[ARC5] Lend-Lease (was P-40 Found in Desert)

[Leslie Smith]

Hello List,
I would like to check the point that "UK paid all its bills".
I understand that no account was kept of lend-lease either to the UK or
to Russia.
I would like to have this confirmed (or denied) by a competent historian
using this list.

I think this (lend-lease) was one of the most astonishing acts of
generosity in history.
D-Day and the losses by the 8th Air Army was more generous (in terms of
the cost to USA).
As I understand, USA began to supply lend-lease before Pearl Harbour,
due to some ingenious "politick-ing" on the part of that greatest of US
Presidents, Rooseveldt.  I remember in April '45 (funeral oration or
more likely in the press) it was said that men would remember his name
in 100 years, fall to their knees and say, "Thank God".   Well it's
true.  We should do that.  US has seen a number of brilliant Presidents
and FDR stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best.

Returning to lend-lease - That's the reason for my interest in "Uk paid
all it's bills".
I don't believe the USA put in a bill.

The other person we should thank is Eleanor R's policy for refugees and
the UN policy on refugees that resulted (1948.)  She was  prescient in
that regard.

73s


  Leslie Smith
  vk2bcu at operamail.com


On Sat, May 12, 2012, at 03:02 PM, Geoff wrote:
> I believe the UK paid all its bills which is more than some countries
> did.
> 
> Yes, 260 Squadron was flown by the RCAF if the current reports from
> Canada 
> and the UK are correct. Hopefully they were as good at records keeping as 
> the Germans.
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert Eleazer" <releazer at earthlink.net>
> To: <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2012 1:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] P-40 Found in Desert
> 
> 
> > Looking on some of the enthusiast websites, it seems that based on 
> > squadron codes barely viewable on the side, the airplane belonged to 260 
> > Squadron, an RAF outfit.  It needed some repair to the landing gear so a 
> > pilot, apparently Flt Sgt Dennis Copping, was directed to fly it with the 
> > wheels down to a repair center.  It had long been assumed that he got lost 
> > and ran out of fuel, ending up MIA.
> >
> > But it does not look like the wheels were down when it landed, or else it 
> > would likely have flipped on its back.  The pilot may have got the wheels 
> > up before making belly landing, which would be a wise thing to do.
> >
> > I wonder if perhaps since they were sending it to a repair center they 
> > yanked the regular radio and put in that battery pack radio.  A view of 
> > the cockpit shows what looks like a cable with an antenna connector on it 
> > sticking up from somewhere.
> >
> > As for Aussie P-40's in the Middle East, there is a book on the subject 
> > entitled "Desert Warriors: Australian P-40 Pilots at War in the Middle 
> > East" which is available on half.com for only $252.25.   Y'all better 
> > hurry because David is no doubt gonna jump right on that!
> >
> > I fully expect that airplane to be restored to flyable condition.  I have 
> > seen far worse wrecks returned to the air recently.
> >
> > And by the Lend Lease rules under which that airplane was provided the 
> > U.K. could either pay us for it or hand it back when they were done.
> >
> > Wayne
> > WB5WSV
> >
> >
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