Recent comments in /f/todayilearned

QristopherQuixote t1_jct97m7 wrote

Reply to TIL In the history of the Catholic Church there has been over a decade without a Pope on the throne. The longest continuous time the throne was empty was two years ten months from 1268 to 1271. by jamescookenotthatone

In the Western world, all denominations of christianity are declining. However, Catholicism is declining faster than most protestant denominations and certainly the large ones. Catholic Churches in the US are closing much faster than any that are opening with the total net closure rate in the double digits.

Medieval Catholicism is out of step with the modern world. While it is unclear when it will happen, the pope will become irrelevant everywhere except maybe the developing world later this century.

−16

akl78 t1_jct82np wrote

Reply to TIL that in WW2, a Marine Corps Corsair pilot used his propeller to chew off the tail of an enemy aircraft after his guns jammed, while under fire from the enemy plane's tailgunner. The enemy plane crashed but the Corsair pilot made it back to base, receiving the Navy Cross for his actions. by hipster_deckard

A longer article someone else linked here mentioned he landed with severe damage including two very bent propeller blades. Also the others in his wing were in the same fight.

1

Killeroftanks t1_jct5bim wrote

Reply to comment by BlackVisage in TIL that in WW2, a Marine Corps Corsair pilot used his propeller to chew off the tail of an enemy aircraft after his guns jammed, while under fire from the enemy plane's tailgunner. The enemy plane crashed but the Corsair pilot made it back to base, receiving the Navy Cross for his actions. by hipster_deckard

There are none.

There could never be a source like that, however it doesn't take a genius to put together the notion that pilots, who in general have a track record of overestimating their kills, would also alter stories to make themselves look better.

Because again coming back to base with a broken prop because you were an idiot doesn't look good, but ramming into a plane does. Don't mind the fact the facts of the story doesn't make fucking sense.

Also I could say the same thing to you, where are your sources that back up the fact it happened, were there other pilots who saw, did they find the wreckage of the enemy plane? Did the ramming plane survive and could be analyze it to see if it indeed ran someone.

Likely all that is gone to history. The plane scrapped, all the pilots either dead or never saw anything, the enemy plane just doesn't exist when it smacked the land or water. And all you got for a source, is the pilot itself.

−10

Chief-_-Wiggum t1_jcsvxv2 wrote

Reply to TIL that in WW2, a Marine Corps Corsair pilot used his propeller to chew off the tail of an enemy aircraft after his guns jammed, while under fire from the enemy plane's tailgunner. The enemy plane crashed but the Corsair pilot made it back to base, receiving the Navy Cross for his actions. by hipster_deckard

Dogfight equivalent to a knife kill in an open battle field. Surprised the plane can take off with balls that big.

3

mindspork t1_jcsv3qc wrote

Reply to comment by prophet001 in TIL that in WW2, a Marine Corps Corsair pilot used his propeller to chew off the tail of an enemy aircraft after his guns jammed, while under fire from the enemy plane's tailgunner. The enemy plane crashed but the Corsair pilot made it back to base, receiving the Navy Cross for his actions. by hipster_deckard

I'm surprised the Corsair could get off the ground what with his massive depleted uranium balls.

4