Many of Papa’s memories revolve around World War Two; both its learned reality and its myths. Much of history is infused with myths. That is especially true regarding heightened nationalism and perceived heroism of combat. It was impossible to grow up in my hometown without knowing the pride of General Billy Mitchell. I walked all the way to the Paradise theater on my own to watch the movie “The Court Martial Of Billy Mitchell”. He was the guy who advocated for air power to save America.
And, what better tribute could an image have for me than a flock of B-25 Mitchell Bombers taking off from the deck of the USS Hornet to raid Japan. It was in another movie, “Forty Seconds Over Tokyo.” The “Doolittle Raid” surprised the big wigs of Japan’s military and put a bit of fear in them as well as the populace. Eighty years ago this month. Some say it forced the enemy to keep some fighter groups home for protection. Drained away resources needed elsewhere. Others say it even had an impact on Japan’s decision to attack at Midway. (Not a good experience for the empire.)
Initially the US did not brag about the Doolittle raid. Most news of the attack came from Japan’s reporting. No one knew where the bombers started from. Bombers off an aircraft carrier was not conceivable. Most assumed the planes took off from China or a close by island. FDR, our President, joked that they may have originated in Shangri-La, an imaginary place from a book/movie “Lost Horizon.”
Today all this comes to mind with news reports of a daring raid on a military installation/depot INSIDE Russia. All kinds of Russians have swarmed into Ukraine to inflict horrific destruction in the last month. If it is true that Ukrainian forces carried out today’s attack, then it is a well deserved and a surprising poke in the nose for the Russians. So far there is a bit of cat and mouse over who did the attack. (Ukraine or Russian “false flag”?)
A rather deserving chink into the invincibilty armor of the Russian military if choppers swooped in from Shangri-La. And, the birth of a possible myth. Which would fit in nicely alongside Putin’s dream of getting dear old Mother Russia back to its glory days. (Having sat through Petrovich’s lectures, Papa’s memory doesn’t recall too much glory in its history.)
(SIDE NOTE: Shangri-La was the theme of our 1960 Prom. Based on the idylic fantasyland; not on air assults. Yes, Papa went to a prom with a nice young lady willing to be seen with him in public. I rtransported to a high school gym.)member the hidden charms of the Himalays