Comments on: The Zeppelins of Halifax http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/ Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:33:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jon http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66480 Jon Sat, 15 Dec 2007 20:40:17 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66480 After (finally) taking time to learn more about your blog, I should clarify. I don't believe that the Black Tom explosion was known to be an act of sabotage at the time of the Halifax disaster, so it probably did not add to the climate of fear. However, there was extensive sabotage going on in North America. My source is "Sabotage at Black Tom" by Jules Witcover, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1989. Not a scholarly book by any means, but a good read. I agree with your point - reminds me of the old saying that lies with a bit of truth in them are the most believable. After (finally) taking time to learn more about your blog, I should clarify. I don’t believe that the Black Tom explosion was known to be an act of sabotage at the time of the Halifax disaster, so it probably did not add to the climate of fear. However, there was extensive sabotage going on in North America. My source is “Sabotage at Black Tom” by Jules Witcover, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1989. Not a scholarly book by any means, but a good read.

I agree with your point - reminds me of the old saying that lies with a bit of truth in them are the most believable.

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66448 Brett Holman Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:57:22 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66448 Thanks, Jon -- I didn't know about Black Tom! You're quite right; in fact I would contend that incidents like that are crucial -- fears need to be plausible (subjectively, if not objectively) to turn into panics. Thanks, Jon — I didn’t know about Black Tom! You’re quite right; in fact I would contend that incidents like that are crucial — fears need to be plausible (subjectively, if not objectively) to turn into panics.

]]> By: Jon http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66409 Jon Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:56:37 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66409 The belief that the Halifax disaster could have been a German attack is not so far-fetched, given the July 30, 1916 German attack on Black Tom outside of New York City (which was sabotage on the ground, not a Zeppelin attack). The belief that the Halifax disaster could have been a German attack is not so far-fetched, given the July 30, 1916 German attack on Black Tom outside of New York City (which was sabotage on the ground, not a Zeppelin attack).

]]> By: Official Osprey Publishing Blog http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66229 Official Osprey Publishing Blog Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:52:27 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66229 <strong>7th Military History Carnival...</strong> Welcome to Osprey’s Military History Carnival! I have had a really tough job choosing a selection of blogs this month – a massive thank you to everyone who has contributed! I am going to try to list the fantastic posts... 7th Military History Carnival…

Welcome to Osprey’s Military History Carnival! I have had a really tough job choosing a selection of blogs this month – a massive thank you to everyone who has contributed! I am going to try to list the fantastic posts…

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66185 Brett Holman Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:09:16 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66185 Well, I can understand how they must have felt, I don't think I ever got my fridge magnet! That was $15 million well spent. Well, I can understand how they must have felt, I don’t think I ever got my fridge magnet! That was $15 million well spent.

]]> By: paulie b http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66157 paulie b Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:07:17 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-66157 "Together with the rumours about an impending German attack, this all sounds a lot like the situation in Britain before the war, when non-existent Zeppelins were also filling the skies: people expected the Germans to come, and, given half an excuse, they saw (and heard) them." They didnt have fridge magnets in those days, so I really dont know how they coped. “Together with the rumours about an impending German attack, this all sounds a lot like the situation in Britain before the war, when non-existent Zeppelins were also filling the skies: people expected the Germans to come, and, given half an excuse, they saw (and heard) them.”

They didnt have fridge magnets in those days, so I really dont know how they coped.

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-65974 Brett Holman Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:22:22 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-65974 That would be great! But at the moment I'll be happy if I can write a thesis that isn't rubbish ... That would be great! But at the moment I’ll be happy if I can write a thesis that isn’t rubbish …

]]> By: Chris Williams http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-65918 Chris Williams Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:47:01 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/12/06/the-zeppelins-of-halifax/#comment-65918 Actually Brett, I think that the history of the scareships would do just dandy for your postdoc project. Actually Brett, I think that the history of the scareships would do just dandy for your postdoc project.

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