Comments on: Is that war? http://airminded.org/2005/11/22/is-that-war/ Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:25:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: The Elfin Ethicist http://airminded.org/2005/11/22/is-that-war/comment-page-1/#comment-94 The Elfin Ethicist Thu, 01 Dec 2005 22:08:47 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=75#comment-94 <strong>History Carnival XXI</strong> The twenty-first History Carnival is up at CLEWS: The Historic True Crime Blog. This edition features several bloggers I haven't seen before, including: Greg tells us about two saints named Gregory. >> Brett Holman notes... History Carnival XXI

The twenty-first History Carnival is up at CLEWS: The Historic True Crime Blog. This edition features several bloggers I haven’t seen before, including: Greg tells us about two saints named Gregory. >> Brett Holman notes…

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2005/11/22/is-that-war/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Brett Holman Wed, 23 Nov 2005 08:58:04 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=75#comment-92 That story seems plausible. Wait, is that the right word? No, I mean ludicrous - I always confuse the two! Alex: I don't think the scenes in the film are referring to the <em>Emden</em>, or if they are they are grossly distorted. The ship is very definitely bombed rather than crashed into (and I notice the film shows that a submarine was hit as well). Now, the pocket battleship <em>Admiral Scheer</em> was also hit in the raid, but the bombs bounced into the sea without exploding, so the film is greatly exaggerating the actual results of the raid. I'll post some captures on the front page, mainly because I can! That story seems plausible. Wait, is that the right word? No, I mean ludicrous – I always confuse the two!

Alex: I don’t think the scenes in the film are referring to the Emden, or if they are they are grossly distorted. The ship is very definitely bombed rather than crashed into (and I notice the film shows that a submarine was hit as well). Now, the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer was also hit in the raid, but the bombs bounced into the sea without exploding, so the film is greatly exaggerating the actual results of the raid. I’ll post some captures on the front page, mainly because I can!

]]> By: Chris Williams http://airminded.org/2005/11/22/is-that-war/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Chris Williams Tue, 22 Nov 2005 14:54:31 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=75#comment-91 Yes, that story had me raising an eyebrow - in fact it nearly had me feeling sorry for the mad old bat. "Dead bloke's shrink makes unverifiable claims" is a far less striking headline, though, isn't it? Yes, that story had me raising an eyebrow – in fact it nearly had me feeling sorry for the mad old bat. “Dead bloke’s shrink makes unverifiable claims” is a far less striking headline, though, isn’t it?

]]> By: Alex http://airminded.org/2005/11/22/is-that-war/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Alex Tue, 22 Nov 2005 10:55:46 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=75#comment-90 The ship was the cruiser <em>Emden</em>, she was damaged by a Blenheim that crashed, possibly deliberately, into the forepart of the ship. Further, re: Shirer and the mighty Polish Strategic Air Command, I would argue that a considerable percentage of reporters throughout history lack clue on at least one major field of their job :-) Look at this <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,11439,1647762,00.html" rel="nofollow">story</a>, for example.. The ship was the cruiser Emden, she was damaged by a Blenheim that crashed, possibly deliberately, into the forepart of the ship.

Further, re: Shirer and the mighty Polish Strategic Air Command, I would argue that a considerable percentage of reporters throughout history lack clue on at least one major field of their job :-)

Look at this story, for example..

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2005/11/22/is-that-war/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Brett Holman Tue, 22 Nov 2005 05:03:58 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=75#comment-89 Yes, you're right, it wasn't intended to be merely a gesture; it was about the most that Bomber Command could attempt given the politically-imposed restrictions. I think it is also true that there was an expectation that such a small raid could/would be much more effective than it was (of course debates about the effectiveness of bombers v. battleships had been raging throughout the interwar period, some airpower extremists thought that aircraft made navies obsolete). Incidentally, I watched <em>The Lion Has Wings</em> (1939) recently, which features a dramatisation of the raid, and it is strongly implied that at least one German ship had the stuffing knocked out of it. I guess the RAF had little else to boast about at that stage of the war ... Yes, you’re right, it wasn’t intended to be merely a gesture; it was about the most that Bomber Command could attempt given the politically-imposed restrictions. I think it is also true that there was an expectation that such a small raid could/would be much more effective than it was (of course debates about the effectiveness of bombers v. battleships had been raging throughout the interwar period, some airpower extremists thought that aircraft made navies obsolete).

Incidentally, I watched The Lion Has Wings (1939) recently, which features a dramatisation of the raid, and it is strongly implied that at least one German ship had the stuffing knocked out of it. I guess the RAF had little else to boast about at that stage of the war …

]]> By: Chris Williams http://airminded.org/2005/11/22/is-that-war/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Chris Williams Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:36:53 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=75#comment-87 The Wilhelmshaven raids turned out to be a gallant gesture - but was the RAF expecting them to go that way? I'm under the impression that they were expecting a repeat of 'Mitchell vs Ostfriesland'. Could be wrong, though, as ever. The Wilhelmshaven raids turned out to be a gallant gesture – but was the RAF expecting them to go that way? I’m under the impression that they were expecting a repeat of ‘Mitchell vs Ostfriesland’. Could be wrong, though, as ever.

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