Parker 51 Vs. Parker 61

[richardandtracy]

 

...And since the "51" came out prior to WWII I would doubt that premise....

If you ask a Brit, or someone from France,when WW2 started & you'll get a date of 3 September 1939.

If you ask someone from Poland, you'll get a date of 1 September 1939.

If you ask someone from China, you'll get a date in 1937.

 

So, for someone in Europe, the P51 did come out during the war.

 

The US was not free of the convulsions of the war before December 1941 either, 'Lease-Lend' was in full swing by 1941. US re-armament occurred before Dec 1941 too, and the US was an active player in 1941 supporting the UK in every way except a combatant role; Providing vast quantities of food, fuel and ammunition. Had the US provided only the help expected from a neutral nation prior to Dec 1941, there is a fairly high probability the UK would have gone under prior to the US joining the war. [it was touch & go for the UK during August 1942 too, with only 3 weeks food left in the country, fortunately there was a massive harvest that year so surrender as a consequence of starvation was averted.]

 

Basically, in 1941 the US put itself on a war footing even though not actually at war. The propaganda as well as production was ramped up in that time. From what reading of the time I have done, the P51 did appear to become seen as an 'All American' icon associated with that patriotism as the anti-war sentiment leached away.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Fermata]

Jeepers, we seem to be moving away from this long running topic of Parker 51 v Parker 61 to a confrontational position of when did World War 2 begin.

 

Not good.

[stylographile]

From what I've read, the 51 was launched in 1941 and soon enough it was a gift of choice to American soldiers who then used it to write to their families. “Its global acceptance was so high that US servicemen were able to use it as currency along with nylons and chocolate in war-torn Europe.” Also, this time from Parker website, "The World War 11 German surrender is signed with a Parker 51 provided to General Dwight D. Eisenhower by his friend Kenneth Parker." There is a Parker 51 on display in the Army Museum in Paris. So I can see why “it stood for the America that played such a large part in winning World War II”.

[richardandtracy]

.. we seem to be moving away from this long running topic of Parker 51 v Parker 61 to a confrontational position of when did World War 2 begin.

 

...

Confrontational?

I really don't see how. I was explaining that there is a plurality of viewpoints over whether the P51 was produced before or after the start of the war. To someone from the US, it was produced before. But from other viewpoints, it was first produced during the war. Both viewpoints are correct and not mutually exclusive. It is occasionally useful to know/be reminded that the world contains other people's viewpoints as well as ones own.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Chouffleur]

Confrontational?

I really don't see how. I was explaining that there is a plurality of viewpoints over whether the P51 was produced before or after the start of the war. To someone from the US, it was produced before. But from other viewpoints, it was first produced during the war. Both viewpoints are correct and not mutually exclusive. It is occasionally useful to know/be reminded that the world contains other people's viewpoints as well as ones own.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

If only for their amusement value. /S

[richardandtracy]

Too true, under most circumstances.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Fermata]

Confrontational?

I really don't see how. I was explaining that there is a plurality of viewpoints over whether the P51 was produced before or after the start of the war. To someone from the US, it was produced before. But from other viewpoints, it was first produced during the war. Both viewpoints are correct and not mutually exclusive. It is occasionally useful to know/be reminded that the world contains other people's viewpoints as well as ones own.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

 

We have all seen some aggressive posts in the past on the start year for WW2, I won't repeat them as that would simply be inflammatory. In my experience, discussions on when the war actually started are best left in a locked cupboard to avoid a repeat.

 

But its up to you.