Re: How did you found out about Defence Talk?
Hi I`m new here, great forum, looking forward to learning lots from you guys and perhaps contributing something along the way.
I found this site while I was trying to prove to friends that Abrams tanks had been captured by the former Iraqi regime during the March `03 invasion. A search brought up your page and those great pictures (which I remembered seeing some of on BBC world during coverage of the invasion). My friends were surprised. Great stuff, thanks!
Brief self intro:
I`ve always been interested in this stuff. My Dad worked in Australian defence As a kid I used to read his copies of Jane`s Defence Weekly cover to cover when he brought them home (I was a strange kid!). I`ve never been in the military or consider myself physically or mentally prepared to become a soldier but I have a huge respect for military personnel and the job they do. Plus military hardware is just plain cool, right!?
I`m an Australian but live and work in Japan. I`m involved in an Airsoft Military Simulation group in my area. Great bunch of Japanese guys who love this stuff too. I currently have a rough US SF kit procured entirely on eBay! Its great to play these games and get an idea of what tactics would work in real life.
I have a US air base near where I live, Misawa:
http://www.misawa.af.mil/
Flying out of there are two squadrons of the Block 50 model F-16CJ and F-16DJ Fighting Falcons. They are truly awesome to watch turning and burning at low altitude over my tiny Japanese town.(I`m sure they`re not supposed to fly that low and are noisy as hell but I love it). I might be going with my Airsoft friends to the base open day in the spring and hopefully take some pictures for you guys.
Looking forward to reading through more of this site!