The Big Anniversary
"70 years ago NOW the dam burst:"
And within minutes 1,700 civilians were drowned. Including 700 Female Slave workers from the Ukraine, a 90 year old Grandmother and a 6 month old baby..
War is just horrid.
And within minutes 1,700 civilians were drowned. Including 700 Female Slave workers from the Ukraine, a 90 year old Grandmother and a 6 month old baby..
War is just horrid.
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Nice one pr00ne 
You could always celebrate by donning your anorak and marching with the ban-the-bombers or crawl into your self-righteous cave.
Yes, war is horrible but, to quote Basil Fawlty, "Well, we didn't start it".
You could always celebrate by donning your anorak and marching with the ban-the-bombers or crawl into your self-righteous cave.
Yes, war is horrible but, to quote Basil Fawlty, "Well, we didn't start it".
To quote Pvt Baldrick:
Analysis of which by Capt. E. Blackadder was as follows:
Thanks to Sky TV, I was able to watch the coverage from Scampton on Look North yesterday evening - very good. Then later the movie itself on DVD - still good after nearly 60 years!
Hear the words I sing,
War's a horrid thing,
So I sing sing sing...
...ding-a-ling-a-ling.
War's a horrid thing,
So I sing sing sing...
...ding-a-ling-a-ling.
"It started badly, it tailed off a little in the middle and the less said about the end the better — but apart from that it was excellent."
Last edited by BEagle; 17th May 2013 at 05:21.
I was delighted to see that Les Munro was there.
When I was in NZ last year, I bought a book of interviews with the crews - the title escapes me. My wife was looking at it and said "It's used! Someone has written on the title page." "What does it say?""There are some words and a signature - Les Munro". "That's not a used book; that's been signed by one of the pilots!"
Interestingly,Les's Lancaster was hit by flak on the inbound track and the intercom was disabled, so they had to abort, since the intercom was vital in getting the height right on the bomb run. He ascribes his survival as probably due to that lucky hit.
When I was in NZ last year, I bought a book of interviews with the crews - the title escapes me. My wife was looking at it and said "It's used! Someone has written on the title page." "What does it say?""There are some words and a signature - Les Munro". "That's not a used book; that's been signed by one of the pilots!"
Interestingly,Les's Lancaster was hit by flak on the inbound track and the intercom was disabled, so they had to abort, since the intercom was vital in getting the height right on the bomb run. He ascribes his survival as probably due to that lucky hit.
Last edited by India Four Two; 17th May 2013 at 06:58.
Skua, I'm with you. Why anyone puts Butler behind a microphone is beyond me. He was a useless pratt when he played for Wales and he has remained consistent ever since!
His ill-informed and ill-timed drivel detracted from what, otherwise, was a superb event.
His ill-informed and ill-timed drivel detracted from what, otherwise, was a superb event.
I couldn't help but feel the BBC were an imposition on, if not an obstruction in, an almost private RAF event, especially given how uncomfortable some of the esteemed guests appeared when Dan Snow (who managed at least three uses of "iconic") went among them.
And, true to form, the Beeb's caption team managed to put 'Air Vice Marshall' on screen despite presumably having plenty of research material. The Corporation would have done better to have taken a step back and let the ceremony speak for itself.
And, true to form, the Beeb's caption team managed to put 'Air Vice Marshall' on screen despite presumably having plenty of research material. The Corporation would have done better to have taken a step back and let the ceremony speak for itself.
Last edited by XV490; 17th May 2013 at 08:47.
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I couldn't help but feel the BBC were an imposition on, if not an obstruction
in, an almost private RAF event
But . . . at least they gave an hour of time to it; the public perhaps won't be as picky as we might be, and on balance it's surely good that plenty of people will have had the chance to see the event. It does no harm to keep reminding the taxpayers what airpower can do.
It's just a pity that the rather well-done follow-up Timewatch documentary was on so late last night. Good to hear a young historian tell the revisionists where to stick their 'no value' assessments of Chastise. OK, it took the Germans 'only' 5 months to sort it all out. If it wasn't any big deal, how come they devoted that much effort at a stage when they were struggling? And when Rommel arrived to take over the Atlantic Wall he found several holes in it - resources had been busy repairing the Ruhr! So ask the guys on D-Day if they think Chastise had been useful.
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Just been listening to Jeremy Vine in Radio 2....
...repeated several times as he reports on the BBMF Lancaster landing at Biggin Hill today.
Gave up as his excited breathless reporting was too much. He did admit that he is not an aviation aficionado.....No? Really?
this is the only place in the world you will see a Lancaster
Gave up as his excited breathless reporting was too much. He did admit that he is not an aviation aficionado.....No? Really?
Last edited by November4; 17th May 2013 at 11:54.
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I thought our Royal Air Force was a shining example last night with the Ceremony held at RAF Scampton. Just the right balance to commemorate all the crews that took part in Operation Chastise and the salute to those that never returned from the mission.
Just in case some people missed the BBC 2 coverage ... it has just been released on iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer The Dambusters 70 Years On
Just a shame the commentators made a few gaffs ...
During the Guard of Honour Right Dress ... Eddie Butler said "there's a bit of shuffling about"
Just before the 617 Squadron Standard was Marched On ... Eddie Butler said of the Standard "it's an important badge"
Here are some screen grabs of the BBC 2 OB for friends overseas without access to VPN to view iPlayer
All images are from the BBC.
Well played F/L Dunlop and crew
Well played F/O Ward immaculate drill
Arrival timing ... perfect
Nice appropriate words from AVM Atha
Best regards ...
Coff.
Just in case some people missed the BBC 2 coverage ... it has just been released on iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer The Dambusters 70 Years On
Just a shame the commentators made a few gaffs ...
During the Guard of Honour Right Dress ... Eddie Butler said "there's a bit of shuffling about"
Just before the 617 Squadron Standard was Marched On ... Eddie Butler said of the Standard "it's an important badge"
Here are some screen grabs of the BBC 2 OB for friends overseas without access to VPN to view iPlayer
All images are from the BBC.
Well played F/L Dunlop and crew
Well played F/O Ward immaculate drill
Arrival timing ... perfect
Nice appropriate words from AVM Atha
Best regards ...
Coff.
At 22:00 in the programme from last night, one of the Spits has a tail wheel, the other doesn't appear to. Is it retractable or......well, what? Anyone know?
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And as said previously, that in credible fool Vine.
We talked of it all in my local at teatime; and how good it was to see the younger ones showing so much interest, and respect.
We talked of it all in my local at teatime; and how good it was to see the younger ones showing so much interest, and respect.
Mainly due to not actively seeking out production details to list and bleat about, I suspect I may have enjoyed the spectacle more than most.
It was great.
CG
It was great.
CG
Was lucky enough to be at the service in Lincoln Cathedral today. Superb event, Standard Party were immaculate and the flyby by the GR4's a wonderful prelude to the 4 circuits of the Lancaster over the Cathedral grounds. Bit windy which probably accounted for the dust getting into my eyes when the Merlins echoed across the city! Well done to all involved, especially the 617 crews who displayed such courage and fortitude in May 1943 and have continued to do so ever since.