Warbird Information Exchange

The American pilot was Joe McCarthy who lead the attack on the Sorpe Dam, though his bomb had no real effect. Here is his obituary:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A96E958260

He was serving in the RCAF, and was thus attached to the RAF. A lot of Americans stayed on with the RCAF and RAF when the USA entered the war. It was their choice and those who stayed considered rightly the RAF the better and more experienced service.

The dog is fairly important as he was the squadron's mascot, the code word was his name, and he has always been part of the legend in all the books and films made about this raid. But there is now no debate to be had over the dog's name for this film as the decision has apparently been made. His name will not be used to placate US audiences.

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another example of sanitized revisionist history, it's pathetic.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Good thing we're keeping our eye on the big picture here.

August

What will they use to replace the Canberras in the background this time?

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

CGI and two-dimensional cutouts!

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

August wrote:



Thanks, September,
I agree that exact names don't really have that much bearing on historical accuracy. The flourish and style with which Jeff Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence was really far more important than the simple spelling of a name.

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

The real historical question, of course, is what was John Hancock's dog's name?

This is the cinematic equivalent of the much disparaged rivet-counting and shade-of-blue critiquing. Now heck, I can be as picayune as the next guy. But when I call out the CAF for botching yet another paint scheme, I have enough perspective not to call it "revisionist history."

August

Well, since Valkyrie has not come out yet, maybe we can change Hitler to Nancy! The plot to assasinate Nancy! More pleasant, eh?

This is ridiculous considering that almost every other car in my neighborhood seems to be blaring music with more than just the mascots name! Heck, according to the songs he is also a thug gangsta that is constatnly slapping some lady on a street corner!

And from what I saw, a bunch of these fellows just got awards for it on the T.V. the other night!

Yeah, I am sure all those people died defending this country so we can be a nation of hypocrites!

Sorry folks, just had to rant!

I just finished reading Enemy Coast Ahead - Uncensored: The Real Guy Gibson by Guy Gibson, published by Crecy Publishing.

Found it at Amazon: http://www.amazon.ca/Enemy-Coast-Ahead-Uncensored-Gibson/dp/0859791181/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227722943&sr=1-1

It was a real good read and everything is called as it was in the book, of course. Interresting to read what these guys had to face everyday...

The last version of the film on DVD is also uncensored. Also got that one from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.ca/Dam-Busters-Michael-Anderson/dp/B000H1RFSM/ref=pd_rhf_f_t_cs_1

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Michel C
Thousands of a/c pics at Passion-Aviation