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Old video of a WWII fighter pilot explaining why you didn't shoot parachuting airmen

Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:05 am
Posted by RollTide1987
Augusta, GA
Member since Nov 2009
70302 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:05 am
Based on how "young" the guy looks in this video, I'd wager it was shot in the 90s.

Posted by medium_okra
City of Central
Member since Oct 2019
152 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:22 am to
4800 rounds/ min.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
19622 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:23 am to
Justice Served.
Posted by AUTimbo
Member since Sep 2011
3245 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:29 am to
War is Hell

That said I thought 777 looked pretty good for his age in that vid....
This post was edited on 1/19/26 at 7:30 am
Posted by GeauxHead337
Houston
Member since Feb 2025
197 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:30 am to
Badass
Posted by BeerMoney
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2012
8820 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:32 am to
Bet that sum bitch is tough
Posted by Lonnie Utah
Utah!
Member since Jul 2012
33222 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:45 am to
The Geneva Conventions speaks to this.

quote:

Under international law (Geneva Conventions Protocol I), it's a war crime to attack pilots/aircrew parachuting from a damaged aircraft ("in distress"), as they are hors de combat (out of the fight) and must be given a chance to surrender; however, this protection doesn't apply to airborne troops (paratroopers) on an active attack mission, who a classified as enemy combatants and remain legitimate targets during descent.
This post was edited on 1/19/26 at 8:34 am
Posted by Robin Masters
Birmingham
Member since Jul 2010
35600 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:51 am to
Interesting that we have “customs” and “decorum” in war.

Logically you should inflict as much damage on the enemy as possible, but emotionally to allow them to live is the humane thing to do.

Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
73341 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 7:58 am to
quote:

Interesting that we have “customs” and “decorum” in war.
Posted by Gulf Coast Tiger
Ms Gulf Coast
Member since Jan 2004
20678 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:08 am to
We have always had honor and customs in war

The British thought the American colonies did not fight with honor by hiding behind walls and setting ambushes
Posted by dallastiger55
Jennings, LA
Member since Jan 2010
33458 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:21 am to
800 rounds a minute with a 50 caliber!!

Jesus H he wasn’t fu*king around
Posted by Henry Jones Jr
Member since Jun 2011
76423 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:23 am to
Like, I get it but I also don’t get it. I get it in the sense that the guy is out of the fight and defenseless.

But what if that guy has shot down 15+ airmen and is one of their aces? Letting him go and get back in another plane is putting your fellow airmen at risk of being shot down.
This post was edited on 1/19/26 at 8:24 am
Posted by The Boat
Member since Oct 2008
176141 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:26 am to
quote:

The British thought the American colonies did not fight with honor by hiding behind walls and setting ambushes

The Confederates would have stood a much better chance if they didn't try to fight the Union straight up. Some people proposed it, but Robert E Lee would have none of it. The man had honor.

But who won and who didn't out of the Colonies and the Confederates.
Posted by HeadSlash
TEAM LIVE BADASS - St. GEORGE
Member since Aug 2006
55226 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:26 am to
Posted by Jizzy08
Member since Aug 2008
12266 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:32 am to
quote:

Interesting that we have “customs” and “decorum” in war.


Decorum is decided by the winners
Posted by CocomoLSU
Inside your dome.
Member since Feb 2004
155680 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:49 am to
quote:

Like, I get it but I also don’t get it. I get it in the sense that the guy is out of the fight and defenseless.


But what if that guy has shot down 15+ airmen and is one of their aces? Letting him go and get back in another plane is putting your fellow airmen at risk of being shot down.

Yeah I agree. I definitely see both sides of it. But I lean toward agreeing with not shooting the bailed airmen. I guess it’s sort of like, they’ve already lost and are truly helpless. Similar to walking up and killing a POW or something like that.

But that dude in the video is a fricking badass though.
Posted by LSURussian
Member since Feb 2005
133904 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:54 am to
“So, that was the end of that…”
This post was edited on 1/19/26 at 9:15 am
Posted by Henry Jones Jr
Member since Jun 2011
76423 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:55 am to
I lean more towards letting them go too.

I can see why someone in that situation would also think “that motherfricker shot my buddy down and was trying to shoot me down. frick him.”
Posted by Tangineck
Mandeville
Member since Nov 2017
2816 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:58 am to
I'd imagine the honoring of not shooting parachuters is something better understood after an intense air battle with a worthy opponent. People lose perspective when its not you white knuckling a beer can through the sky being shot at by 50 cal machine guns. The thrill of victory is enough, there is no need to commit senseless murder afterwards.
Posted by Thib-a-doe Tiger
Member since Nov 2012
36587 posts
Posted on 1/19/26 at 8:59 am to
quote:

The thrill of victory is enough, there is no need to commit senseless murder afterwards.



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