Re: Hiroshima Gross Error

[Cub Driver]

On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 22:24:01 -0500, Stop SPAM >
wrote:

>April 13, 1945: Today I saw one of those hated B-52s for the first time.

Probably came from the same pen as the jet fuel spilled on the WWII
carrier decks in "Flyboys".

The Japanese called the B-29 the bee nee koo (phonetic spelling). I
believe that's simply B Two Nine. In any event, I have been given to
understand it's almost a term of affection, though perhaps awe would
be a better word.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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[Yeff]

On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 04:46:20 -0400, Cub Driver wrote:

> The Japanese called the B-29 the bee nee koo (phonetic spelling).

My "know how to order a beeru" Japanese (filtered through many a Sapporo)
says a better spelling would probably be "Ni Kyu". Keep in mind that I
could only speak and understand Japanese when I was well into my cups...

--

-Jeff B. (currently sober and having trouble with English)
yeff at erols dot com

[frank may]

I had a junior high school history teacher who always talked about the
B-52 dropping the first A bombs on Japan, & still being in service
over Viet Nam today (early '70s, of course). Never could get her to
understand it was the B-29 in WWII & the B-52 over Nam. I suppose she
& that schoolgirl were on the same wavelength!




Stop SPAM > wrote in message >...
> In an article in the 7 August Asia Times they are quoting a diary
> supposedly kept by a Japanese schoolgirl in Hiroshima who writes:
>
> April 13, 1945: Today I saw one of those hated B-52s for the first time.
> It left a long, beautiful smoke trail, circled once in the sky above
> Hiroshima and then left. I felt really sad. The air raid signal went off
> again and we went home at noon.
> - http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/FH07Dh02.html
>
> I don't know if this is gross ignorance on the part of the translator or
> what...
>
> Certainly distracts from the integrity of the story and raises doubts
> regarding either the accuracy of the translation or the authenticity of
> the original.

[Merlin Dorfman]

Cub Driver > wrote:
> On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 22:24:01 -0500, Stop SPAM >
> wrote:

>>April 13, 1945: Today I saw one of those hated B-52s for the first time.

> Probably came from the same pen as the jet fuel spilled on the WWII
> carrier decks in "Flyboys".

> The Japanese called the B-29 the bee nee koo (phonetic spelling). I
> believe that's simply B Two Nine. In any event, I have been given to
> understand it's almost a term of affection, though perhaps awe would
> be a better word.

I've also heard that the Japanese called it "B-san" ("Mr. B").