- Joined
- Dec 19, 2002
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Flintlocks in WW II or don't mess with the Naga
I read about one GI's account where late in the war he heard a gunshot and couldn't recognize it (everyone's gun sound different which is why you don't use the enemy's gun). Turns out it was a old grandfather type German who used a flintlock to shoot at and fortunately, missed a GI. The GI walked over, disarmed him and smashed the flintlock against a tree and told the old German to go home. Too bad the GI didn't take the flintlock home as a trophy.
What may have been centuries old technology to the Germans was the most modern weapon the tribal Naga people of Burma (modernly Myanmar) had when they decided to fight back against the Japanese. Among their other weapons were spears, bows and crossbows. See Richard Dunlop's Behind Japanese Lines page 134. The Naga once spotted Japanese paratroopers drop into their hills and the Americans wanted the Naga to neutralize them. During one dinner, a proud Naga walked in with a basket and when he opened it, it was filled with the heads of the Japanese paratroopers. Some Americans vomited. Anyway, the Naga were given silver rupees for their work. See page 131.
I read about one GI's account where late in the war he heard a gunshot and couldn't recognize it (everyone's gun sound different which is why you don't use the enemy's gun). Turns out it was a old grandfather type German who used a flintlock to shoot at and fortunately, missed a GI. The GI walked over, disarmed him and smashed the flintlock against a tree and told the old German to go home. Too bad the GI didn't take the flintlock home as a trophy.
What may have been centuries old technology to the Germans was the most modern weapon the tribal Naga people of Burma (modernly Myanmar) had when they decided to fight back against the Japanese. Among their other weapons were spears, bows and crossbows. See Richard Dunlop's Behind Japanese Lines page 134. The Naga once spotted Japanese paratroopers drop into their hills and the Americans wanted the Naga to neutralize them. During one dinner, a proud Naga walked in with a basket and when he opened it, it was filled with the heads of the Japanese paratroopers. Some Americans vomited. Anyway, the Naga were given silver rupees for their work. See page 131.
