An obscure military question, if you're up for it?

Question

When General Montgomery planned an offensive in North Africa he realized his advance would take his troops though a German minefield... the title he gave that offensive was "Operation Lightfoot"

When British Intelligence deliberately floated a dead body out to sea planted with false intelligence about the D-Day invasion they called this "Operation Mincemeat"

In Burma when the Brits were surrounded and relying on air drop, due to circumstance they had to drop at low altitude and on the rare occasion Tommy's were hit by these crates of food [eg canned spam, peaches, preserves] & ammo - result being injured or killed.  The Brits refered to this freak occurance as "death by flying fruit"

Is it just the Brits that are twisted like this, or does the same dry wit exist in other militaries?
Examples please if you have them  :)

CharlieFoxtrot · Accepted Answer

It's human nature. Humor is a defense mechanism to the horrors of war. Freud wrote about "Gallows Humor". So have many sociologists. The more desperate the situation, the more the mind will try to find a relief valve. Humor serves that purpose.

Gary · Answer

It's called 'Gallow's Humour'. Very British and Australian/New Zealand.
At least it's not all, Operation Eagle Dawn or Operation Iron Hammer like the Yanks use.

? · Answer

I think being in the military tends to instill some dark humor in you because the profession of arms is necessarily haunted by the spectre of death.  You see it in all militaries.  The British have it down to an art though, since they're like this in real life too.

lmn78744 · Answer

I certainly prefer that to the American version of pumping propaganda into mission names, such as;
Operation Iraqi Freedom
or
Operation Enduring Freedom

Anonymous · Answer

so we meet again! lol sorry this is complelety random.. i deleted my other email and made this one and recognized your icon picture thingy

? · Answer

Shaking my head, you watch to much twilight!

An obscure military question, if you're up for it?

6 Answers