On TV tonight...

[Guest]

Might be of interest to some, just spotted a new series starting tonight at 8.00pm on CH5 called Heroes of the Skies.

Tonight covers WW2 ace Douglas Bader.

Atb, Colin.

[BarryW]

Thanks for this - just set it to record.

[mossiepilot]

Just watched it, was really good, ending with Bader's TV interview.

Tony.

[Guest]

they did not tell the whole true story. the fact that his spit lost its tail before it crashed after being hit by a junior pilot of his own flight. and not shot down by a 109. this was backed up by Galland, also confirmed by the dig Saunders did a couple of years back in france. Barder till his dieing day would not admit he'd been knocked down by a junior r a f pilot. Barder Pride.

[stona]

Bader wouldn't admit to being shot down by anyone. He claimed to have been the victim of a collision with a Bf 109

In his defence he could hardly have expected to be shot down by a Spitfire. I haven't watched the program yet but reading that it has got such a pivotal point of his career hopelessly wrong doesn't inspire me with confidence.

Where did they get the idea that he was shot down by a Bf 109? Neither Bader at the time,nor any later research has ever suggested that this happened.

I'll still watch it just to hear the arrogant old so an sos interview again.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

i've been lucky to meet a number of Battle pilots over the years. you eather loved him or hated him. a dam good pilot but with a head to match.

[stona]

i've been lucky to meet a number of Battle pilots over the years. you eather loved him or hated him. a dam good pilot but with a head to match.

Yes,one of them (I don't remember which) said he was respected but not liked.

It doesn't matter today,he was a brave man and he did his job to the best of his ability. He was incorrigible. I remember an interview years ago in which he denied having been frightened whilst flying. He obviously had a moment to reconsider before saying something like; "well, if fear is a sort of icey hand gripping your heart then,yes,I was frightened". I heard that about forty years ago and have never forgotten it.

Brilliant!

"Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men." Bader

Steve

[Dave W]

I saw the program and thought it quite good.Im currently reading Baders book 'Fight for the Skies'.in it he says he was hit by a 109 ,as Steve said.

[Guest]

Both Galland's book & German records show no 109s lost in that action. it was pride after a fall. Andy Saunders has been researching this for years and the combat reports make interesting reading.

[Guest]

I submitted to the hype and gave this a go and, to be honest, i could have spent the hour a little more productively as it was just as i pressumed .... as Steve said .....

reading that it has got such a pivotal point of his career hopelessly wrong doesn't inspire me with confidence.

......I tend not to watch these documentaries for this reason, they have to play to the viewing audience as most of us know for ratings.

If there's actual footage of an occurance, but an "account" of the same occurance will make better TV then that's what gets included in the documentary, it's still "fact" so they can get away with it.

[stona]

Also some pretty appalling nonsense about the Hurricane!

Yesterday's technology.....rubbish

Converted from a biplane......rubbish

Eight machine guns lesser armament than the Bf 109 E....rubbish

They've just started on the infamous and largely innefective "Big Wing". Dowding is one of my personal heroes so I suspect I'm going to struggle with this bit. Not sure if I'll get through the entire programme

Edit:

Fair enough,not too unbalanced on the "Big Wing".

Apparently the RAF outscored the Luftwaffe 2:1......more rubbish.

Steve

[mossiepilot]

When I watched the program I expected "propaganda"- what the winners would have liked to have happened presented as what did happen. and was not disappointed. When the winners write the history things do change, it's been happening since the days of the ancient pharaohs, look up Artenaken (not sure of the spelling), he was chizelled out of history, love the history channel.

This was a bit of "pulp" about a man who accomplished a personal triumph in a time of great national need. He was a leader when leaders were needed.

Just my opinion, steps off soapbox - sorry

Tony.

[Guest]

I dont think you need to appologise for your opinion Tony, it seems it's the same as most

My main problem with these programs is they advertise the program as historically accurate and it isn't ... ticks me off somewhat.

The Egyption bloke was Akhenaten and his existance was "Lost" in history untill they found Armana (the city he built) in the late 1800's, i think they found his tomb in the early 1900's.