Let's move on...

'NOTHER QUESTION:

USS Monitor went down off Cape Hatteras, NC on 31 December 1862. When did the US Navy OFFICIALLY list her as "Out of Commission"?

I'll try this date....


On September 30th, 1953 the Secretary of the Navy officially abandons the Monitor, surrendering all claims by the United States Navy to the ship.

Close enough for government work. Here's your cookie.

In 1974, Duke University finally found the rusting hulk. Bits and pieces have been salvaged, although raising the entire vessel is impossible.

'NOTHER QUESTION:

Ericsson didn't actually fulfill his contract with the Navy when he built the Monitor. He left items off -- which items?

No guesses, huh?

'NOTHER QUESTION:

Clyde (yeah, Clyde, you got sumptin' against that?) was fond of his Whippet Guns. What was a Whippet Gun and why so named? Oh, yeah, who was Clyde?

http://www.savvysurvivor.com/supplem...htm_txt_64.gif

http://www.savvysurvivor.com/supplem...m_txt_8702.gif

Clyde Barrow...a well known outlaw of the old days. He and his companion Bonnie Parker were always together. More commonly heard of as "Bonnie & Clyde".

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nieclyde_f.jpg

You didn't say why the Whippet Gun was so named, but I'm feeling generous today.

Here's your cookie.

It was so named because Clyde could "whip it out" and have it ready to shoot quickly.

'NOTHER QUESTION:

What Chief was selected to represent all the Nations at the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknowns?

On November 11, 1921, for the consecration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery, Chief Plenty Coups, a Crow Indian, was chosen to represent all Native Americans. He came to the ceremony with gifts, a warbonnet and a coup stick and captured the audience with a moving speech, saying among other things that he was "glad to represent all the Indians of the United States in placing on the grave of this noble warrior this coup stick and war bonnet. His two presents were later put in a show case labeled "Chief Plenty Coups, American Indians" in the trophy room of the Arlington Cemetery.

http://www.crowreservation.com/asset...Coups_Foch.jpg

Crow Chief Plenty Coups and French General Foch at the ceremony.

Somehow, I knew Torplexed would get that right. How many others would have determined that he was an Indian?

Here's your cookie.

'NOTHER QUESTION:

Let's see if we can get gunter to come out and play.

http://collections.nasm.si.edu/media...156000CP01.jpg
What was unique about this aircraft? How many were produced?

Goodyear Inflatoplane (GA468)

Inflatable, rubber, monoplane

Inflated in about 5 minutes using less air pressure than a car tire. The two-cycle 40-hp Nelson engine had to be hand-started and held 20 gallons of fuel.



Twelve Inflatoplanes were designed and built .

Nicely done, Kirk. Here's yer cookie.

The plan would be to airdrop the package to a downed aviator who could inflate the plane and fly out to safety. Yes, the plane actually flew.

'NOTHER QUESTION:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...hermanTank.jpg
What kind of armored vehicle is this and during which operation?

I'm not really sure, but, isn't that a decoy Sherman? I know the allies made inflatable Shermans as decoys to make the enemy think that their numbers were superior in a tank battle, and make them rethink their strategies. Specially useful against enemy observers determining their enemies fight capabilities. I don't remember in what specific battles it might have been used, probably in Belgium and nearby areas.

Almost, Martes. That IS an inflatable Sherman decoy tank, but you must remember that in 1944, the Allies had numerical superiority in both manpower and equipment.

They were used in Operation Fortitude, the decoy operation designed to make the Germans think that a cross-channel invasion was planned for the Dunkirk area. It kept a lot of forces busy and occupied in that area while the main force came ashore at Normandy. Even after the invasion, the High Command and the mustachioed one still thought that the Normandy invasions were merely a decoy, a feint designed to pull forces away from the Pas de Calais.

So, you get 1/2 a cookie. Sorry.

'NOTHER QUESTION:

The Battle of Hurtgen Forest was particularly nasty but was effectively downgraded because of another battle of equal magnitude to the south. Where? Also, the Germans made very good use of the trees in the forest by doing what with them?

I believe the Hurtgen Forest slugfest was overshadowed by the more famous Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) to the south in Belgium. I'm gonna guess that the Germans made defensive use of the forest by priming their shells to achieve a treeburst scattering splinters about like so much shrapnel.

Strangest thing happened during the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest. In the middle of the battle, a truce was reached so that the Medics and Sanitäter could tend to the numerous wounded. They even cooperated with each other and treated wounded men without regard to which army.

You're getting good at this, Torplexed. Well done. Here's another cookie.

'NOTHER QUESTION:

SCENARIO: You depart Fort Abraham Lincoln mid-May to quell an uprising. The plans start to unravel when one reinforcement column is delayed enroute. Arriving late the next month, you send out two scouting columns and, well, Momma said there'd be days like this.

Sounds like the prelude to the most famous of the Indian War battles and General George Armstrong Custer's date with destiny...Little Big Horn.

http://www.nativeamericans.com/LittleBighornMap.gif

He wasn't a General; he was a lowly Lieutenant Colonel! I'm gonna keep your sprinkles for that.

'NOTHER QUESTION:

What is PANAMAX? Why those dimensions?

Hmmm. No takers.

'NOTHER QUESTION:

Russian tanks entering Berlin used what simple field expedient to prevent Panzerfäuster from detonating against their hull?

Taking a guess here....flak jackets?

Bed springs.

The olny pics I can find are of models, not 1:1.

PANAMAX is the largest size of ship that can still pass through the Panama Canal.

• Length: 965 ft
• Beam: 106 ft
• Draft: 39.5 ft
• Air draft: 190 ft measured from the waterline to the vessel's highest point