Comments on: The superweapon and the Anglo-American imagination -- I http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:36:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Airminded · The superweapon and the Anglo-American imagination — IV http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-143225 Airminded · The superweapon and the Anglo-American imagination — IV Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:08:25 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-143225 [...] we’ve seen American claims of a British secret air defence weapon in the Battle of Britain; American claims of British secret air defence weapons in the mid-1930s; and American ideas for [...] [...] we’ve seen American claims of a British secret air defence weapon in the Battle of Britain; American claims of British secret air defence weapons in the mid-1930s; and American ideas for [...]

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-122523 Brett Holman Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:40:53 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-122523 I choose to believe that journalists are sober, objective purveyors of truth! :) Just like bloggers and historians ... I choose to believe that journalists are sober, objective purveyors of truth! :) Just like bloggers and historians ...

]]> By: JDK http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-121831 JDK Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:04:29 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-121831 I do believe he's got it! <i>I</i> want to know about the mysterious advent of ~GASP~ colour in a wartime publication. Look, it hovers eerily over the words - the special words. Nurse! I do believe he's got it!

I want to know about the mysterious advent of ~GASP~ colour in a wartime publication. Look, it hovers eerily over the words - the special words.

Nurse!

]]> By: Neil Datson http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-121727 Neil Datson Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:43:13 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-121727 Whatever the object in the bottom left of either picture is, I can't help but suspect that the 'mystery weapon' was invented by rather bored journalists. Just put it in context. 'Hey bud. What's this blot in the corner?' 'Can't say, old chap.' 'Is it a balloon?' 'No! Nothing like it. Fancy another?' For the life style (and approach to news gathering) of the American correspondent in London read Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy. (Officers and Gentlemen, I think.) Whatever the object in the bottom left of either picture is, I can't help but suspect that the 'mystery weapon' was invented by rather bored journalists. Just put it in context.

'Hey bud. What's this blot in the corner?'

'Can't say, old chap.'

'Is it a balloon?'

'No! Nothing like it. Fancy another?'

For the life style (and approach to news gathering) of the American correspondent in London read Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy. (Officers and Gentlemen, I think.)

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-120709 Brett Holman Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:21:16 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-120709 A good question -- I haven't seen one, but I would probably buy it if I did! A good question -- I haven't seen one, but I would probably buy it if I did!

]]> By: Chris Williams http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-120283 Chris Williams Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:56:17 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-120283 In a world where every single-engined fighter built in quantity has about six hundred books published on it, has anyone ever written even a short and crap history of air-to-air bombing, aerial mines, and their variations? In a world where every single-engined fighter built in quantity has about six hundred books published on it, has anyone ever written even a short and crap history of air-to-air bombing, aerial mines, and their variations?

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-120114 Brett Holman Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:53:23 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-120114 Yes, although it couldn't actually be an aerial mine, of course, because they weren't tested until late September (and I think at night, anyway). But the idea itself had been aired in public, so it could well be what the caption writer was thinking of. I don't know about a weather balloon. Aren't they usually spherical? Though I can't seem to find any pictures of contemporary British examples. Yes, although it couldn't actually be an aerial mine, of course, because they weren't tested until late September (and I think at night, anyway). But the idea itself had been aired in public, so it could well be what the caption writer was thinking of.

I don't know about a weather balloon. Aren't they usually spherical? Though I can't seem to find any pictures of contemporary British examples.

]]> By: Erik Lund http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-119842 Erik Lund Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:35:13 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-119842 Finally dredged up the notion that may be on the AP annotator's mind: "aerial mine." And if the original citation is correct, my guess would be that it is a radio-sonde (i.e. weather balloon) that's got itself into the middle of the action. Finally dredged up the notion that may be on the AP annotator's mind: "aerial mine." And if the original citation is correct, my guess would be that it is a radio-sonde (i.e. weather balloon) that's got itself into the middle of the action.

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-119798 Brett Holman Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:53:25 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-119798 Yeah, it's probably a barrage balloon -- after all, that's what the Me 109 was after -- but it's odd that the caption specifically says that it isn't. (Unless that refers to the cigar-shaped thing ...) About the different expectations: could well be. But it wouldn't hurt British morale (a key concern at this time) to encourage the belief that they had some secret weapons on their side. Also, in the next few posts I will suggest that this pattern held true before the war as well. Yeah, it's probably a barrage balloon -- after all, that's what the Me 109 was after -- but it's odd that the caption specifically says that it isn't. (Unless that refers to the cigar-shaped thing ...)

About the different expectations: could well be. But it wouldn't hurt British morale (a key concern at this time) to encourage the belief that they had some secret weapons on their side. Also, in the next few posts I will suggest that this pattern held true before the war as well.

]]> By: JDK http://airminded.org/2009/11/17/the-superweapon-and-the-anglo-american-imagination-i/comment-page-1/#comment-119734 JDK Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:28:32 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=2896#comment-119734 What fun! First I'm glad too see it was a Messerschmitt 109, and not a Heinkel 113. It's amazing the number of aces whose combat reports are full of 113s and (later) biographies only refer to 109s... And would the gentleman from the <i>Daily</i> Mirror please provide his source relaying opinion from the <i>Luftwaffe</i>? There <i>were</i> visible aerial British 'secret weapons' available and some deployed in the period, including stuff like Parachute and Cable (PaC) but the best that can be said for them is that 'secret' is what was best about them - next to 'best forgotten'. 90 gets 1 that it's just a barrage balloon, things in the sky easily looking 'odd' in photos without any effort. As to the differing reporting on the other sides of the Atlantic, they <i>might</i> have something to do with different expectations of potential British achievement. To generalise wildly, the Brits expected to win by hard graft and that it was going to be a close run thing, but perhaps believed no secret weapons needed*; while (some of) the American public may have been supporting the British, but saw that the W.W.II tote stated Germany had a clean sweep to date - and therefore the odds were against the UK - so a secret weapon might just be the leveller. (*In fact the efficacy of the RDF (radar) systems and their durability under attack, as well as the <i>system</i> for directing limited numbers of fighters were two very effective British secret weapons in action which, unarguably, <i>were</i> crucial in the Battle.) Regards, What fun! First I'm glad too see it was a Messerschmitt 109, and not a Heinkel 113. It's amazing the number of aces whose combat reports are full of 113s and (later) biographies only refer to 109s...

And would the gentleman from the Daily Mirror please provide his source relaying opinion from the Luftwaffe?

There were visible aerial British 'secret weapons' available and some deployed in the period, including stuff like Parachute and Cable (PaC) but the best that can be said for them is that 'secret' is what was best about them - next to 'best forgotten'.

90 gets 1 that it's just a barrage balloon, things in the sky easily looking 'odd' in photos without any effort.

As to the differing reporting on the other sides of the Atlantic, they might have something to do with different expectations of potential British achievement. To generalise wildly, the Brits expected to win by hard graft and that it was going to be a close run thing, but perhaps believed no secret weapons needed*; while (some of) the American public may have been supporting the British, but saw that the W.W.II tote stated Germany had a clean sweep to date - and therefore the odds were against the UK - so a secret weapon might just be the leveller.

(*In fact the efficacy of the RDF (radar) systems and their durability under attack, as well as the system for directing limited numbers of fighters were two very effective British secret weapons in action which, unarguably, were crucial in the Battle.)

Regards,

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