Way back when, in the early 80s when I ventured out looking for Spitfire XII info, I was told by a former Lanc pilot turned aviation writer that there were two kinds of folks I’d run into. Those willing to share the wealth, and those who wanted to claim it for their own and keep it hidden.
He was of the share the wealth crowd and gave me my first ‘original’ photo of a Spit XII as well as pointing me in lots of directions and putting up with a first timer asking dumb questions.
Seems to me that’s the only way to go as we’re trying to pass on the history not hide it. Thankfully my experience has been one of dealing with all kinds of folks willing to share the history. I know I’ve done my best to pass that on.
In terms of what photos belong to who, I’m afraid the genie is out of the bottle. All you have to do is look at any number of books, e-bay, the web or wherever and you’ll see well known photos credited to any number of different people as their own.
I don’t have an answer for that bit, but I figure it’s better that people are seeing them, then having them hidden in someones file cabinet.
I think you are absolutely right. I want to tell, to share, to set young minds ablaze with this stuff. What good would I be if I kept 70 year old photographs locked up in a closet somewhere?
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