WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet

Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet - Germany
By Salem

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was one of the most exciting war planes ever built.
It made it's first flight in 1941 but due to it's radical design, it didn't enter service until 1944.
The Komet was powered by a rocket engine and could climb up to 9140 metres in two and a half minutes.
But it did have an unquenchable thirst for fuel and it could only fly for ten minutes before it needed to be re-fueled.  
To reduce weight, the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet had a detachable undercarriage, and to be able to land it had to skid on its belly.
But it's life was short lived as by the time they were introduced into service, the Nazi's were staring at defeat.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Typhoon

Typhoons 

The Typhoon - Britian
By Salem

The Typhoon became the foremost ground attack force of the Royal Air Force.  It was modified to carry heavier and heavier weapon loads, starting with two 112kg bombs and later carrying two 450kg bombs.
During sweeps across the English Channel, before D-Day, Typhoons destroyed around 150 railway locomotives a month.  However in 1944, in an air battle over Falaise in France, in one attack they destroyed at least 137 tanks.

The Japanese Threat to New Zealand in WWII

Jigsaw Puzzle  1944, J W Ltd, New Zealand

The Japanese Threat to New Zealand in WWII

During World War II, the New Zealand government used imagery such as rising-sun graphics to highlight the Japanese threat. Propaganda was part and parcel of wartime life.

Some commercial companies, like the one that produced this jigsaw box, did the same. The image of the Japanese soldier on the box is a sinister stereotype. Before the war, the lid of the same puzzle showed palm trees and an Asian boat.

New Zealand's Response to Pearl Harbor

Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and its capture of Singapore in February 1942 shocked New Zealanders. They worried about being attacked and about loved ones fighting overseas. The Japanese had bombed Darwin in Australia many times – would New Zealand be next?

The New Zealand Chiefs of Staff considered invasion unlikely because of the country's isolation. Hit-and-run raids were more probable.

The fear of the Japanese affected communities in different ways. People practised air raid drills, and some schools built shelters and trenches. The general school policy, however, was more relaxed – pupils were to go home if an alarm sounded.

The arrival of American forces in June 1942 injected welcome relief and excitement into the country. 

The above information is from http://www.tepapa.govt.nz

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Henschel HS 123

The Henschel HS 123

The Henschel HS 123 - Germany

By Salem

The Henschel HS 123 was a small German war plane.  It was virtually un-used between 1939 - 1940.

It was then taken out of service in 1940, but soon the Germans began to wish that they had kept the old  Henschel HS 123 in production rather than withdrawing it from front-line service.

It was finally re-called for the fight against the Russians. Then when one Luftwaffe commander insisted in no uncertain terms that production should be re-started immediately, it was discovered that all the tools and construction jigs had been destroyed.  The Germans then had no alternative but to press back into service the remaining Henschel HS 123 planes.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3

A Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3 and Russian Pilots

 The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3  
- Russia        By Salem

Todays aircraft is the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3 which was used by the Russians in WWII.
It was one of the only fighters that Russia had during the first months of the Russian Invasion.

Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3

They were very fast but had little else in their favour.  They were later used only for reconnaissance.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Flypast at "War Birds Over Wanaka" New Zealand

Salem is studying about the aircraft used in World War II and we thought it would make a great addition to this blog as we are making this a big study about all aspects of life during this time.
Salem, being a typical boy, just loves studying all the aircraft and other military weapons and vehicles from this period of history.
First up is the Tiger Moth.....

The Tiger Moth - Britain
By Salem

The Tiger Moth

The Tiger Moth was one of the most famous trainer planes ever.  Built mainly of wood and covered almost entirely in tough fabric, it first flew in 1931.
In the years before WWII it was used by flying schools around Britain.
The Tiger Moth's secret was it's low cost and reliability and in WWII it had found itself being used for anti-aircraft training.
After the war, the RAF declared them obsolete and they mostly ended up on the civilian market.

Sensible Slimming

I came across this slimming diet "Sensible Slimming in Practice", which was devised by the New Zealand Department of Health and was published in the New Zealand Home Journal 10 September 1948.
This was aimed at housewives and I really don't see that there would be many, if any over-weight women with wartime rationing.  High energy foods such as sugar and butter were rationed so you wouldn't over eat these foods.  There weren't all the labour saving kitchen appliances that we have now so cooking was physically more demanding so you would burn more calories just preparing your families meals.
But in 1948 New Zealand's Department of Health did start promoting healthier eating and food hygiene.

New Zealand's International Relations in WWII

Salem and I visited our National Museum, Te Papa, on the weekend.  We love going there to see our favourite exhibits.  The exhibits of New Zealand's 20th Century History are great.
They have an exhibit about New Zealand's role in WWII and how it affected New Zealanders  and our relationships with Britian and with the United States.
The following is information from Te Papa.

In 1900, New Zealand’s strongest ties were with Britain. The colony supported the ‘mother country’ through two world wars.

The United States became an ally when it offered protection from Japan in World War II. The 1951 Anzus defence treaty sealed this new relationship.

But the Vietnam War and New Zealand’s 1980s anti-nuclear stance strained ties with ‘Uncle Sam’ (the US). New Zealand increasingly turned its armed forces towards international peacekeeping and regional security.
World War II marked a new friendship with the US. New Zealand stood faithfully at Britain’s side throughout the war – but the Americans were the ones to defend the Pacific after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. Find out about these war years and their effect on New Zealanders’ lives, including on the home front.

‘THE UNITED STATES SERVICEMAN IS A FINE CHAP, A GENUINE FRIEND, AND ABOVE ALL AN INTENSELY LOYAL SOLDIER.’

EDITORIAL, THE EVENING POST, SEPTEMBER 1942

World War II was sparked when Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Two days later, Britain declared war on Germany, followed promptly by its faithful dominion New Zealand. Life here was about to change dramatically.

Emergency regulations & conscription 

New Zealand’s Emergency Regulations Act 1939 was passed shortly after the declaration of war. The act gave the government wide powers. In May 1940, an amendment placed people and property in the hands of the government, enabling the introduction of conscription (compulsory military service). From March 1941, New Zealanders had to dim lights in buildings, streets, and vehicles. The severest restrictions were in coastal towns, which were considered most vulnerable to enemy attack. People used heavy curtains, paper, wood, or paint to black out their windows.

Peter fraser

Peter Fraser

Peter Fraser (1884–1950) was New Zealand’s Prime Minister for most of World War II. He skilfully used radio broadcasts and newspapers to build support for the war effort. The government also promoted the war through posters aimed at different sectors of the community.

Fraser was the leader to introduce conscription (compulsory military service), which, ironically, he’d been imprisoned for opposing during World War I.

Japan enters the war – US enters New Zealand

In December 1941, Japan attacked American forces at Pearl Harbor in Hawai‘i. The war was suddenly on New Zealand’s doorstep, but the country’s soldiers were fighting in North Africa.

Britain had its hands full in Europe, so US troops were sent to New Zealand to operate in the South Pacific. Their arrival brought jazz and pizzazz to wartime New Zealand. The country had a new ‘buddy in arms’.

Contributing on the home front

Practically all New Zealanders contributed to the war effort, including those not in the armed forces. Older men were active in the Home Guard. Many people volunteered for organisations supporting the war, including the Women’s Land Service. Others were made to work in essential industries (‘manpowering’). Still others maintained households and families, knitted and baked for soldiers overseas, and lent savings.

Between 1942 and 1944, half New Zealand’s national income went to fund the war.


To find out more check out http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/WhatsOn/exhibitions/SliceofHeaven/Exhibition/InternationalRelations/Pages/WorldWarII.aspx

Book Review - Goodnight Mr Tom

This book review is written by Salem.  He really enjoyed reading this book.

Goodnight Mister Tom  by Michelle Magorian

This book is about William (Willie), a London evacuee in WWII.  He was sent to a small country village called Little Weirwold.  He was billeted to stay with Mr Tom Oakley whose wife had died and he had become a loner.  Willie's mother was abusive towards him and covered him in bruises from beating him as punishment.  Mr Tom was very kind to Willie.  They become friends.  Willie learns about country life, he really loves it.  Then his mother wants him back and Willie doesn't want to leave Mr Tom, and Mr Tom doesn't want Willie to leave.


Willie's mother whips and whips him when he returns to London.  She neglects him and locks him away under the stairs.  Then she leaves him there under the stairs with no food for a week while she goes away.
Mr Tom is concerned that he has not had any letters from Willie so he catches a train to London and finds out where Willie lives.  When he gets there the house is locked.  Mr Tom and the police break into the house and find Willie locked away under the stairs.  He is in a terrible state and they take him to the hospital.


Mr Tom kidnaps Willie from the hospital because they were going to put him in a children's hospital and takes him back home to Little Weirwold.  Everyone is pleased and excited to see him again.  Mr Tom and Willie are the best of friends.


I won't tell you the ending.  I really liked this book, it's a great story and I recommend this book a lot.  I think people 10 years old to adult would like this book.

Earthquakes, Soup, Dumplings and Yorkshire Pudding

7.0 earthquake felt in Wellington

Wellington residents were rattled after a 7-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the lower North Island.

GeoNet reported the earthquake hit at 10.36pm on Tuesday. It was centred 230km deep and was 170km northwest of Wellington.

It was a long. rolling quake felt throughout the lower North Island and upper South Island.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Wow, what an earthquake that was tonight.  It was really long and the whole house just kept moving.  

The cats took off leaving the sofa for dust, and I went and stood in the archway between the dinning room and lounge, with one hand keeping my large cabinet steady as it had a lot of my crockery in.  No damage thank goodness.  Salem slept through it all, so did the chickens who if disturbed make a huge racket.  You should hear them when a hedgehog sneaks into bed with them!!!

Hopefully there will be no more earthquakes tonight.

Taranaki Street, Wellington, New Zealand 1950s

It has been so cold lately and we have all come down with colds, luckily the boys have recovered but I was the last to get one and I seem to get it the worst.  I've got tissues stuffed up my nose so I can do this post.

I have been through a whole box of tissues today, I could do the 1940s thing and use hankies but I think I would have used every single one we have, and we have a lot, but I just couldn't face heaps of soaking wet, drippy hankies to wash especially as the weather is supposed to turn nasty tomorrow.

So it has been the perfect time to make a large pot of yummy vegetable soup.  It is so easy to make and will feed us for days.  Even grumpy teenager enjoys making it.  Just loads of vegetables, soup cereals, extra pearl barley, sometimes split peas,  mixed dried herbs, worchestershire sauce and a bit of salt and water to fill the pot.  Bring to the boil and then simmer for a few hours.  What could be easier?  A big favourite of ours is to have dumplings with our soup.

Dumplings
2 cups flour
1 Tbsp butter or margarine melted
1 tsp dried mixed herbs or parsley
a pinch of salt
1/2 cup half water, half milk

In a bowl put all dry ingredients.
Add both the milk/water and the butter to the dry ingredients.
Use a knife to mix everything together using a cutting action at first.
Mix to a soft scone-like dough.  Add more water if too dry.
Shape into small balls (larger than a marble, smaller than a golf ball).
Pop into your simmering soup, put the lid on and let cook for at least 20 minutes.
Make sure that there is enough room in the pot for your dumplings to rise.  You might have to take a little of the soup out.

Serve in your bowl of soup, enjoy.

We are still enjoying our roasts (minus meat) and also yummy yorkshire puddings to go with them.
A nice easy recipe is.............  and it only uses one egg!!!!

Yorkshire Pudding
75g flour
1/2 cup half milk, half water
1 egg
1/8 tsp salt
Pepper to taste
3 Tbsp dripping, cooking fat or oil

Whisk all the ingredients together, except for the fat, to make a batter.
Preheat a roasting pan (or muffin tins) with the fat in a 220 degrees C oven.
When the pan and oil is hot, take out of oven and quickly put the batter in, then straight back into the oven.
Cook for 25 - 30 minutes or 12- 15 minutes if you are using muffin tins.
Cut into squares when cooked and serve hot.

Yum, Yum, I think it's roast for dinner tomorrow night if I'm feeling a bit better!!!!!!!

Nitey Nite Everyone

Nellie B