The Ford motor

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I also agree,but if Ford and similar companies only built cars for driving Miss Daisy during the war, the World would be a little bit different today.

But we don't know if it would be better or worse.
Like Brexit, it's an unknown quantity. We only have predictions and assumptions on which to base our comparisons.

 

[noseall]

What has that got to do with Ford

If US industry is good at anything - its providing the means for killing.

 

[transam]

If US industry is good at anything - its providing the means for killing.

Fortunately for Europe in WW2

 

[noseall]

Fortunately for Europe in WW2

Quite.

 

[transam]

Uncle Joe Stalin used slave labour

And deployed his blocking army units to stop any retreat of his troops

 

[Charlie George]

I'm not sure I agree with you about Chinese support.

I think you need to do a bit more reading,my last comment on this diversion.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I think you need to do a bit more reading,my last comment on this diversion.

China's support was purely to counter Russia's communist influence in SE Asia, not for Pol Pot's genocidal policies.
US (Nixon) also supported the new Khmer regime. Not because of it's policies, purely as a counter to Russia's influence.
Indeed even N Vietnam initially supported the regime.
Even the King of Cambodia initially supported the regime.

 

[Charlie George]

China's support was purely to counter Russia's communist influence in SE Asia, not for Pol Pot's genocidal policies.
US (Nixon) also supported the new Khmer regime. Not because of it's policies, purely as a counter to Russia's influence.
Indeed even N Vietnam initially supported the regime.

But you said China didn't support them im out.

 

[transam]

An idea as to how ambitious Ford's B_24 programme was

A typical car in 1941 weighed 3000 pounds

And had approx 15000 components

A B-24 had 450000 parts and weighed close on 18 tons

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

But you said China didn't support them im out.

I said, "I'm not sure I agree with you about Chinese support".
China initially supported the Khmer regime, as a counter to Russia's communist influence in SE Asia.
They didn't support Pol Pot's genocidal policies. we were obviously discussing Pol Pot and the genocidal events.
Pol Pot had the money and war machines of the US. He merely had support from China to counter the Russian influence. He had no military or financial support from China.
Although pol Pot certainly liked to play his two faced political games with all and sundry.
It isn't a straight this way or that way choice. It's nuanced, and like many other issues, dependent on one's viewpoint.

 

[EddieM]

Ford produced over 30,000 Merlin engines in the UK.

 

[JohnD]

China initially supported the Khmer regime,

As did Margaret Thatcher.

And not just "initially"

After his overthrow, her government backed Pol Pot in exile in Thailand

Khmer Rouge representatives were allowed to continue occupying Cambodia’s seat at the UN; indeed, the US, China and Britain insisted on it.

 

[EddieM]

The B24 was the liberator wasn't it? The US needed lots of them as they needed lots of Sherman tanks. They were no match for German hardware.

The B17 was a different beast, that could take a pounding.

 

[crystal ball]

I always thought the B17 was a stylish aircraft, took pride of place in my Airfix display

 

[EddieM]

I always thought the B17 was a stylish aircraft, took pride of place in my Airfix display

Sacrilege, should have been an Avro Lancaster. That said I had Flying Fortress, Spitfire , Hurricance, Super Fortress, Strato Fortess, Messchersmidt bf109e, FW190, Heinkels, Dorniers, P51 mustang, Mitsubishi Zero. plus others.. Sad sod.