What is flak happy?

"Flak Happy" tells the story of his sixteen and a half bombing missions over Nazi Germany. And it describes the mind-numbing consequences of flying repeatedly through that flak and how he and others dealt with them.

What does flak happy mean?

In 1940s Army slang, a 'bomb happy' soldier was one whose nerves were completely shattered due to constant exposure to bombing and imminent mutilation or death. On the other hand, a soldier was called 'flak-happy' when he was reckless and beyond caring about his personal safety.

What is flack military?

The versatile 88mm cannon was Germany's main heavy antiaircraft—or “flak”—gun during World War II. When an 88mm projectile exploded at altitude, it sent out jagged metal fragments that tore through nearby aircraft. It also left a characteristic black cloud hanging in the sky.

What does flak mean in slang?

If you get a lot of flak from someone, they criticize you severely. If you take flak, you get the blame for something. [informal] The president is getting a lot of flak for that. Synonyms: criticism, stick [slang], opposition, abuse More Synonyms of flak.

What does flak stand for?

If you're taking flak, chances are you're in a bad situation and taking fire from an enemy. Flak can refer to criticism — or worse, explosive shells from an antiaircraft weapon. Flak came into English as an abbreviation for the German word Fliegerabwehrkanone, meaning 'aircraft-defense gun. ' (Yikes!

Flak Hit Statistics For World War II Heavy Bombers

What is the difference between flak and flak?

For the most part, flak remains the spelling used for the gunfire, with flack as an occasional variant that turns up slightly more frequently when referring to criticism. For the publicist/publicity senses, while flack was for a long time the preferred spelling, flak has turned up increasingly over the past decade.

What is flak vs flack?

A flack is a person—especially a press agent or publicist—who talks up his or her employer and deflects criticism. Flak (usually a mass noun) refers to (1) antiaircraft artillery, and (2) excessive or abusive criticism (the second definition derives metaphorically from the first).

Do militaries still use flak?

As “Flak” existed in the twentieth century, no, however, a modern equivalent of the radar guided air defense gun is deployed widely by all major militaries.

Why was German 88 so good?

It could easily provide firepower in a full 360degree traverse and it could penetrate the frontal armor of any Allied tank on the field. The gun's distinctive, heavily sloping front armor could deflect most oncoming rounds. The barrel was produced in two segments and the breech was semi-automatic.

What is the synonym of flak?

On this page you'll find 47 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to flak, such as: abuse, brickbat, censure, condemnation, disapprobation, and disapproval.

Did the US use flak?

During World War II, flak jackets and steel helmets were worn by US Navy personnel on aircraft carriers during battle, since the ships and especially their flight decks offered little protection for their crew. The jackets were supposed to protect against shell fragments and heat.

Why is flak effective?

One was to shoot down enemy aircraft and the other, more important, role was to force bombers to drop their ordnance sooner or from a higher altitude, thus reducing bombing accuracy. Flak also damaged aircraft, causing them to slow down and lose altitude, making bombers easy pickings for marauding German fighters.

Can flak stop missile?

The flak is a strong defensive weapon unlocked by the Armoury. After a set amount of time the shell bursts into multiple shells which can shoot down missiles/rockets along with mortars. A single flak can sometimes get rid of a whole missile swarm or several rockets at once, making it the best counter to these.

Are military flak jackets bulletproof?

Contrary to popular belief, flak jackets are not interchangeable with bulletproof vests. They are designed to protect against fragments from high explosive weaponry — like anti-aircraft guns, land mines, low velocity projectiles and grenades.

Who coined the term flak?

Flak was reported as being coined during during WWII by American Soldiers who herd the Germans using the word for their antiaircraft artillery. Since then it has stuck and the meaning has broadened just like you said.

How heavy is a USMC flak jacket?

This vest, worn by both the US Marines and US Army, was made from nylon and fiberglass-based Doron and came in under 8 pounds.

How do planes avoid flak?

In order to avoid taking flak fire from the Germans on the ground, Allied bomber crews were forced to fly their planes at a higher altitude before lowering down to attack their targets. This made them a prime target for the enemy, who was particularly adept at shooting Allied bombers.

How much does a US Army flak jacket weigh?

Judge and Buttkus, Ballistic and Spall Tests, ii: The new vest weighed 16 pounds, 4 ounces; the vest it replaced weighed 14 pounds, but required the standard 9-pound M-69 'flak jacket' be worn over it, to reduce the threat of secondary fragments from secondary fragments.

What does copping flak mean?

Flak: (noun) anti-aircraft artillery or bursting of shells fired from anti-aircraft artillery;over the top and/or aggressive criticism; opposition, disagreement.

What part of speech is flak?

noun. She has taken a good deal of flak for espousing that view.

What does flak jacket mean in slang?

broadly : a bulletproof vest.

What was the most feared artillery in ww2?

One of the most famous artillery pieces of the Second World War, the German 88mm gun had a well-deserved reputation for deadly accuracy and destructive power.

What was the most feared German gun in ww2?

A close look at Hitler's Buzz Saw, a fearsome weapon for the German army.