I’m not normally very sentimental about aircraft and bit’s of them, however, this one was far better than many – and had a pretty illustrious provenance. Without doubt, many a museum would have been glad to have had it. It would appear that it was turned into trinkets simply for (More.) profit. It was worth more split into as many bits as possible. That is an aspect of so-called ‘Historic Aviation’ that is usually used to justify many a tasteless act. Just like the tatters that acquire old lags estates and then sell every item individually.
I generally only acquire parts that are of use in getting something airworthy, but even I would have departed from my usual rules in this case. It just goes to illustrate that the world isn’t short of Philistines…. :-/

The only free speech you seem to be advocating is the freedom to insult people as you see fit.
You´re telling me it´s fine to be as rude as I like about you or any member of your family, because it only offends “a few people”?
There´s such a thing as “consideration”. You should try it.

Thank you for your kind, if pretentious advice. Clearly, the nub of the issue sailed clean over you head. ‘Free Speech’, like freedom itself, is something one either has, – or does not. This idea that simply offending people should be a Criminal Offence seems to be an imported modern malaise. How grievous must this offence be….? Perhaps you’d like to define the degree? Do you have an official lexicon? A Ministry Of Acceptable Words? Of course you can be as rude as you like about me or any member of my family. Was I advocating this? No of course not, merely pointing out the risible absurdity of trying to criminalise free communication.
Of course, where physical threats are concerned, the Law has long had more than adequate remedy.
How are we to have open political debate without running the risk of ‘offending’ people? Try that in Russia or China (or North Korea)…. Just ask their journalists…if you can find any that haven’t been locked-up or killed.
I could, – hypothetically of course – , call you a ‘*********** *****’, which might of course, heaven forfend, be rude or worse still, inconsiderate, and I wouldn’t therefore dream of it, – but there is a world of difference in not being ‘considerate’, and criminal behaviour, – which was my point. Consideration is indeed optional, freedom is not, and it comes at a very high price. That, after all, is what all the good guys and girls have been fighting (..and dying) for, – or so we thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nlXmYVE_X8
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Now, – about that film about the dog………..

It’s a pity that semantics about trifling words are an issue when the story commemorates such acts of selfless sacrifice. However;-Many Latin-based languages use similar words and terms. Latin for black is negrum. Wictionary says;-

Etymology;-
Ultimately from the Latin adjective niger, meaning “black”. Several Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, etc) have the word “negro” meaning “black” (in colour) derived from the Latin “niger”, while French has noir, its nègre being borrowed from Spanish. During the period in America’s history when black workers were shipped to America to work as slaves, this word came to be adopted from the Hispanic South American languages to describe a person of dark skin. Essentially, a “negro” person simply means a “black” person. Through constant repetition of the Spanish word in the American accent, it seems likely that the word was corrupted from “negro” to “niggero” to simply “nigger”.

The Dark skinned inhabitants in the Philippines are referred to as ‘Negra’ too. It’s not a pejorative term in particular either. The ‘N-word’ hadn’t used to be much different to many other nick names for different races or nationalities, certainly in the UK. In the 1960’s it became a pejorative term. Most of the PC psychobabble that has sprung-up in the UK since the 1960’s seems to have originated from over the Pond. Being ‘offended’ seems to have become an industry, literally. I refuse to participate, since I’m too old to change and well, I’m an ‘onry critter’. I object in principle to being told what words I can or cannot use, or words being equated with physical assault. It’s a fundamental issue about freedom. Just call me old-fashioned if you like. The PC industry creeps into the language in that it gradually proscribes what word we may or may not be ‘allowed’ to use. No longer is someone a racialist, they are now ‘racists’ – and who had ever heard that word until the 1960’s..? Likewise with issues of sexuality & gender. Free speech has been criminalised. That’s quite a price to pay for not offending a few people.

@Paul1847;- There used to be a whole lexicon of words for other races and nationalities. Frankly, the N-word was viewed little differently to Jock, Taffy, Paddy, Frog, Dago, Eyetie, Chinky etc. You ask ‘…had any racist connotation at the time…’. Therein lies the answer. During the war, the psychobabble word ‘racist’ hadn’t even been invented. The dog was black, it way a bit of fun wordplay, and offending anyone never entered anyone mind. They had more important things to think about at that time……such as fighting for freedom of speech. There’s an irony.

I hope they make the film. I do think that have set themselves a huge task to improve upon such an iconic film. Whether of not there is a dog in it is of little import. Now, if I ever acquire a black Labrador, at least I won’t have to agonise over a name….:angel:

@AM – Re;- Post 22. If this pattern was indeed for an aviation-related purpose, then my guess would be a wobble-pump for manual fuel transfer on a multi-engined a/c, or, – possibly, u/c operation, but that’s just a plain guess… However, the design looks like it was not permanently fitted, which seems to back this up. Also, from the sectional design of the handle weight-saving is inferred, so it was probably cast in aluminium – again, suggesting an aviation-related function.

Someone will now find-out that it’s off a Mersey ferry….:)

The sound is awful on that YT version, the original sound on the DVD is fine.

I don’t know, some folks will do anything for attention………:stupid:
Seriously, glad you are OK. Having flown for many years myself without needing to fill-out an AAIB report, I was less that ecstatic to join the club. There is no doubt that such arrivals dent ones confidence – it did mine, and it takes a while to get past it, all bravado aside. I ended-up trapped inside, inverted, with nearly full tanks and a very hot (Post aeros.) engine ticking away in the silence – and the canopy jammed. Very sobering, and I still get occasional flashbacks. I’m not sure if I was most annoyed by crushing my Ray-Bans against the canopy when I released the harness – or being asked by an idiotic Plod to blow into a breathalyser…. What enlightened times we live in. I prescribe getting back into the saddle as soon as you feel up to it. Well done. :applause:

Pedant I am, but there never was such beasts…. ‘Spitfire MK1 or MK11’.

No doubt the truth will be revealed before 1200h tomorrow.