was joined originally on 25 Aug 1942. Depending on how you define defeat/victory the honors go to either the USN at Midway in June 1942 or if only counting land battles, the honors go to the USMC at the Battle of Tenaru when they all but wiped out the first force the Japanese sent to retake the island. This battle was fought 21 Aug 1942. Following that defeat there were only a few hundred Japanese on the Island, with very few (only a few dozen) fit combat troops.

[TopHatter]

Know of any popular but untrue myths from WWII post them here. Please make sure its possible to check the claims.

Myth: The first defeat of the Japanese in WWII occurred at Milne Bay.

How about the repulse of the first attempt to take Wake Island, December 11 1941?

2 destroyers sunk, both with all hands
1 light cruiser damaged

The Japanese retreated, not to return until December 23, whereupon they finally capture the island after a 15 day siege.

[zraver]

How about the repulse of the first attempt to take Wake Island, December 11 1941?

2 destroyers sunk, both with all hands
1 light cruiser damaged

The Japanese retreated, not to return until December 23, whereupon they finally capture the island after a 15 day siege.

I've raised this very question the past. On Wake the Japanese did return and win, after Midway, the Battle of Tenaru and the Battle of Milne bay the Japanese never came back and won.

[TopHatter]

I've raised this very question the past. On Wake the Japanese did return and win, after Midway, the Battle of Tenaru and the Battle of Milne bay the Japanese never came back and won.

Fair enough :)

[Dreadnought]

Hows about how many times the Japanese reported American ships sunk. And then a week later they re-appear in battle. Their excuse for the lies was to be that we constantly rename our ships after one is sunk. There are numerous entries in the Shattered Sword where Nagumo flat out knew they were lying their faces off but chose to agree and go along with the program. Giving rise to such myths as Houston (CA30) The galloping ghost of the Java coast and many many others.;)

[Dreadnought]

And of course who could ever forget "The Philadelphia Experiment":));)

[zraver]

And of course who could ever forget "The Philadelphia Experiment":));)

The Philadelphia experiment is a great one, its exactly what I was looking for. A myth many people today believe. Care to post the info on it?

[Dreadnought]

The Philadelphia experiment is a great one, its exactly what I was looking for. A myth many people today believe. Care to post the info on it?

Sure.:)

The "Philadelphia Experiment"
Related resources::

Office of Naval Research (ONR) fact sheet
UFO Research Guide
Photograph of USS Eldridge


Allegedly, in the fall of 1943 a U.S. Navy destroyer was made invisible and teleported from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Norfolk, Virginia, in an incident known as the Philadelphia Experiment. Records in the Operational Archives Branch of the Naval Historical Center have been repeatedly searched, but no documents have been located which confirm the event, or any interest by the Navy in attempting such an achievement.


The ship involved in the experiment was supposedly the USS Eldridge. Operational Archives has reviewed the deck log and war diary from Eldridge's commissioning on 27 August 1943 at the New York Navy Yard through December 1943. The following description of Eldridge's activities are summarized from the ship's war diary. After commissioning, Eldridge remained in New York and in the Long Island Sound until 16 September when it sailed to Bermuda. From 18 September, the ship was in the vicinity of Bermuda undergoing training and sea trials until 15 October when Eldridge left in a convoy for New York where the convoy entered on 18 October. Eldridge remained in New York harbor until 1 November when it was part of the escort for Convoy UGS-23 (New York Section). On 2 November the convoy entered Naval Operating Base, Norfolk. On 3 November, Eldridge and Convoy UGS-23 left for Casablanca where it arrived on 22 November. On 29 November, Eldridge left as one of escorts for Convoy GUS-22 and arrived with the convoy on 17 December at New York harbor. Eldridge remained in New York on availability training and in Block Island Sound until 31 December when it steamed to Norfolk with four other ships. During this time frame, Eldridge was never in Philadelphia.


Eldridge's complete World War II action report and war diary coverage, including the remarks section of the 1943 deck log, is available on microfilm, NRS-1978-26. The cost of a duplicate film is indicated on the fee schedule. To order a duplicate film, please complete the duplication order form and send a check or money order for the correct amount as indicated on the NHC fee schedule, made payable to the Department of the Navy, to the Operational Archives, at the above address.


Supposedly, the crew of the civilian merchant ship SS Andrew Furuseth observed the arrival via teleportation of the Eldridge into the Norfolk area. Andrew Furuseth's movement report cards are in the Tenth Fleet records in the custody of the Modern Military Branch, National Archives and Records Admnistration, (8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001), which also has custody of the action reports, war diaries and deck logs of all World War II Navy ships, including Eldridge. The movement report cards list the merchant ship's ports of call, the dates of the visit, and convoy designation, if any. The movement report card shows that Andrew Furuseth left Norfolk with Convoy UGS-15 on 16 August 1943 and arrived at Casablanca on 2 September. The ship left Casablanca on 19 September and arrived off Cape Henry on 4 October. Andrew Furuseth left Norfolk with Convoy UGS-22 on 25 October and arrived at Oran on 12 November. The ship remained in the Mediterranean until it returned with Convoy GUS-25 to Hampton Roads on 17 January 1944. The Archives has a letter from Lieutenant Junior Grade William S. Dodge, USNR, (Ret.), the Master of Andrew Furuseth in 1943, categorically denying that he or his crew observed any unusual event while in Norfolk. Eldridge and Andrew Furuseth were not even in Norfolk at the same time.


The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has stated that the use of force fields to make a ship and her crew invisible does not conform to known physical laws. ONR also claims that Dr. Albert Einstein's Unified Field Theory was never completed. During 1943-1944, Einstein was a part-time consultant with the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance, undertaking theoretical research on explosives and explosions. There is no indication that Einstein was involved in research relevant to invisibility or to teleportation. ONR's information sheet on the Philadelphia Experiment is attached.


The Philadelphia Experiment has also been called "Project Rainbow." A comprehensive search of the Archives has failed to identify records of a Project Rainbow relating to teleportation or making a ship disappear. In the 1940s, the code name RAINBOW was used to refer to the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis. The RAINBOW plans were the war plans to defeat Italy, Germany and Japan. RAINBOW V, the plan in effect on 7 December 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, was the plan the U.S. used to fight the Axis powers.


Some researchers have erroneously concluded that degaussing has a connection with making an object invisible. Degaussing is a process in which a system of electrical cables are installed around the circumference of ship's hull, running from bow to stern on both sides. A measured electrical current is passed through these cables to cancel out the ship's magnetic field. Degaussing equipment was installed in the hull of Navy ships and could be turned on whenever the ship was in waters that might contain magnetic mines, usually shallow waters in combat areas. It could be said that degaussing, correctly done, makes a ship "invisible" to the sensors of magnetic mines, but the ship remains visible to the human eye, radar, and underwater listening devices.


After many years of searching, the staff of the Operational Archives and independent researchers have not located any official documents that support the assertion that an invisibility or teleportation experiment involving a Navy ship occurred at Philadelphia or any other location.

Youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChjyC...om=PL&index=19

*Strangely enough they linked a second site to this story. The underground building/bunker that the US government owns to this day is still out on Long Island in Montauk Point. Believe it or Not!;)

[dalem]

Kasserine Pass.

The first day was everything the stories tell, with massive U.S. and allied failures at the tactical and operational level.

But the second day was better, and the third day of that little battle saw the Germans retreating under fire.

-dale

[zraver]

good one! A synopsis of events please.

[bugs]

Kasserine Pass.

Fredendall was promoted to Lieutenant General for that...

[dalem]

good one! A synopsis of events please.

I don't have Peret's "There's a War to be Won!" with me here at work so it'll have to wait. :)

-dale

[RustyBattleship]

To add a little more to the "Philadelphia Experiment", Eldridge was supposedly identified by its hull number in both Philadelphia and Norfolk at about the same time.

It was almost SOP to paint duplicate hull numbers of ships of the identically the same class and configuration to confuse German U-boats that were amazingly close to not only our East Coast but in the Gulf of Mexico as well.

[RustyBattleship]

Here's a partial myth:

On 19 April 1942 President Roosevelt announced that the day before Japan was attacked by American bombers launched from the Aircraft Carrier Shangr-La.

There was no carrier by that name at the time. But one was built later in honor of that morale boosting radio broadcast. Hmmmm. Come to think of it, I also did some Air Conditioning design work on that ship.

[Tarek Morgen]

why did he use that name? Mistake? Or to confuse the Japanese?