Game: Guess the (historical) character!

[fredtheobviouspseudonym]

Dorie Miller, cook & ship's heavyweight boxing champion, USS West Virginia on Dec. 7, 1941.

Note that Miller himself only claimed one possible Japanese aircraft shot down. Given the difficulty of anti-aircraft fire (especially in establishing correct lead, tracers or no) it is not too likely that he shot down multiple enemy aircraft as he had no training, but, of course, he clearly demonstrated considerable courage under fire.

[Rotwang]

Dorie Miller?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorie_Miller

[Danukian]

Originally Posted by fredtheobviouspseudonym

Dorie Miller, cook & ship's heavyweight boxing champion, USS West Virginia on Dec. 7, 1941.

Note that Miller himself only claimed one possible Japanese aircraft shot down. Given the difficulty of anti-aircraft fire (especially in establishing correct lead, tracers or no) it is not too likely that he shot down multiple enemy aircraft as he had no training, but, of course, he clearly demonstrated considerable courage under fire.

Dorie Miller is right. Depending on the source, he is credited for shooting down anywhere from 1 to 12 enemy planes - Dorie claimed 1 "for certain", some shipmates go from 8-12, the Pearl Harbor memorial officially credits him with 6 - but I agree, even 1 hit with such a complicated weapons system is amazing for someone that never fired a round from any kind of weapon.

[SolemnGolem]

It's been a while. Here's a (hopefully very easy) historical character to guess.

Male

Physical stats: average to high
IQ: 4

Advantages: Blunt Claws; Courtesy Rank (Military, low); DR 2; Sharp Teeth; Temperature Tolerance 2.

Disadvantages: No Fine Manipulators; Semi-Upright.

Perks: Likes people.

Quirks: Likes beer and cigarettes.

Skills: Lifting, Wrestling.

[trans]

Well, it's pretty clearly some kind of mascot bear, but I'll have to do some searching to find just which one.

[trans]

A cursory wiki search comes up with Winnipeg the Bear

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_the_Bear

but that is pretty sketchy.

[Walrus]

Originally Posted by trans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_the_Bear

I'd suggest another one - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_(soldier_bear). Hopefully, I knew it before.

[trans]

Originally Posted by Walrus

I'd suggest another one - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_(soldier_bear)

Darn, ninja'd :-)

[SolemnGolem]

Walrus is right! Wojtek the bear was adopted by Polish soldiers and helped to carry artillery shell crates. He loved beer and cigarettes. He was given the rank of Private so he would be allowed onboard a troop transport ship.

[Walrus]

I'll wait for a while to prepare good character. If somebody can step in quickly, then do it.