Taking over for George Miller-Career #4

[Father Goose]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

Just in case, these may be my last words.

And it's times like these that I really enjoy the view here on Matalava Island.
If you get out alive, why don't you set a course just north of Papua New Guinea, near the Solomons Islands. I'll spot some Jap planes for you. Good luck!

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Father Goose

And it's times like these that I really enjoy the view here on Matalava Island.
If you get out alive, why don't you set a course just north of Papua New Guinea, near the Solomons Islands. I'll spot some Jap planes for you. Good luck!

How did you end up living out there, if I may ask?

[Father Goose]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

How did you end up living out there, if I may ask?

Father Goose is a 1964 romantic comedy film set in World War II, starring Cary Grant, Leslie Caron and Trevor Howard. The film won an Academy Award for its screenplay.

While the Royal Australian Navy evacuates Salamaua in February 1942 ahead of a Japanese invasion, Commander Frank Houghton coerces old friend, American beachcomber Walter Eckland, into becoming a coast-watcher for the Allies. Houghton takes Eckland, who is uninterested in anything other than fishing and drinking, to deserted Matalava Island to watch for Japanese planes. Houghton rewards Eckland's sightings with directions to one of the whisky bottles hidden around the island, once coast-watchers on other islands confirm it. To ensure Eckland remains on duty Houghton's naval vessel "accidentally" hits his boat, leaving a large hole in its hull.

Houghton finds a replacement watcher, but Eckland has to retrieve him from nearby Bundy Island. He unexpectedly finds Frenchwoman Catherine Freneau and seven young schoolgirls under her care stranded there. She informs him that the man he came for was killed in an air raid, and Eckland reluctantly takes them back to Matalava with him.

There is no way to evacuate them safely. At first, Houghton promises them a parachute drop with more supplies, but there is too much enemy activity in the area to accomplish it safely. The fastidious Freneau and the slovenly and uncouth Eckland's personalities clash; they call each other "Miss Goody Two Shoes" and "a rude, foul-mouthed, drunken, filthy beast". He adjusts to her and her girls, however, and cares for her through what they mistakenly believe is a deadly snakebite. Freneau learns that Eckland had been a history professor before he fled civilization to the South Pacific.

The "frustrated spinster" and the "undisciplined, self-indulgent escapist" fall in love and arrange to be married by a military chaplain over the radio. Strafing by a Japanese airplane interrupts the ceremony. Since they have been detected Houghton sends an American submarine to pick them up, but an enemy patrol boat shows up at the same time. Eckland takes his boat out to lure the Japanese vessel out beyond a reef so the submarine can torpedo it. His boat is sunk, but Eckland survives and the submarine safely evacuates everyone.

"And now you know the rest of the story."

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Father Goose

Father Goose is a 1964 romantic comedy film set in World War II, starring Cary Grant, Leslie Caron and Trevor Howard. The film won an Academy Award for its screenplay.......

I see... I wonder how they decided on that title?

"And now you know the rest of the story."

So your entire profile is a lie? That, or you never were evacuated.

[Father Goose]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

I see... I wonder how they decided on that title?

Walter Eckland's code name was "Mother Goose" and ended up with all those kids on the island, hence "Father Goose".

Originally Posted by Red October1984

So your entire profile is a lie? That, or you never were evacuated.

No more a lie than any of your imaginary stories.

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Father Goose

No more a lie than any of your imaginary stories.

Fair enough.

UPDATE!

I'm breaking off of a third attempt to get within range of the Battleship and Carrier group. This little dumb subchaser is not letting up....Oh I wish I had a deck gun....

I tried torpedoes...I think I will load those Mk 27 Cutie Torpedoes for the Anti-ASW Job next time I enter the Truk Harbor Area. I managed to get away long enough to charge my dead batteries. I'll have to try again until I get this. IIRC, there was Flash Traffic indicating that there are more Warships coming later....

but at the same time

[Father Goose]

Torpedo status? Crew morale? New orders?
Are you returning to Truk Harbor?

[Armistead]

Well, I hate cowards. I would be on patrol, but we stopped at Wewak for some repairs.

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Father Goose

Torpedo status? Crew morale? New orders?
Are you returning to Truk Harbor?

Torpedo Status: Full load of Mk 14s and 23s minus a 14 and 23

Crew Morale: Still high. We're optimistic about this attack.

New Orders: Negative. We left Pearl to intercept this battle group. Intercept this battle group, we will.

I am currently breaking off of an approach within Truk harbor. I have to do something about that subchaser to get within torpedo range of the Battle Group. It's too agile to hit with a torpedo and I have no deck gun.

Any ideas on that one?

[Father Goose]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

Torpedo Status: Full load of Mk 14s and 23s minus a 14 and 23

Hmmm , one torpedo short of a full load for each type. Better not let Armistead hear about that.

[Father Goose]

Originally Posted by Armistead

OK Red, enough of this boring cowardly patrols. It's time to step up and take on a convoy with 10 veteran escorts in shallow water. I'll be glad to hook you up on the mean convoys, just give me your date.

Originally Posted by Red October1984

I am currently breaking off of an approach within Truk harbor. I have to do something about that subchaser to get within torpedo range of the Battle Group. It's too agile to hit with a torpedo and I have no deck gun.

Any ideas on that one?

"Admiral Armistead" wants you to take on 10 veteran escorts in shallow waters and you're letting one lonely sub-chaser kick your butt?!!! Embarrassing!

LCDR Williams, dispose of the sub-chaser and proceed with your orders. The admiral does not have time for this and he certainly does not want to hear about what you don't have. He suggests next time you're in port, you put in a requisition for a deck gun. That will be all.

[Armistead]

You broke off contact to do what, chase a sub chaser that is chasing you, do some cowardly harbor raiding? Every patrol has you "breaking off" from the fight. I think the stress is too much, you're just not skipper material.

I've got a paint scraper and wire brush waiting for you when you get back, the Ubirat bilge needs a good cleaning.

Maybe one more chance. If you return back to base as I suspect you will, I need the year and month you're in. I'll send you on your next patrol and expect you to attack and defeat the enemy or die trying.

[Father Goose]

Originally Posted by Armistead

I've got a paint scraper and wire brush waiting for you when you get back, the Ubirat bilge needs a good cleaning.

Oh now you've done it...you've ticked off the admiral.

[les green01]

LCDR Williams go in there with silent running on, if that don't work forget the puny little sub chaser head for them capital ships attack them or park up against one raise your scope up let the sub chaser see your scope maybe if he shoots instead of hitting you he might hit the capital ship.The capital ship skipper might think the chaser skipper has done nuts on sake and sinks the chaser for you,then you go in reverse and you sink the capital ship.

[Red October1984]

Well...I'm going to man the hell up and I guess that subchaser better get it's machine guns ready.

I'm not breaking off this time. I'll ram the chaser if I have to. Or I could pull my fav and surface underneath him.