Isn’t that exactly what I’ve said? :confused:

No, unless I’m very much mistaken, you seemed to be suggesting only those who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom should be prosecuted for ‘killing innocent civilians’. But I’m sure that’s not what you meant.

I cannot understand why people in this thread keep dragging other incidents of the troubles in on this thread.

I suppose because they feel Bloody Sunday should be seen in the wider context of the Troubles and that focusing on Bloody Sunday in isolation gives a skewed view of the conduct of the British Army in Northern Ireland. Of course I appreciate that none of that excuses the behaviour of the guilty on Bloody Sunday.

It is a given that any person, loyalist or unionist, that has killed innocent civilians should be prosecuted.

But not the Republicans or Nationalists that have killed innocent civilians?

“…it wasn’t part of the exercise but I want to compliment you on it anyway…..you blocked both lanes that time!“

Bob Newhart – Genius! 😀

Er…just the boiled rice please! 😮

I remain unconvinced that the additional 2.5% VAT will affect consumption.

I didn’t see much of the news coverage of the budget…

…but did see Harriet Harman criticizing the rise in VAT; what short memories these politicians must think we have! :rolleyes:

I still have my doubts (but as I said I’m like that) because even assuming that there is some electrical problem (or ‘finger trouble’) with the switches or interrupter gear the pilot still has to inadvertently press the firing button (is there a ‘safety’ around the button?) on his control column to fire the guns and I’d have thought that was pretty difficult to do without using your hands even if you were trying to do it (on a freely moving control column).

And there is still the problem of the bullets passing through the propeller arc without hitting the blades although I suppose with a very short burst this isn’t inconceivable (and if the blades were damaged it could just have been omitted from the anecdote).

I’m not saying it didn’t happen, I’m not saying it couldn’t happen but I am saying it would take a lot of circumstances to happen in an unlikely way and it makes a far better ‘tall tale’ than a statement of probability!

In my humble opinion of course! 🙂

Just been looking at my copy of ‘British Aircraft Armament’ by R Wallace Clarke and there is an interesting passage regarding the Type A Mark IID turret of the Defiant:

The gun master switch was a three position switch marked PILOT – OFF – GUNNER. The PILOT position was never used and was disconnected, being in effect another OFF position; when the GUNNER position was selected the gun firing circuit was live.

Now I’d be the first to admit that I’m a born sceptic but it does seem to be stretching the realms of possibility for all the circumstances of this anecdote to have happened in the way that is claimed. Also ‘historically recorded’ can mean a lot of things. I don’t wish to criticize Alec Brew’s book, I’m sure as you say it is highly detailed, but even the most highly detailed book often relies on second-hand information and it would be very easy for an ‘anecdote’ to be included in good faith when the details are exaggerated or just plain wrong.

Don’t get me wrong it could have happened but it seems just the sort of tale that would get exaggerated into a pilot’s ‘line shoot’!

Just my thoughts. 🙂

The British Army committed an atrocity on Bloody Sunday and on their hands is the blood of those civilians.

I really do think you are doing the opposite of what I am being criticised for doing, calling murders by the IRA awful but Bloody Sunday was an “accident” and trying to explain it by saying that it was a tense time!

The British Army should not be defined by the events of Bloody Sunday.

As it happens, so far, I don’t think I’ve made any excuses for the shooting of civilians during Bloody Sunday (you’ll have to check) but even you must see the fundamental difference between the British Army and the IRA. If you really believe that the aim of the British Army in Northern Ireland is to kill and maim innocent civilians then even you would have to admit that they had been rather unsuccessful given the number of troops deployed and the length of their deployment.

On the other hand you have made it abundantly clear that you condone and even applaud the murder of British soldiers by the IRA but I wonder if you realise just how offensive that is to those that do not share your viewpoint. This is especially true when the deaths of British soldiers (in an unrelated conflict) are an almost daily occurrence.

Personally I have no problem with those that strive for a united Ireland through peaceful means but I do think that the reality, should it ever happen, will disappoint those with more idealistic (and unrealistic) viewpoints. I do have a problem with anybody who resorts to terrorism and murder when they cannot achieve what they want through peaceful means.