Hiroshima Gross Error

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)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
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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

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.

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").