WWII History Help Needed Please

“In short, I'm working on transcribing an audiotape from the Library of Congress, Veterans History Project. I have a couple questions regarding spellings. There has already been some discussion about my questions, but Dayhiker suggested I start a thread with a better title to generate some interest from people who know this stuff.

Here's the link to the thread:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/35643,3.php
last edited: 1/04/05 4:48:51 PM”

“M-dazer could be mechanic slang for the word magneto. Piston driven aircraft of WWII used magnetoes to generate the electrical spark needed. Think of them as high powered distributors for combustion engines.
>
Someone said that the New Hebrides were now called Vanuatu but I think the Vanuatu is just one of the islands in the NH chain.”

“Last one for today. I promise:

"And then we were down in Ulithi, and we just sat in there one night. And a Jap suicide plane hit another aircraft carrier about a half mile from us. And it was hit in the fan hill (ph) where the ammunition is stored. And talk about fireworks. I don't know how many was killed."

Does fan hill sound right? That's what it sounded like he said, but I'm not sure of the spelling. He's referring to a location on the carrier.”

“Ruby,

I believe you are hearing FANTAIL. Check this link

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/hull.htm

for other descriptions of naval architecture. Good luck!”

“I agree. fantail.”

“My grandpa used to call our rear ends the fan hill. ("I'll whip yer fan hill if you don't straighten up and eat yer dinner dammit") lol”

“Some answers to your questions on the other thread

New Hebrides is how its spelled

Mount Sarabachi is the mountain on Quadalcanal that the marines planted a flag on, captured in famous photo

Qualalcanal was an island that we invaded, had a bloody fight to defeat japanese forces

Fantail is a part of a ship”

“Oops, Mt. Sarabachi is on the island of Iwo Jima, the location of another fierce fight.”

“I believe we won.”

“Thank you to each of you who helped me out. The transcript is now complete. The only phonetic spellings are for a few names, which can't be helped.


THANKS!!!!”