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The Crusader Project

@crusaderproject.bsky.social

2.5K followers 3.8K following 7.6K posts

Long-running research project on the desert war 1940-43, with a specific focus on Operation CRUSADER. www.rommelsriposte.com

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · Dec 10

This Bluesky feed serves to disseminate information and new posts related to Operation CRUSADER, the #desertwar in WW2 and #ww2 in general.

If desert #armour warfare, surrendering Germans, and challenges to preconceived ideas about the Italians are your thing, you might want to give us a follow.

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Reposted by The Crusader Project

the babahuck @tylerhuckabee.bsky.social · 4h

In 2004, Parisian police were conducting a training exercise in the french catacombs and found, after moving past a desk and a tape playing audio of snarling dogs, a fully functional movie theater and bar. When they returned 3 days later, the equipment was gone, with a note: “Do not try to find us.”

Members of the force's sports squad, responsible
- among other tasks - for policing the 170 miles of tunnels, caves, galleries and catacombs that underlie large parts of Paris, stumbled on the complex while on a training exercise beneath the Palais de Chaillot, across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower.
After entering the network through a drain next to the Trocadero, the officers came across a tarpaulin marked: Building site, No access.
Behind that, a tunnel held a desk and a closed-circuit TV camera set to automatically record images of anyone passing. The mechanism also triggered a tape of dogs barking, "clearly designed to frighten people off," the spokesman said.
Further along, the tunnel opened into a vast 400 sq metre cave some 18m underground, "like an underground amphitheatre, with terraces cut into the rock and chairs".

There the police found a full-sized cinema screen, projection equipment, and tapes of a wide variety of films, including 1950s film noir classics and more recent thrillers. None of the films were banned or even offensive, the spokesman said.
A smaller cave next door had been turned into an informal restaurant and bar. "There were bottles of whisky and other spirits behind a bar, tables and chairs, a pressure-cooker for making couscous," the spokesman said.
"The whole thing ran off a professionally installed electricity system and there were at least three phone lines down there."
Three days later, when the police returned accompanied by experts from the French electricity board to see where the power was coming from, the phone and electricity lines had been cut and a note was lying in the middle of the floor: "Do not," it said, "try to find us."

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 4h

I do like it when people pay attention to history.

Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 17h

Portland 🔥

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 5h

Because then they would have to admit that they, too, should leave.

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 7h

Sorry should have been more specific. What I’m missing are records of short term detachments. Flight of Beaufighters in September. Some Wellingtons on detachment. I think 18 Squadron still had Blenheims on Malta in November but don’t think there’s a record. I’ve got most of the stuff just not these.

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 8h

I’ve run out of places to look for them at Kew. Maybe @rafhistory.bsky.social or @rafhistorical.bsky.social may know?

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 9h

There is a real problem with the history of the RAF strike forces on Malta, as many squadrons only had detachments, and no records for their contribution appear to be extant.

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 9h

During September 107 Squadron had taken over from 105 Squadron, who had an equally torrid time, including the loss of their CO just before the end of their tour in Malta.

Source verification and selection – a case study

Background Many people are aware of the ‘Every tank a Tiger, every gun an 88’ phenomenon, where faulty perceptions of participants are taken at face value. Source selection and verification is a ma…

rommelsriposte.com

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 9h

They had previously lost a Blenheim to a CR.42 attack, crew safe, but not exactly an advertisement for the Blenheim’s capabilities. Apparently it couldn’t feather its prop when an engine went out, making control of the aircraft quite tricky. @navalairhistory.com

4 October 1941 – No. 107 Squadron visits Zuara

Background While looking through the ORB of No. 107 Squadron I came across a well-described mission from early October 1941. Looking further into it, I noted that the Italian 5a Squadra war diary c…

rommelsriposte.com

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 11h

Just before half term too.

The timing is:

a man with a beard is drinking from a bottle and saying perfection .

ALT: a man with a beard is drinking from a bottle and saying perfection .

media.tenor.com

Reposted by The Crusader Project

Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 14h

found exactly the one use of “evil recoils in the presence of Christ” I am willing to sign off on, HOOOOOOOOLY SHIT

Father Larry did not come here to fuck around

Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 20h

Chicago priest Fr. Larry Dowling describes procession to ICE facility: “No one had the courage to speak directly to us. No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. No wonder. Evil is repelled, recoils in the presence of Christ.”

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 11h

@rafhistorical.bsky.social @airpowerhistory.bsky.social @airminded.org @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social @rafhistory.bsky.social

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 11h

It is with great sadness that I note the passing in August of Dr Nigel Warwick, Corps Historian of the RAF Regiment.

Nigel was always helpful and engaged. We have lost a lot of knowledge with him.

My thoughts are with his family and friends, and may he rest in peace.

@karljames1945.bsky.social

Book cover of Nigel Warwick’s history of the RAF armoured cars in the Middle East and North Africa, In every place.

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Secretary of Defense Rock @sodrock.bsky.social · 20h

Yesssssss, we get to litigate WWII (again)

Teles Santos @telesjr.bsky.social · 22h

The US never fought to end fascism anywhere. They joined the war because Japan forced their hand, and they saw a great way to make money. After the USSR pretty much had pushed Germany out of eastern Europe and they knew the nazis were going to lose, they jumped in.

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 21h

Frodo and Samwise’s mission to Mordor are the origin story underlying the #cultoftheoperator

@sodrock.bsky.social

a man in a suit and tie is sitting at a table and says tell me i 'm wrong

ALT: a man in a suit and tie is sitting at a table and says tell me i 'm wrong

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by The Crusader Project

Sam (ABeardedPanda) @abeardedpanda.bsky.social · 21h

Genuinely what the fuck is the reason why leftists are so eager to write off the contributions of ethnic and national minorities to allied victory in WWII because they do this with the Americans and the Soviets

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The Abominable Jonathan L. Howard @jonathanlhoward.bsky.social · 1d

I am reminded of the time @andyg64.bsky.social invited me to a field test of the mini-trebuchet he'd built in a carpark in the Peaks on a jolly cold day. It was fun, especially the bit when we were explaining to a baffled National Parks warden what we were doing.

Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · Dec 17

Right, it's #TWANG* day, so we're going to twang a load of stuff with our mini-catapult. Pay attention it's science.

First, a tennis ball. By way of calibration, if you will.

But we know what you're all asking... What would happen if we filled that tennis ball with concrete?

*Not a thing.

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 23h

I used to…

Here’s why…

No, fuck off.

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 23h

Old enough to remember retired F-16 pilots telling us that the F-16 would be useless for Ukraine because it couldn’t survive in the contested airspace.

Bullshit then, bullshit now.

www.airandspaceforces.com/ukraines-f-1...

Ukraine’s F-16 Force: Innovation, Impact, and Resolve

One of Ukraine’s top F-16 pilots, known by his call sign “AB,” spoke to the Mitchell Institute about the impact of fighter against Russia.

www.airandspaceforces.com

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 23h

Spicy

Reposted by The Crusader Project

Patti Olivier EPSTEIN FILES NEVER FORGET @patti3333.bsky.social · 1d

If Steinbeck was alive today
They opened an FBI file on him and maintained it for years
Wish John was with us.
One of my favorite "greats"
Nobel prize and Pulitzer

"THE GRAPES OF WRATH "

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks. I think it’s really not possibly to understand North Africa without fully understanding the logistics. And as you note, there’s a lot of confusion about the impact of the interdiction campaign.

Reposted by The Crusader Project

Rob Hanna @robhanna.bsky.social · 1d

Everybody go read this.

I've got some thoughts on it.

Love Williamsburg. Have seen Stephen Seals doing his thing. He does a fantastic job. Memorable.

Public history, and public historians, give us a chance to reach people's hearts and minds in ways academic history can't touch.

Clint Smith @clintsmithiii.bsky.social · 1d

Thirty-one years ago, there was a slave auction reenacted at Colonial Williamsburg.

Some thought it powerful, many thought it insulting.

This summer, I traveled to Williamsburg myself to see how the country’s largest living history museum today tells the story of Black life at America’s founding.

What Is Colonial Williamsburg For?

Telling the full story of the town’s past is an easy way to make a lot of people mad.

www.theatlantic.com

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 1d

A rather splendid picture of an 88mm gun firing as ground artillery in North Africa. The gun is operated by an Italian crew, most likely belonging to the Ariete armoured division, in early 1942.

Details in ALT.

@ima-naval-history.bsky.social @cedricmas.bsky.social

North Africa somewhere, May/June 1942 (LUCE image archives)
One of the first 88/55 guns purchased by the Italians in Germany (the German designation of this artillery piece was "8.8 cm Flak 36/Flak-Rohr 18").
Several hundreds of those pieces were requested by the Italian fascist government in Germany in 1940, the Germans offered to deliver several dozens of those pieces althogheter with a number of Czech AA 75mm pieces, in 1940 and more later on. The first ones were initially sent to Tripoli for anti-aircraft defense of the sea port, and later assigned to the ‘Ariete’ and ‘Littorio’ divisions.
This particular gun in the photo was assigned to the 13th or 14th battery of the 5th Group, 132nd Artillery Regiment of the Armored Division ‘Ariete’.
The officer wearing a sahariana (desert tunic) a side cap and a black armband is possibly the artillery group commander, Major Pasqualini. Facebook ‘North Africa Campaign Group’ SalvatoreSalvatore

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The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 1d

The squadron had just lost its CO, South African Wing Cdr Harte, in an in-flight collision two days before.

In what was probably a familiarisation flight off Sicily the two Blenheims collided, killing everyone on board.

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 1d

On 9 Oct 1941, No 107 Sqdn lost two crews comprising a Wing Commander, three Flying Officers and three Sergeants when two Blenheims collided off the Sicilian coast. A George Cross recipient Royal Engineer who had come for the ride was also killed.

@rafhistory.bsky.social @rafhistorical.bsky.social

Loss of Wing Commander F.A. Harte and No. 107 Squadron crews, 9 Oct 1941

Background No. 107 Squadron R.AF. operated from Malta through the whole of September to December 1941, suffering extremely high losses in planes and men. A more detailed history of the squadron is …

rommelsriposte.com

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Sarah E. Bond @sarahebond.bsky.social · 1d

The late antique communion bread find was exciting. And it again came up what the oldest bread known is. As Stephanie Wong and I wrote about, the oldest extant bread appears to be from Jordan—not Turkey. hyperallergic.com/878348/disco...

Discovery of 8,600-Year-Old Bread Gives Rise to Half-Baked Claims

Turkey’s narrative surrounding “the world’s oldest bread” raises questions about how archaeological heritage is used for nationalistic ends.

hyperallergic.com

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