U505 & Stuka Dive Bomber

[rkr1958]

I'm on holiday with my family in Chicago and yesterday my son and I went to the museum of Science and Industry to see their new Myth Buster's exhibit, which opened that day. As a side benefit for me I got to see one of two surviving Stuka dive bombers and U505.

The Stuka dive bomber was captured by the British in North Africa. Apparently the British overran an airfield where it was before the Germans had a chance to destroy it. It had just been repaired; but you could still see a few bullet holes in the wings from ground fire.

U505 was a u-boat captured by the US in 1945. The story of its capture was kept secret until 2 or 3 days after Germany surrendered and then made public in May 1945. What impressed me was the size of the boat. I have seen and been on a US sub, The USS Drum, which is at the USS Alabama Museum. I was impressed by how big U505 was compared to the USS Drum. I didn't realize that German u-boats were so large. Unfortunatley all the tickets to go on-board were sold out so I didn't get to see inside; but still it was an impressive sight.

[Kragdob]

I made a trip to Kubinka (near Moscow) to see German tanks couple of years ago - they have all the types of German tanks starting from PzrI to Maus.

I was overwhelmed by how tiny is PzrI and PzrII which made most of German conquest in 1940 and partially in 1941. On the contrary Panther/Tiger are monsters (I am not wondring why they rose so much fear) and Mouse is real giants.

Anegdote: When we came to the museum we asked that we heard that they have Tiger I tank that is still running they said that unfortunately no longer and they are very sad because they cannot drive it to buy vodka any more. I wonder how true this is

[Plaid]

they have all the types of German tanks starting from PzrI to Maus.

Are they still painted that terrible nowadays?
http://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2011-05/ ... ubinke.jpg

[Kragdob]

Id didn't look that weird in the place. I was astonished by the size of this Panther. I'm 180 cm and its main 'deck' was still over...

[gsmart04]

If any of you guys get to the Baltimore area, check out the Aberdeen Proving Grounds about 50 minutes north up I-95. They have just about every tank made by the Germans and Russians in WWII though not, I believe, the Maus. Definitely worth a look.

[Plaid]

According to wikipedia last existing maus is in place mentioned above near Moscow.

[ferokapo]

U505 is Typ IXC, so that's indeed big. I might make it to the Chicago area this year, and definitely put that on my todo list! If you ever make it to Northern Germany and have a day to spare, go to Laboe near Kiel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboe_Naval_Memorial the only remaining Type VII is there, and you can walk through it from bow to stern usually without much waiting - impressive! For tanks, go to Münster http://www.panzermuseum-munster.de/?page_id=1273