Comments by "Sar Jim" (@sarjim4381) on "USS Wisconsin - Guide 060 (Part 7)" video.

  1. I've seen a certificate created on board the Wisconsin at the time of the sinking of that KC-97 Stratofreighter. I think the plane floated around off the Azores for something like 10 days, but all the crew were rescued. It detailed the hunt for the plane as it took evasive action (the wind blew it faster to the south than predicted), and the heroic resistance by the aircraft (it was actually used for target practice), with a total of something like thirty 5" and a couple thousand 40mm rounds required to sink her. This lead to her being named an honorary US Navy vessel, the "USS Curtis LeMay". Some artistic scamp even made up a ship's patch showing the KC-97F with a large cigar being chomped on (LeMay was an inveterate cigar smoker) by the teeth in the mouth that replaced the cockpit windows. Given that LeMay and the Navy were locked in a battle royal at the time about which would be the service to provide nuclear deterrence (the Navy ultimately winning), I suspect neither the Air Force nor LeMay were amused.
    117