90 Years of the RAF - BBC2
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Cheap TV
My wife a PPL holder and involved professionaly on the edges of the entertainment industry commented that it was cheap TV using poor quality archive stock, lacking in direction and a very poor program for what should have been a very exciting subject.
She as a person interested in aviation got nothing usefull from the program so it was unlikely to hold the interest of the general public for very long.
Myself I see it as part of the BBC (prefferd workplace of the slightly left wing chattering classes) inability to be proud to be British in case they offend someone. The program was a very shabby way to treat a British institution that in 1940 saved the country from invasion by one of the most evil regimes in history.
She as a person interested in aviation got nothing usefull from the program so it was unlikely to hold the interest of the general public for very long.
Myself I see it as part of the BBC (prefferd workplace of the slightly left wing chattering classes) inability to be proud to be British in case they offend someone. The program was a very shabby way to treat a British institution that in 1940 saved the country from invasion by one of the most evil regimes in history.
I've been trying for two years to get an RAF-oriented TV drama series off the ground (pun entirely intended), and I hope I've done enough homework that it wouldn't get this sort of reaction on here.
The point is, though, I'm still trying, rather than doing, which I think elucidates the problem quite well. Broadcasters chase audience figures; it's not a whole hell of a lot to do with quality. Quality doesn't sell. Careful research doesn't sell.
But also: relax, folks. Coverage of any sort is almost always good. The armed forces in this country are practically invisible to the rest of the population. The reaction to journalists on this forum, the reaction to this TV show (which seems to have been tedious rather than malicious), even the reaction to that poor unfortunate C-130 pilot's interview, which was entirely positive and the sort of thing we'd hope to see more of, is for want of a better word, much too uptight.
Yes it'd be nice to see more of the cooks and bottle washers (er, Combat Chefs, anyone?) and the forces in general in both documentary and drama, but in the meantime, let's at least try and be thankful for small mercies, eh?
P
The point is, though, I'm still trying, rather than doing, which I think elucidates the problem quite well. Broadcasters chase audience figures; it's not a whole hell of a lot to do with quality. Quality doesn't sell. Careful research doesn't sell.
But also: relax, folks. Coverage of any sort is almost always good. The armed forces in this country are practically invisible to the rest of the population. The reaction to journalists on this forum, the reaction to this TV show (which seems to have been tedious rather than malicious), even the reaction to that poor unfortunate C-130 pilot's interview, which was entirely positive and the sort of thing we'd hope to see more of, is for want of a better word, much too uptight.
Yes it'd be nice to see more of the cooks and bottle washers (er, Combat Chefs, anyone?) and the forces in general in both documentary and drama, but in the meantime, let's at least try and be thankful for small mercies, eh?
P
Phil_R:
I imagine that is what the top echelons were assured when they backed this production. I agree with those who say it was poorly made which thus obscured its theme. That theme I believe was to highlight the point that the RAF's raison d'etre has always been aerial strategic bombing and all that entails from pre war Kurdish villages, via the laying waste of wartime Germany to the MAD scenarios planned in the Cold War. Such destruction both actual and potential has been deemed unacceptable and condemned both during and since WW2, especially by the post war Labour Government and the left of centre BBC. Wars are not won by armchair theorists, nor for that matter by evacuations or heroic defence of seas and skies. They are won by taking the war to the enemy and destroying his capacity to wage it. Time there was a robust defence of that dangerous and necessary campaign and of the men who went out night after night to conduct it, often never to return. The agenda of those who are opposed to such recognition and proper Remembrance is to be found in such pieces as this. The Royal Air Force at least should be prepared to stand up and be counted in defending its heritage or it will fall by default to such perspective as this biased rendering.
Coverage of any sort is almost always good.
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Watched it last night on the iplayer, what a waste of time. Nothing to do with rotary or multis force after WW2. Little to no narrative to follow, and why did it bang on about nuclear armageddon when the RAF won't launch nukes, it's the navy that will. With the RAf having an apparent 'recruiting crisis' at the moment and advertising everywhere why would they allow this show to be made. If I was younger and watched it, it would put me off for life!
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Sorry to say chaps I did not feel the programme very good at all and of course I had to chuckle when John Peters said a Typhoon would be deployed from Coningsby to shoot down any airliner that tried a 9/11 attack on London! It couldn't posibly get to a hijacked airliner taking off from Heathrow ( even if based at say Farnborough ) & shoot it down prior to hitting the centre of London. Even if it could the loss of life on the ground would be too great so it is not a scenario our government would entertain.It has been a point of discussion within BA for some time !!! The conclusion is do now't and hope for the best !!! These people seem to think the public are gullible or stupid! 
I thought it was pretty good, I wasn't expecting much after reading some of those comments, but I thought it was......pleasantly surprising. There were times when I thought they captured the moment very well.
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Seems to be some pretty angry people on pprune who seem to have far better ideas. Well I thought the documentary was alright, not great, but why don't some of you guys get together and make an approach to a production company with a better idea? Too many armchair whingers out there.
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I kept hearing this whirring noise in the background.
I think it was Raymond Baxter turning in his grave.
Seriously I think this could have been occasion for a short series, a proper documentary of RAF history.
Instead, while there were a few good bits, I felt it was lightweight fluff. The BBC used to do better than this.
I think it was Raymond Baxter turning in his grave.
Seriously I think this could have been occasion for a short series, a proper documentary of RAF history.
Instead, while there were a few good bits, I felt it was lightweight fluff. The BBC used to do better than this.
thunderbird7:
It may well have been, but it didn't lead to Victory, it prevented Defeat at a very crucial time. The real blood, toil, tears and sweat took much longer and at much much greater cost.
CrazyMonkey:
Like extolling Bomber Harris and the Bombing Campaign? Try selling that idea to the BBC! You might as well go the whole hog and suggest they commission a documentary on us having won the Cold War, by showing our clear preparedness to fight it hot. No chance. As for the production, I am quite content that it was poor, given its plain intent.
It may well have been, but it didn't lead to Victory, it prevented Defeat at a very crucial time. The real blood, toil, tears and sweat took much longer and at much much greater cost.
CrazyMonkey:
make an approach to a production company with a better idea
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I really can’t believe some of the comments that I have read here tonight.
Some of you really are bitter and twisted people with a major chip on their shoulders.
I find some of your comments disgusting and unnecessary. Quite frankly they are insults to all that have died over the 90 years.
Shame on many of you.........you have hit a new low on PPRuNe with this thread.
Some of you really are bitter and twisted people with a major chip on their shoulders.
I find some of your comments disgusting and unnecessary. Quite frankly they are insults to all that have died over the 90 years.
Shame on many of you.........you have hit a new low on PPRuNe with this thread.
SRENNAPS, could you explain the basis of your outrage? As far as I can see the discussion has been about a television programme. What has been said that leads you to say:
I find some of your comments disgusting and unnecessary. Quite frankly they are insults to all that have died over the 90 years.
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I don’t need to, the thread speaks for itself.
A lot of people here had already decided to criticise the program, even before they had watched it. It’s what they do.
I find that very insulting.
And if you wish to carry on this argument then I suggest you PM me or meet me face to face. Here is not the place.
As far as I can see the discussion has been about a television programme.
I find that very insulting.
And if you wish to carry on this argument then I suggest you PM me or meet me face to face. Here is not the place.
Was JP the person to front the post war history of the RAF?I know some of the Falklands veterans ,including the Victor tanker leader, who would have made a much better subject about how the RAF do things well at very short notice.
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Absolute rubbish.
Once again, the RAF only consists of pilots!!
If that represented the RAF over 90 years then god help us. What happened to todays ops and the continuous ops between now and WWII.
I bet all the ground trades are feeling down hearted and un loved again but all the officer cadets who got their face on TV will be well chuffed.
Why do the BBC bother making progs like this? What a about a prog that doesnt involve aircrew for a change!
Once again, the RAF only consists of pilots!!
If that represented the RAF over 90 years then god help us. What happened to todays ops and the continuous ops between now and WWII.
I bet all the ground trades are feeling down hearted and un loved again but all the officer cadets who got their face on TV will be well chuffed.
Why do the BBC bother making progs like this? What a about a prog that doesnt involve aircrew for a change!