Given that development of the B-36 Peacemaker was initiated in 1940 in case the UK was fell to the Germans, did FDR ever consider Ireland as a base for strategic bombing of the continent?
2006-11-27 16:30:25 · 4 answers · asked by michinoku2001 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
To my knowledge, no. FDR went out of his way to support the British, in whatever means necessary (including illegal by then law).
But it is an interesting question.
The irish were actually pro-german at the time - so I don't know that such a plan would have actually worked.
-dh
2006-11-27 16:34:33 · answer #1 · answered by delicateharmony 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not that I ever heard. Churchill contemplated grabbing Irish naval bases to assist in controlling German U-Boats, but he never did. FDR never seriously believed that the UK would fall, and the UK is colser to Gremany than Ireland.
2006-11-27 17:35:57 · answer #2 · answered by Oregon Sage 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it. He was a fan of freedom and would have went to any lengths to protect Britain.
I doubt your date for the B-36. The B-17 was the new big bomber in the early 40's. Shortly followed by the mega-expensive B-29. There wasn't enough money to mass-produce both the B-29 and B-36.
If he did "plan" it, it never went very far.
2006-11-27 16:42:41 · answer #3 · answered by Rusty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That wouldn't have gone over very well with the Irish-American constituency, though, would it?
2006-11-27 16:50:50 · answer #4 · answered by Walter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋