U505 & Stuka Dive Bomber
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:52 pm
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.
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.
