Originally posted by Skipper1944
Thanks, Snapper – I’m not a bad lad really! 😉
Skipper

Skipper, or should I say Graham?

I too expect you’re not a bad lad. You have a strong interest and are passionate in your beliefs, as am I. We’re just looking at the situation from very different viewpoints. I just wish there was some way these prints could be made available now or at least in the near future.

“kev35 – Have you lost the plot?”

No, I don’t think I have, although I may have mislaid it now and again. 🙂

I hope you do get your research published, the more information that comes into the public domain the better and as you rightly say perpetuates the memory of those we all wish to honour.

Regarding research being ‘hard work’ again perhaps we have differing viewpoints. Personally I find it a privelege to delve into some incident or other and do not consider it to be work. I do admit however that it can be trying emotionally, I’ve been down that road.

Regards,

kev35

Skipper1944.

” I have known of the existance of these photos for a number of years now and have always respected their confidential nature. I therefore felt everyone related to these photos were betrayed when these photos were scanned and published without the necessary permission.”

If you read the whole of the original thread you would find that Moggy’s intention was to preserve these images. Some of the prints had already gone missing so his intention was to preserve the others. Now most of us coming across a find of this nature would happily want to share them with each other, and rightly so. You talk about their confidentisal nature yet the prints are openly available to view in a public house? Wouldn’t it have been easier to maintain that confidentiality by depositing these prints with a member of your association?

“I believe that surviving veterans who served on the aircraft concerned, and their families, have never been excluded from seeing them. I therefore believe that the correct audience has been identified and maintained over the years. I believe the Association is fully honouring the aformentioned woman’s wishes whilst looking after their membership’s needs.”

Obviously not, otherwise why would you be concerned to keep their confidentiality now? You have already let the woman down by placing these images in a position where they have been published on the net. To whose detriment though I can’t imagine.

Many of us do research work in our own amateurish ways and this forum has proved itself to be an excellent platform from which to request or share information, selflessly.

“I am therefore very wary, having already seen it happen before, that very little, if any, recognition is given to those who put in the REAL hard work whilst they then make the financial gain and receive the credit.”

Noble words indeed. Only thing is you seem to have forgotten that the ‘REAL’ hard work was carried out by the veterans themselves, not you nor I, or even Roger Freeman.

“The same fate could befall the photos in question, given time – hence I reiterate that I think the 388th membership (and those at the Swan) should be the ones who decides what happens to them taking account of the circumstances in which they were donated.”

I think not. It is a clear cut situation. You either honour the woman’s wishes or not. If you’re not going to honour the woman’s wishes publish these photos now, while there’s still a chance that some of those surviving veterans can see them, let alone the huge audience you would have for the images from enthusiasts or historians. Or do we have to wait for you to publish your book?

Regards

Kev35

Skipper1944.

“My thoughts (based on very good authority) is that the wife of the photographer handed these prints over with the expressed wish that they were not to be published. I therefore believe these wishes MUST be honoured.”

So what is to be done with them? Moggy is right, if your source is indeed correct and the 388th Association are considering publishing them in a publication of their own they will be breaking the wishes of this woman. That would be unforgiveable.

“However, I also feel that if anyone should “benefit” from them then it MUST be the veterans.”

Good point. But the veterans numbers grow thinner each year, so if something is to be done it has to be done now, before there are no longer any veterans to benefit. I personally believe it is wrong to withhold these images from publication. They are not sensitive or offensive in any way, shape or form. Yes, they are available for viewing in the pub, but how many 80 odd year old waist, ball or tail gunners are going to be fit enough or have the wherewithal to cross the Atlantic to see them.

“Hence, no individual (e.g. certain famous authors!) should benefit financially.”

Don’t really understand that comment. If a famous author published these images they would at least be more available to the public. That can only be a good thing. Many of us are grateful that author’s have had the time, patience and foresight to accumulate such collections and publish them. Think what treasures would have been lost if they hadn’t. If the author can actually make a living from this is that any reason to criticise him? How often do you go to work and tell your employer not to bother paying you? In the last twenty years just think how many log books, dusty photo albums and diaries have been casually thrown away? Without a moment’s consideration of their importance?

“I believe the 388th BG Association should be the ones entrusted with making the decision on behalf of those vets.”

It would be interesting to know just how many veterans have been able to express their opinion on this matter, don’t you think?

Moggy is to be applauded for making it possible for those images to be seen, even if only for a short time. I just hope some of the veterans manged to see them, because it seems doubtful if they’ll get to see them any other way, and after all, it is the veterans who must be considered first, not some dispute between an association and an author.

Regards,

kev35

Finally, and what it’s all about really, the Memorial stone for 1661 HCU.