Xmas Quiz...Spot the famous aviator!

[stona]

Churchill was a great man but in this case he got it wrong.Laurie

Whether he got it wrong or not we'll never know. Dowding had probably done his bit at Fighter Command. What isn't in doubt is the shabby and snidey way his removal was engineered. It leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth even reading the details today.

This was compounded by the omission of Dowding from the so called Battle of Britain pamphlet. It is a thirty two page account of the battle entitled "The Battle of Britain August - October 1940, An Air Ministry Account of the Great Days from 8th August - 31st October 1940", which trips nicely off the tongue

Churchill was furious at the omission and wrote to Sinclair in unequivocal terms. By writing as Prime Minister he put his views on the official record.

"The jealousies and cliquism which have led to the committing of this offence are a discredit to the Air Ministry, and I do not think any other Service Department would have been guilty of such a piece of work.

What would have been said if the War Office had produced the story of the Battle of Libya and had managed to exclude General Wavell's name, or if the Admiralty had told the tale of Trafalgar and left Lord Nelson out of it!

It grieves me very much that you should associate yourself with such behaviour. I am sure you were not consulted beforehand on the point, and your natural loyalty to everything done in your department can alone have led you to condone what nine out of ten men would unhesitatingly condemn."



I bet that caused some red faces at the Air Ministry. They did eventually re-issue the pamphlet including Dowding and photographs of both him and Park.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Yes I agree Steve it was a shameful episode. As said in such circumstances in the Cruel Sea by Ericsson, despite it being fictional based on truth, "its the war".

My reading of the incident is that Churchill was belated in his reply. He might of course have said to Marshall Dowding what happened to our Night Fighters where are they.

But he won the crucial event, Dowding that is. Rather like Montgomery so much criticism yet what other commander was there that could have organised in Normandy a six week event and execute to annihilate the Professional German Army with a mostly Amateur Army. Dowding did the same.

Fortunately time has restored Dowding's right to be classed among the Worlds best Commanders ever. He was so Fortunate to have Parks. All shows that they were dedicated men with no sides. We were fortunate as the thread of our lifes or at least those after me relied on the two.

Laurie

Phew that was a bit deep but that is how I feel.

[rickoshea52]

Blimey you have done it again Steve. For the record Admiral Tovey was in CIC of the Home Fleet . His main purpose to contain the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Prince Eugen and Bismark.

I have a sneaking thought that this is one of those brave young ladies. They transported the new aircraft from the factories in WW11 to the numerous airfields through out Britain.

Who ever it is they are wearing lipstick

Laurie

Hahahaha! It's not a lady. This chap is still alive (just) and is probably more famous for his post war contribution to world history. I think he has a ship named after him.

[Guest]

Hahahaha! It's not a lady. This chap is still alive (just) and is probably more famous for his post war contribution to world history. I think he has a ship named after him.

And he wears lipstick Rick. o_O

What ship would that be

Laurie

[rickoshea52]

And he wears lipstick Rick. o_OWhat ship would that be

Laurie

That would be giving too much away. But he has a son who was also a military aviator, apparently.

[Guest]

How about Geoffrey Wellum Rick.

Laurie

[rickoshea52]

How about Geoffrey Wellum Rick.Laurie

Nope. He has a carrier named after him.

[Guest]

Wwot about "Winkle".

Laurie

[stona]

Not Ronnie Raygun surely!

Steve

[rickoshea52]

Not Ronnie Raygun surely!Steve

Almost. His VP, George HW Bush.