This week , 1940 , Valiant Knights of the Skies

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Mad Doug Biker

Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
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Craggy Island
I have seen that before. I just think it's all a bit pointless getting het up about which plane won what. I suspect the pilots themselves couldn't give a toss about which plane got the credit, they were just glad to come away alive, so why should we.

I agree, but it is the sheer myopia of history that gets me and the fact that people practically go on about Spitfires as if they were the only ones that did anything..... Except for Lancasters and The Memphis Belle and co of course - Everyone else just sat about twiddling their thumbs apparently. It is all very well being glad you are alive, but imagine having everything you have done being overshadowed and discarded, sometimes in a single stroke by a piece of propoganda, a myth, a legend, a story, whatever you want to call it.
It is a bit like the thing of being in North Africa before going up though Italy, the hell of Monte Casino etc..... And what do people only remember? D - Day!

It is a hangover from the old Propoganda as others have said, but it seems people really do beleive it some times, and I don't see anyone trying to change things.

That is the problem with history I guess, it is often written by the victors and things can be edited in or out or talked down or up, and we have witnessed such a thing here. Heck only knows what people will be taught about it all in 100 years time if we can't even get it right now!

Oh and seemingly it annoyed people at the time too by the way, so it started almost immediately.
 
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Mad Doug Biker

Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
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I also wonder if, we ever have another world war, what will be put on a pedestal and what will be forgotten/sidelined/ignored.
 

Mad Doug Biker

Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
Location
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We used to know a lovely elderly lady who delivered Spitfires, but they were not allowed to fy them with the weaponry armed

I didn't know they were delivered by little old ladies?? You live and learn! :whistle:

Seriously though, that must have been interesting and just a bit bitter sweet, knowing some of the planes she was delivering would be destined to be destroyed, some soon after, not to mention the people flying them.
 
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Mad Doug Biker

Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
Location
Craggy Island

Colin_P

Guru

Used to watch the "Hoovers" go past my bedroom window.
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ozboz

ozboz

Guru
Location
Richmond ,Surrey
My Dads Mate , John Carrol from Manchester served on the Rodney ,some sort of electrical fitter , and , a pub I go in right here in Richmond , Surrey , there is a Grand Old Gent named Wally , he was a Stoker on the Nelson, he's in there every night !! 94 years young as he says !!
 

Mad Doug Biker

Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
Location
Craggy Island
For anyone who doesn't know, I once memorised all 50 of the BR class 50 loco names which were all named after warships.

Rockaay sometimes gives me a reminder! :laugh:


None were named 'Nelson' though.
 
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