WWII Points To Ponder

[Leatchy]

Hey they were pumping cigarettes into them even faster. RJ Reynolds were only too happy to supply the US military with Camels for free. Check smoking rates after both WW1 and WW2, they skyrocket! Coca Cola and big tobacco, supply the military and manufacture a customer base all at the same time. Remember folks, cigarette and soft drink consumers exhibit amazing brand loyalty.

[Geek44]

Despite my 'left-wing, ain't that typical of a corporation' views, if I was in a shooting war, I'd go back to smoking (and possibly Coke drinking) on the first day.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Leatchy

Hey they were pumping cigarettes into them even faster. RJ Reynolds were only too happy to supply the US military with Camels for free. Check smoking rates after both WW1 and WW2, they skyrocket! Coca Cola and big tobacco, supply the military and manufacture a customer base all at the same time. Remember folks, cigarette and soft drink consumers exhibit amazing brand loyalty.

And having worked in a couple of veterans hospitals, smoking related diseases among the old timers were extremely common, probably the top several admitting diagnoses. Since my experience goes back to the early 1980's it included veterans of both wars.

[Tom Houlihan]

Originally Posted by Geek44

Despite my 'left-wing, ain't that typical of a corporation' views, if I was in a shooting war, I'd go back to smoking (and possibly Coke drinking) on the first day.

When there's a distinct possibility of an early demise, who cares about long term effects of something that can make you feel comfortable right here and now??

[Leatchy]

Hey! As a former 3 pack a day smoker, I fully understand, and if I was going into combat and someone was offering free cartons of Camel and bottles of Coke, I'd be sucking them down too. I just think it's interesting that both compnies moved as fast as they did, knowing full well that they were building brand loyalty and were lorded for their support of the war effort.

[Geek44]

My thinking exactly Tom. If my death was possibly imminent, I'd be looking for ways to insinuate tobacco into my food as well. Never been a big soft-drink (soda) man...even as a kid.
Coke is a phenomenon.
My partner works in the field of nutrition and has lots of contact with refugees from many places in the developing world. Occasionally in her work she'll be invited into somebody's home. To clarify, a person from Darfur has probably never seen broccoli before let alone cooked or eaten it. My partner eases the change by showing them. Whenever she enters a home like this, the people never fail to offer her Coke. Not Pepsi or any other...Coke. Coca-Cola is highly regarded in the developing world as the drink reserved for special occasions and honoured guests. Contrast this with the attitude of indigenous Australia toward it. It has almost totally replaced water. People have vending machines in their homes! When I worked in the hospital up north, two out of three aboriginal patients were there to have a foot removed through smoking and type 2 diabetes.
Peace.

[cyberia]

More US servicemen died in the Air Corps that the Marine Corps.

While completing the required 30 missions, your chance of being killed was 71%.

[Wustenfuchs]

Originally Posted by cyberia

More US servicemen died in the Air Corps that the Marine Corps.

While completing the required 30 missions, your chance of being killed was 71%.

Jeez, that's approaching the worst survival rate of any WW2 armed force. The U Bootwaffe had 80% KIA, the highest casulaty rate of any WW2 unit.

Do you think that 71% figure was prior to to the long range fighter escorts or an average of all four or so years the US fought in the war? Those P51's, 38's, and 47's certainly made a difference in the bomber crew's survival rate.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Wustenfuchs

Jeez, that's approaching the worst survival rate of any WW2 armed force. The U Bootwaffe had 80% KIA, the highest casulaty rate of any WW2 unit.

Do you think that 71% figure was prior to to the long range fighter escorts or an average of all four or so years the US fought in the war? Those P51's, 38's, and 47's certainly made a difference in the bomber crew's survival rate.

Unfortunately where I got the information gave few details other than what you see here, but I would guess that was the average over the four years the US was involved in the war.

[cyberia]

Germany lost 136 Generals during the war, which averages out to be 1 dead General every 2 weeks.

Germany lost 110 Division Commanders killed in combat.

The average German officer slot had to be refilled 9.2 times.