Saturday, March 22, 2014

Admiral Harry E. Yarnell, USN - A Unique Perspective on History circa 1937

In this current period of an evolving and unsettled world it may be both interesting and instructive to recall history, and what was occurring in the world in the mid to late 1930’s. Less than a year prior to Germany’s occupation of the Sudetenland in October of 1938, the United States was involved in a major provocation by Japan during its invasion of China, specifically in December 1937, during the Battle of Nanking.

Admiral Harry E. Yarnell, USN
Commander-in-Chief US Asiatic Fleet
1936-1939

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN
Commander-in-Chief US Pacific Fleet

By uncanny coincidence both Admiral Harry E. Yarnell and future Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, discussed in depth in an article in this blog regarding the planning for the attack on Pearl Harbor (http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/p/military-strategy.html), were involved in the incident, one directly the other indirectly. As a then Captain, Nimitz had commanded the heavy cruiser USS Augusta (CA-31) in 1934 -1936, a relatively new ship, having been commissioned in 1930. The Augusta was to become ADM Yarnell’s flagship during his tour as Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet. During that tour is when the bombing and subsequent sinking of the USS Panay (PR-5), a River Class Gunboat, by Japanese naval aircraft, occurred in December 1937 on the Yangtze River. The incident, like so many others, quickly slipped into obscurity, forgotten in time. The only transient reminder (but not directly related) being the movie “Sand Pebbles” starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough, released in 1966.

USS Augusta (CA-31)
Flagship US Asiatic Fleet circa 1937

USS Panay (PR-5) River Class Gunboat circa 1937

Preliminary proposed naval architect's design for the River Class gunboats dated 1924. Note the flat bottom, as well as the tunnels for the diesel engine driven propellers, both design features intended to minimize potential damage from the Yangtze River bottom, shoals and sandbars. The image can be enlarged in order to improve legibility.


I had the good fortune a number of years ago to be able to borrow and copy a set of files containing ADM Yarnell’s personal correspondence, as well as that of his chief-of-staff, written at that exact period in history. The files had been retained in the possession of CAPT R. F. McConnell, ADM Yarnell’s Chief-of-Staff at the time. They provide original source documentation written within a “window of history”, and a unique perspective on the time and events leading up to World War II.

Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, USN
Chief of Naval Operations
1937-1939

Not intending to bore anyone, the following are just some brief vignettes into history. The composition and content of the correspondence mix a perspective on significant historical world events on the same page with a reminder about “not forgetting golf clubs”, and queries about wife and family. This was privileged personal correspondence. Who, even in this day in age, would begin official correspondence to the then Chief of Naval Operations with, “My Dear Leahy” (Admiral William D. Leahy)? One clarification, Captain Harold M. “Cap” Bemis, was naval intelligence, and Naval Attache to Japan at the time. Admiral John Marquart commanded the Yangtze River Patrol. With regard to quality of the copies, please try and appreciate that they are reproductions by a copy machine about 4 decades ago of already aging pieces of paper.

                                  



























The following is a contemporary newsreel film of what was called the "Panay Incident", and in its real time coverage is considered as sensationalism in its format, but as well certainly unique.


Saturday, March 1, 2014

A Photographic Catalog - Operation Market Garden Series by King & Country Military Miniatures


The Operation Market Garden Series of  “toy soldiers” was introduced by King & Country Military Miniatures in 2007. To date (March 2014) the company has produced 58 sets in the series. The figures represent an evolved level of miniatures in 1:30 scale. They reflect a primary synthesis of subject matter for this blog combining the WWII Battle of Arnhem with military miniatures/"toy soldiers". With the forthcoming 70th Anniversary  of the battle occurring in September of this year, thought it might be of some interest to present a photographic catalog of the figures and vehicles thus far produced in the series, in anticipation of commemorating the epic action. This blog already contains various photographs of the figures, and this page will illustrate them individually in the order of the manufacturer’s catalog number. A set's year of introduction is indicated in parentheses.

 MG001 (2007 RETIRED)
RECCE JEEP, 1ST AIRBORNE RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG002 (2007 RETIRED)
AIRBORNE JEEP AND TRAILER, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG003 (2007 RETIRED)
WALKING WOUNDED, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG004 (2007 RETIRED)
THE SCOUT, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG005 (2007 RETIRED)
PATROL LEADER, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG006 (2007 RETIRED)
WALKING RIFLEMAN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG007 (2007 RETIRED)
POINTING NCO, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG008 (2007 RETIRED)
KNEELING RIFLEMAN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG009 (2007 RETIRED)
KNEELING FIRING RIFLEMAN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944

MG010 (2007 RETIRED)
WALKING RADIOMAN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944

MG011 (2007 RETIRED)
LIEUTENANT W/STEN GUN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944

MG012 (2007 RETIRED)
STANDING FIRING STEN GUN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944

MG013 (2007 RETIRED)
LYING FIRING BREN GUN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944

MG014 (2007 RETIRED)
KNEELING W/UMBRELLA, "MAJ HARRY POPE" IN MOVIE
 "A BRIDGE TOO FAR",ACTUALLY BASED ON MAJ DIGBY
 TATHAM-WARTER, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944 

MG015 (2007 RETIRED)
ADVANCE TO CONTACT, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944

MG016 (2007 RETIRED)
MAJOR GENERAL ROY URQUHART, GOC,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944

MG017 (2007 RETIRED)
PARATROOPER WITH MORTAR BOMBS
 (PIAT ROUNDS),1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG018 (2007 RETIRED)
MANNING THE PIAT, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944

MG019 (2007 RETIRED)
AIRBORNE 6 POUNDER ANTI TANK GUN SET,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944 

MG020 (2007 RETIRED)
KNEELING FIRING STEN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG021 (2007 RETIRED)
LYING FIRING STEN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG022 (2007 RETIRED)
LYING FIRING RIFLEMAN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944

MG023 (2008 RETIRED)
MAJOR GENERAL STANISLAW SOSABOWSKI, GOC,
 1ST POLISH INDEPENDENT PARACHUTE BRIGADE GROUP,
 DRIEL(ARNHEM), 1944


MG024 (2008 RETIRED)
POLISH AIRBORNE BREN GUN TEAM, DRIEL(ARNHEM), 1944


MG025 (2008 RETIRED)
POLISH AIRBORNE SNIPER, DRIEL(ARNHEM), 1944


MG026 (2008 RETIRED)
POLISH AIRBORNE STAFF SERGEANT, FIRING BACK, W/GERMAN MP-40
 MACHiNE PISTOL, DRIEL(ARNHEM), 1944


MG027 (2008 RETIRED)
POLISH AIRBORNE (RIFLEMAN) SITTING, DRIEL(ARNHEM), 1944


MG028 (2010)
PARATROOPERS DESCENDING ('THE BIG JUMP', PARA CHECKING
CHUTE, PARA PREPARING TO LAND), 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG029  (2010 RETIRED)
AIRBORNE JEEP ('RADIO JEEP'), W/WIRELESS SET NO.22WS, DRIVER,
OFFICER, AND RADIOMAN, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG030 (2010 RETIRED)
AIRBORNE COMBAT CAMERAMAN ('ARMY PHOTOGRAPHIC
 UNIT CAMERAMAN'), AFPU, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG031 (2010 RETIRED)
3IN MORTAR('MORTAR TEAM'), W/CREW, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG032 (2010 RETIRED)
WOUNDED PARATROOPERS SURRENDERING ('CAPTURED'),
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG033(P) (2013)
LIEUT. JACK GRAYBURN VC, LOOKING THROUGH
 BINOCULARS, W/STEN MK V, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG034(P) (2013)
MAJ. FREDERICK “FREDDIE” GOUGH MC,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG035(P) (2013)
THE AIRBORNE CYCLIST, FOLDING AIRBORNE BICYCLE,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944 


MG036(P) (2013)
A CUP OF TEA, SIR, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944  


MG037(P) (2013)
ADVANCING, W/RIFLE AT THE READY, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG038(P) (2013)
ADVANCING, W/STEN MKV AT THE READY, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944 


MG039(P) (2013)
PARATROOPER CROUCHING, W/CAMOFLAUGED NET CAPE AND BREN GUN,
1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944 


MG040(P) (2013)         
KNEELING RIFLEMAN, RIFLE AT THE READY, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG041(P) (2013)
WALKIE-TALKIE, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944 


MG042(P) (2013)
MAJ. ROBERT H. CAIN VC, W/PISTOL AND CARRYING PIAT,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG043(P) (2013)
LIEUT. DENIS BOITEAUX-BUCHANAN MC, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION,
 ARNHEM, 1944


MG044(P) (2013)
GRENADIER, 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG045(P) (2013)
FIGHTING GLIDER PILOT SARGEANT, STANDING, RIFLE AT THE READY,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG046 (2013)
UNIVERSAL CARRIER NO.1 MK III (AIRBORNE MODIFICATION), W/DRIVER
 AND BREN GUNNER (RASC), 11TH PARA BN, PARACHUTE REGT,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG047 (2013)
75MM PACK HOWITZER, M1A1 (MK 8 CARRIDGE),
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG048(P) (2013)
GUNNERS SET, 1ST AIRLANDING LIGHT REGIMENT, ROYAL ARTILLERY,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG049(P) (2013)
SERGEANT JACK SCOTT, W/M1 CARBINE, COMMANDING GUN CREW,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG050(P) (2013)
 “HELP AT LAST” (CARRYING THE WOUNDED), RAMC CORPSMAN,
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944


MG051(P) (2013)
LSGT WILLIAM FULTON (1ST MAN ON ARNHEM BRIDGE),
 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, 1944

As an addendum, in anticipation of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem, King and Country has introduced 5 new figures and a vehicle in the Market Garden series.

MG052(P) (2014)
LCOL JOHN FROST OC 2 PARA BN
1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, !944



MG053 (2014)
AIRBORNE JEEP
!ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM 1944

MG054(P) (2014)
SPR TOM CARPENTER 9 ABN FD CO, RE

1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, !944

MG055(P) (2014)
CPL BILL BOYS (LCOL FROST'S BAT MAN)

 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, !944

MG056(P) (2014)
MEDIC AND WOUNDED PARA 2 PARA BN

1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, !944

MG057(P) (2014)
CAPT JAMES OGLIVIE 2 IC D COY GLIDER PILOT REGT

1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, !944

MG058 (2014)
BRITISH PARAS DESCENDING
1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, ARNHEM, !944