It hadn’t really occurred to me until now but Major Glenn Miller is quite a high rank for somebody who only joined the forces in 1942 and who wasn’t in a combat role (so not promoted by attrition of senior officers). Was this a sort of ‘courtesy rank’ once Miller became well-known enough to be meeting senior officers and other VIPs?

This could be true: when William Wyler was engaged to film the 8th Air Force in 1942, he was asked by an interviewing officer, “Rank…umm…do you want to be a Major?” And so he was!

I suspect I may have hijacked this thread, but I’ll finish up quickly!! The only time we’ll let anything ‘burn out’ is when the decision has been made the structure is too far gone for an internal firefight. For instance, several rooms at the rear of a house well involved are not reason enough to abandon all hope of saving the structure. A house that’s totally involved, and breathing on its own through the roof….well, it’s asking for trouble sending firefighters inside to fight it. “Surround and drown” becomes the strategy.

You’re right, Bomberboy, there is a point to be reached where you have to deem the house unsaveable…….a terrible decision to make.

Once again, thanks folks for the votes of appreciation. Now, let’s talk about old aeroplanes……….

Ahh, the eternal question: ‘what if?’

What if Richtofen wasn’t killed in 1918, would he have been the architect of the new German Air Force?

That aside, if Udet had taken the job, he still would have insisted on the disasterous dive-bombing doctrine that affected the design of the Luftwaffe’s bombers, I think.

“Goshawk Squadron” by Derek Robinson. Make it a properly dark and menacing film mirroring the scenes the book portrays. No Red Baron, good show, biff the boshe, chivalrous acts or Yank actors. Just young, dishevelled, demoralised and and generally unlikeable characters, led by an extremely horrid C.O.

Thoughts??

P.S. I’d like to see something on the story behind the R101: the greedy politicians, glory-seeking Ministers, the questionable Certificate of Airworthiness and the put-upon aircrew who had to pilot the rotten thing.

What’s needed at this point is another pic of Hillary Swank. I’ll take one when she wakes up. In my bed.

I’m just waiting for the Amelia Earhart stolen sex tape to surface in YouTube……

[QUOTE=TonyT;1712547]Cough cough…….sister ship on 16 Sqn…… recognise her?[QUOTE]

Ummmm….Sopwith Camel, for sure. I know my American planes.