Originally Posted by
Guernsey Girl II
The BBC (and other UK news outlets) calling UDI due to the fact that ‘the Americans do it differently’ doesn’t wash with me.
Would you rather that MOD had, 1 hour in, announced that it was a MR2 just ‘cause the US do it that way’ and have 50 ish sets of loved ones in Moray waiting for the knock at the door from Officers in No1s.
GG11, leopards don't change their spots, neither does the Beeb! In the early 70's we lost a Herc at Fairford, no survivors (No4 Prop went into reverse on a roller, not finger trouble, but a control line that jumped a pulley IIRC). This was about 1630 Hours. Within minutes the Beeb was on the line demanding details. They were politely told that these were not going to be available until later, as the priority was to get the Sqn Cdr, Staish, Padre and Queen Bee round to the various widows, partners, mums, dads etc. Could they please hold the story over until the (then) nine o'clock news so that these same people would not learn of the loss first from the Tele? "Not a chance, the public has a right to know, blah, blah". So while they were only half way through their sorry task, the Beeb fearlessly did their stuff. ITV News, by comparison, obliged as requested and waited until the (then) 10 o'clock bulletin. The strutting arrogance of the Beeb shines like a beacon over the decades!