Steady on, Baron mon vieux!
All the dealings with the French Air Force I've had has shown them to be highly skilled and professional. With a strong sense of patriotism and a splendid 'Gallic' attitude to stupid rules. Their observance of Spam-stupidity at Incirlik was classic, for example.
Great wine and smelly cheese too! Just don't eat too much or you'll end up surrendering.
A new aeroplane enters service. It is flown by Spams, Rosbifs and Grenouilles.
- The Spam looks through the book of rules to find out how to do something. No rule = no can do.
- The Brit looks through the book of rules to find out if there's anything to prevent him from doing what he wants. No rule = game is on.
- The Frenchman? Looks puzzled and asks "Book? What book?"
Vive la difference!!
BTW I cannot find any reasonable excuse whatsoever for the wanton destruction of Dresden. It was purely a set piece demonstration to the Soviet Union to show that they'd be next in line if the Bolsheviks didn't watch it - the war was all but won and Churchill bŁoody well knew it was. Harris should have queried his political masters, but didn't.