Battle of Britain History - but not as we know it.....
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Battle of Britain History - but not as we know it.....
Several months ago the RAF PR in MoD began moving the excellent content of the old history section into the new and largely unusable format.
In an amazing inability to simply cut and paste, the entire new version of the Battle of Britain campaign diary has been transplanted by 4 days, the original starting on the 10th July, the new starting on the 14th July. However, each page was transferred as if the start date were the same.
Consequently, for those who didn't realise it, Adler Tag now took place on 17th August, not 13th August as originally scheduled. Could any survivors of the Battle please amend their log books accordingly.
And in the 70th Anniversary year too. Hmmmmm. Any chance of getting the original website team back? At least you could find things.
In an amazing inability to simply cut and paste, the entire new version of the Battle of Britain campaign diary has been transplanted by 4 days, the original starting on the 10th July, the new starting on the 14th July. However, each page was transferred as if the start date were the same.
Consequently, for those who didn't realise it, Adler Tag now took place on 17th August, not 13th August as originally scheduled. Could any survivors of the Battle please amend their log books accordingly.
And in the 70th Anniversary year too. Hmmmmm. Any chance of getting the original website team back? At least you could find things.
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Agatha - Nice nick! I am very glad to hear that. Could you also re-link all the Luftwaffe pages missing under their header page too, as the map links don't work on the new site? And get rid of all the non-Battle of Britain types from the wallpaper gallery and calendar? (In fact, there is only one image from the period of the Battle in there.) And get someone to have a hard look at some of the press pack information, particularly the Spitfire and Hurricane page? And re-align then link the list of Commanders names on the Fighter Command Organisation page to the biography page of the Commanders? And take the bit about the map below off the top of that page as it doesn't exist any more and is on a different page? Finally, could you re-establish the roll of honour of pilots who fell in the Battle, since that seems to have disappeared completely.
There are many more lesser errors, perhaps having someone look at it with a bit of a toothcomb might be in order, particularly with reference to the excellent original site which is still available from your old history section.
Can I just ask, did anyone actually read these pages before they transferred them? I think this is an intolerably poor show for the RAF's premier Battle in its 70th Anniversary year. How many schoolchildren view this as their premier source of information for course work?
There are many more lesser errors, perhaps having someone look at it with a bit of a toothcomb might be in order, particularly with reference to the excellent original site which is still available from your old history section.
Can I just ask, did anyone actually read these pages before they transferred them? I think this is an intolerably poor show for the RAF's premier Battle in its 70th Anniversary year. How many schoolchildren view this as their premier source of information for course work?
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Suggestion....
As the whole thing seems to be a right ...... why not get the original web pages up and running until the 'new' site is sorted?
Ahhh.... that my taxi? hat & coat too... how kind
As the whole thing seems to be a right ...... why not get the original web pages up and running until the 'new' site is sorted?
Ahhh.... that my taxi? hat & coat too... how kind
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This url has always since I can remember been the one that refers to the BoB on a daily basis and the Roll of Honour is intact therein.
The Battle of Britain - Home Page
Btw, I am sure there are mistakes but one that has always slightly annoyed me that Geoffrey Wellum's name in the above roll is spelt with an 'a.'
The Battle of Britain - Home Page
Btw, I am sure there are mistakes but one that has always slightly annoyed me that Geoffrey Wellum's name in the above roll is spelt with an 'a.'
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Battle of Britain history from one who was there.
I'm entirely new to PPRuNe. Was on duty, a WAAF plotter in the Ops Room, RAF Kirton-in-Lindsay, Sunday 9/15/40, my 23rd birthday and now Battle of Britain Day. On the 70th anniversary this year, I will be 93, still alive and kicking, but not kicking as high. I remember everything about that morning. If you'd be interested in hearing what happened in K-in-L then, I'd be happy to supply the details.
Do you know why MoD has changed the date of der Adler Tag? Is it that important?
TTFN......Barbara S.
Do you know why MoD has changed the date of der Adler Tag? Is it that important?
TTFN......Barbara S.
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Barbara,
I'm sure there would be many people interested to hear your story - can I suggest posting it on this thread - http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...t-ww11-99.html - ?
There have been a number of outstanding sets of memories posted there from former aircrew (mainly bombers but a few fighter guys as well). The WAAF perspective is one we don't get to hear from much and would, I think, would add immeasurably to the history...
Regards,
Adam
I'm sure there would be many people interested to hear your story - can I suggest posting it on this thread - http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...t-ww11-99.html - ?
There have been a number of outstanding sets of memories posted there from former aircrew (mainly bombers but a few fighter guys as well). The WAAF perspective is one we don't get to hear from much and would, I think, would add immeasurably to the history...
Regards,
Adam
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BofB Memories
Hey Barbara,
RAF Public Relations here, would you be interested in telling your story to someone like the RAF News? If so I would be happy to provide your e-mail / phone details to them, so they can get in touch - no stress if you don't fancy it, but it would be great if you did!
Rgds
RAF Public Relations here, would you be interested in telling your story to someone like the RAF News? If so I would be happy to provide your e-mail / phone details to them, so they can get in touch - no stress if you don't fancy it, but it would be great if you did!
Rgds
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But Barbara!
We saw you first! We would be most pleased to hear from you as proposed by kookabat above.
As a matter of fact I have just finished reading the BoB book written by Marcel Jullian and, yes, Adlertag is, and always was, 13th August, which was designated to start at 0730 by Goering. As you know the best laid plans are governed by weather and this started the rot.
Yes please do add to our definitive MIL forum.
How people think they can just, seemingly at a whim, just change history is beyond comprehension.
PPP
We saw you first! We would be most pleased to hear from you as proposed by kookabat above.
As a matter of fact I have just finished reading the BoB book written by Marcel Jullian and, yes, Adlertag is, and always was, 13th August, which was designated to start at 0730 by Goering. As you know the best laid plans are governed by weather and this started the rot.
Yes please do add to our definitive MIL forum.
How people think they can just, seemingly at a whim, just change history is beyond comprehension.
PPP
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Battle of Britain history from one who was there.
Adam:
Thank you very much for replying to my post. I took your advice and contacted the RAF WW11 Brevet site, and got myself into something I don't know how to handle. I'll have to wait for my son to come and see to it.
Being the complete computer dummy, I'm out of my depth with all these forums and posts etc. I only hope this gets to you safely, because I really appreciated your interest.
Thank you again.
Cheerio......BS
Thank you very much for replying to my post. I took your advice and contacted the RAF WW11 Brevet site, and got myself into something I don't know how to handle. I'll have to wait for my son to come and see to it.
Being the complete computer dummy, I'm out of my depth with all these forums and posts etc. I only hope this gets to you safely, because I really appreciated your interest.
Thank you again.
Cheerio......BS
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Battle of Britain history from one who was there.
RAF Public Relations:
Thank you for your message, (thread?) If you think RAF News would be interested, then please go ahead with your proposal, but remember, Kirton was a training station, not front line, and nothing spectacular happened there that BofB Day morning, except that I well remember it all.
After passing OSB in summer of '40, I only wanted Intelligence, and that had just been closed to WAAF for an interesting reason. It was over 2 years before it opened to us again. I passed as Intelligence Officer Feb '43, and was posted to Bletchley Park, where one of the first things I saw was recce photos of the invasion barges, hundreds of them, piled high with war materiel, all lined up along the inner waterways of the French coast across the Channel. Invasion was very real at that time, and the Few saved us. God bless them all.
TTFN......BS
Thank you for your message, (thread?) If you think RAF News would be interested, then please go ahead with your proposal, but remember, Kirton was a training station, not front line, and nothing spectacular happened there that BofB Day morning, except that I well remember it all.
After passing OSB in summer of '40, I only wanted Intelligence, and that had just been closed to WAAF for an interesting reason. It was over 2 years before it opened to us again. I passed as Intelligence Officer Feb '43, and was posted to Bletchley Park, where one of the first things I saw was recce photos of the invasion barges, hundreds of them, piled high with war materiel, all lined up along the inner waterways of the French coast across the Channel. Invasion was very real at that time, and the Few saved us. God bless them all.
TTFN......BS
Last edited by Barbara S.; 19th Aug 2010 at 06:29. Reason: To change address
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Battleof Britain history from one who was there.
PPRuNe PoP:
Thank you for your message. I did log on to the "Gaining Brevets for WW11 RAF Pilots" site, as Kookabat suggested, and spent considerable time typing a resume of my service, (over 6 years), but something went wrong in the sending. Altho' I briefly saw my efforts in print, a page came up saying it couldn't be sent. What went wrong, I don't know, and will have to wait for my son to come and tell me what idiotic thing I did. I rarely use the web sites, and being the complete computer dummy, am not used to procedures, and don't know how to put things right. Perhaps it's possible you may be able to find that resume somewhere in cyberspace?
Meanwhile I've given permission to RAF Public Relations to go ahead with their proposal......TTFN......BS
Thank you for your message. I did log on to the "Gaining Brevets for WW11 RAF Pilots" site, as Kookabat suggested, and spent considerable time typing a resume of my service, (over 6 years), but something went wrong in the sending. Altho' I briefly saw my efforts in print, a page came up saying it couldn't be sent. What went wrong, I don't know, and will have to wait for my son to come and tell me what idiotic thing I did. I rarely use the web sites, and being the complete computer dummy, am not used to procedures, and don't know how to put things right. Perhaps it's possible you may be able to find that resume somewhere in cyberspace?
Meanwhile I've given permission to RAF Public Relations to go ahead with their proposal......TTFN......BS
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And which Battle of Britain would that be?
The BBC Today programme is doing a piece on the BoB.
In the web page writeup they quote a shocking encounter in 2010 Britain:
In the web page writeup they quote a shocking encounter in 2010 Britain:
Ronald Tooke [who was 19 in 1940] recently went into a shop near his Hampshire home, wearing his Battle of Britain badge.
The young shop assistant asked him what it was, so he told her. "And which Battle of Britain would that be?" she asked. And it was not a joke.
The young shop assistant asked him what it was, so he told her. "And which Battle of Britain would that be?" she asked. And it was not a joke.
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BoB History etc.
Low Flier:
Re your post on Ronald Tooke's recent experience in Hampshire:-
Apart from the few History buffs I've met here in the States, few Americans are aware that WW11 started 9/3/39. The war history here starts 12/7/41, and so many of the TV programmes on WW11 show only US military exploits. Rarely is another country mentioned. I enlighten them every chance I get. Ignorance is not confined to present day Britain, it seems to be a worldwide trend.
TTFN......BS
Re your post on Ronald Tooke's recent experience in Hampshire:-
Apart from the few History buffs I've met here in the States, few Americans are aware that WW11 started 9/3/39. The war history here starts 12/7/41, and so many of the TV programmes on WW11 show only US military exploits. Rarely is another country mentioned. I enlighten them every chance I get. Ignorance is not confined to present day Britain, it seems to be a worldwide trend.
TTFN......BS
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The first military operation of WW2 was probably in 1937 when the Japanese invaded China. The very short Home Service item this morning re: historical aspects of the BoB left more questions unanswered than it resolved, but then we could not allow an over run into Desert Island Discs, oh no. Probably available on the BBC website, 0830 hrs onwards.
For most under 40's, WW1 and WW2 are irrelevant, and yet both conflicts and the results of the conflicts continue to shape the lives of most Europeans (language, relative freedoms, dominance of the US etc).
For most under 40's, WW1 and WW2 are irrelevant, and yet both conflicts and the results of the conflicts continue to shape the lives of most Europeans (language, relative freedoms, dominance of the US etc).
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Not so hopeless
Mike7,
It's not as bad as people think.
True, when I worked upon a barge in Burgundy in 1994 ( long story ! ) the French chef, a very good guy then aged 24, was astounded when I lent him my copy of the B of B film; he'd never heard of the Battle of France let alone Britain !
Maybe there's a reason for that...
He already had his own hot air balloon and 'flew' a Mirage simulator in his cabin, so was quite air-minded; his eyes nearly came out of their sockets as I pointed out the stumps of bridges taken out either by allied infantry, retreating Germans or maybe Typhoons.
On the other hand, at Tangmere Museum, where I was a guide last year, a great effort is made to encourage schools, we would often host school parties who came prepared with projects either on 'what it was like', for civilians as well as pilots & groundcrew, or individual biographies.
It was heartening to see the number of young and indeed foreign people ( I remember once having a charming German couple to chat to, and explaining that the dummy & portrait etc depicting a German pilot was accidentally facing the British pilot against whom he'd fought ).
Plenty of West Sussex children know all about the Battle of Britain, hopefully the same applies elsewhere in the country.
Another example; once years ago I was sitting with a chum outside 'The Ship' at Itchenor one Sunday lunchtime, having sailed there for a weekend.
It shows it was a while ago, as a gang of 'punks' were outside too.
I thought I heard 'something significant' in the distance, then it materialised into a Merlin.
It was Nick Grace in his Spitfire, who proceeded to do an improptu ( may well have been practice ) display, seemingly all for our benefit.
The punks stood up and cheered...
So there is still hope for newer generations !
It's not as bad as people think.
True, when I worked upon a barge in Burgundy in 1994 ( long story ! ) the French chef, a very good guy then aged 24, was astounded when I lent him my copy of the B of B film; he'd never heard of the Battle of France let alone Britain !
Maybe there's a reason for that...
He already had his own hot air balloon and 'flew' a Mirage simulator in his cabin, so was quite air-minded; his eyes nearly came out of their sockets as I pointed out the stumps of bridges taken out either by allied infantry, retreating Germans or maybe Typhoons.
On the other hand, at Tangmere Museum, where I was a guide last year, a great effort is made to encourage schools, we would often host school parties who came prepared with projects either on 'what it was like', for civilians as well as pilots & groundcrew, or individual biographies.
It was heartening to see the number of young and indeed foreign people ( I remember once having a charming German couple to chat to, and explaining that the dummy & portrait etc depicting a German pilot was accidentally facing the British pilot against whom he'd fought ).
Plenty of West Sussex children know all about the Battle of Britain, hopefully the same applies elsewhere in the country.
Another example; once years ago I was sitting with a chum outside 'The Ship' at Itchenor one Sunday lunchtime, having sailed there for a weekend.
It shows it was a while ago, as a gang of 'punks' were outside too.
I thought I heard 'something significant' in the distance, then it materialised into a Merlin.
It was Nick Grace in his Spitfire, who proceeded to do an improptu ( may well have been practice ) display, seemingly all for our benefit.
The punks stood up and cheered...
So there is still hope for newer generations !
Last edited by Double Zero; 20th Aug 2010 at 21:13.
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If I'm still alive aged 93 let alone communicating across the seas I'll be quite pleased.
Barbara S, I can only salute you in words.
My dear old mum was a Wren deep under the cliffs during WWll then in the OC. Her stories resonate more because of you contributions.
Sir George Cayley
Barbara S, I can only salute you in words.
My dear old mum was a Wren deep under the cliffs during WWll then in the OC. Her stories resonate more because of you contributions.Sir George Cayley
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Thank you.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Thank you.