Re: Bagdad Museum Looted?

Originally posted by Sauron
It will be interesting to see how much of the original material was actually looted by the average guy on the street. Surely the guys in charge of the museum will eventually tell the real story.

Is it usual for people to loot their own their own treasure? I always thought that was the job of the invaders.

Sauron

Firstly, press reports in the UK at the time the museum was looted seemed to indicate that it was done by organised gangs waiting for just such an opportunity.

Iraq wasn’t invaded it was liberated wasn’t it? What I don’t understand is people whining about the looting of a museum when hospitals are being stripped of anything down to and including light switches! If you’re going to invade/liberate a country doesn’t it behove you to protect its vital infrastructure? Apart of course from the oil ministry?

Regards,

kev35

Alastair.

I’m not sure but I think there might be a Morris Minor Traveller at Cosford? Is that the estate/station wagon model? If I’m right it’s in the same hangar as the Hastings and the Dakota. I might go during the week. if so i’ll have a look for you and try and take a couple of photos.

Regards,

kev35

MacDonalds…. Why not make it a drive through?

“That’ll be £2.99 sir, just push the bed along to window no2. Sorry sir, the Big Mac and large fries is not available to gastrostomy patients.”

I think the reason for hospitals providing in house catering, via the cook and chill method, is purely down to money. As hospitals have gained trust status they are more in control of their budgets and as such set maximum cost targets per meal. Most hospitals will offer a limited choice menu and are duty bound to cater for people with special diets due to medical reasons (of which there are many) and for those from ethnic minorities or people eating a certain diet for religious reasons. I’m not sure how much is allocated per patient per meal now. If a trust can get away with paring the catering budget as low as possible they will.

There are also many clinical reasons why an in house service is desirable. Certain patients food intake needs to be monitored and controlled, in cases like diabetes:( , elderly patients who may have a suppressed diet, immuno-suppressed patients, those who are pre and post surgical.

Having said all that, I see no reason why companies such as MacDonalds should be automatically disallowed from building restaurants or franchises in hospitals. After all, a trust is happy to serve food to patients from their own canteens, at a price, as well as to staff and visitors.

regards,

kev35

Tony Dyer.

I know this is off topic but is there any way I can contact you re my piece of Hurricane armour plate? I could use some advice.

Sorry for butting in to the topic guys.

Regards,

kev35

Moggy and Skyboy.

Re: Cyril Dampier Palmer.

According to Aces High he was born in Cleveland, Ohio and joined the RAF before the war. In September 1939 he was a Flying Officer in No1 Squadron and went with that unit to France. On the 23rd of November 1939 he claimed a 1/3 share in a Do17P. He was hit by return fire and forced-landed. This could be where Skyboy mentions ‘front guns’? The crew baled out but the pilot stayed behind and manned the front guns to shoot at Palmer’s Hurricane as it flew alongside. The Dornier then crash landed. The pilot, Uffz. Arno Frankenberger, was captured and was a guest of No.1 squadron’s mess. F/O Palmer is also credited with a Bf109E on 14/5/40, a Bf110 on 17/5/40 and a half share in an He111 on the 19/5/40. This was his final total, 2 destroyed and 2 shared destroyed. He was also shot down and baled out twice while serving in France. He returned to the UK and saw some service as an instructor but little is known of his subsequent service. He was awarded the DFC (more of that later). As a Squadron Leader he was posted to 234 Squadron as supernumerary on the 6th of October 1942 and was shot down 15 miles north of the Isle de Batz flying Spitfire BH527 on the 27th October 1942 when bounced by four FW190’s. Seen to bale out, his body was never recovered.

Fighter Command Losses states the Squadron was on a ‘Rodeo’ and that F/Sgt W G Drayton was lost in the same combat. Fighter Command Losses records his crash landing on 23/11/39, the aircraft being L1925. On 2/4/40 while flying N2326 he baled out after being shot down by Werner Molders of III/JG53. On 17/5/40 flying P2820 he baled out again after combat with Bf110’s near Reims. On none of these occasions does it mention him being wounded.

His award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was Gazetted in the London Gazette of the 5th of November 1940. Unfortunately the citation is not reproduced. Among others awarded the DFC in the same issue were F/O Paul Richey and F/O William Stretton, also of No1 Squadron. The Gazette states ‘The above awards are for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations.’

Sorry I couldn’t find out anything else. Hope this helps.

Regards,

kev35

Google.

I’ve read all the Sharpe series except for the last couple, and long before the tv series was aired. I can’t comment about their historical accuracy but I found them to be an enjoyable read.

Regards,

kev35

I’d have to agree with Snapper on the Vietnam authors, particularly Webb and delVecchio. The 13th Valley is a classic. Also enjoyed ‘Going After Cacciato’ which was a fantasy set in Vietnam.

dhfan mentions John Harris. Some of his books are superb. One about the siege of Habbaniyah? is a good read but his best has to be ‘Covenant With Death.’ A fictional account of a pals battalion in the First World War. The relationship between Fenner and Sarn’t Major Bold, the death of Corker, the way the battalion conduct themselves on July 1st is beautifully and accurately portrayed. One of the finest books I have ever read.

Michael Shaara’s ‘Killer Angels’ was mentioned by someone as well. Again, superb characterisation and another which deserves to become a classic.

As for Clancy? I think he lost his edge when he started the Op-centre series.

Regards,

kev35

Originally posted by sparky
Is there any particular British built aircraft you have in mind?

Beaufighter, please. Or a Hampden/Wellington/Mosquito etc…….

Regards,

kev35