Off topic, but I can't let that go...

Sorry - excuse me? I think we had them pretty well tamed by the time you got
here (1943 - late, it had staretd in 1939 by the way and the Battle of
Britain was summer 1940) we had the best interceptor in the world, (Mk IX
Spitfire) the best bomber in the world (Avro Lancaster) and the first
multi-role aircraft ever (DH Mosquito that Hap Arnold and Ike were offering
5 Bostons for every one - I think Ike's son  had the joy of flying one in
the med, in preference to his P38) - all rolling off the production lines in
pretty big numbers. The Aussies and Canadians had been in since day one, as
well as Poles, Czechs, free-French, Belgians and doubtful about the Dutch
(but thats understandable!).

It was great hosting the USAF and letting them run rampant with our women
while their men were away fighting for their lives - the sweets, coffee,
'nylons' etc were very well received, but don't  kid yourself too much - and
stop watching all those ridiculous (we won the war singlehanded) films that
rewrite history - Westerns are OK, but don't believe a word of any WWII
Hollywood film, especially those made recently - there were nearly threats
of legal action over U571 by the widows of the Royal Navy Marines who
actually got that Enigma machine from the U boat - US Marines - pah! Other
recent travesties of truth - Bands of Brothers (the RAF had bombed Hitlers
lair with Tallboys weeks before - the first 'earthquake bomb'), the Colditz
Glider (it was RAF POW's who made it) and I didn't see many Brits (apart
from Monty being disparaged) in Saving private Ryan - (an excellent film
otherwise).

But I don't suppose Pearl Harbour had anything to do with it... nor another
agenda altogether by any chance? So get real, we might be speaking Russian
if you're hadn't dropped over - but certainly not German!

Clive

PS With great respect to all the USAF airmen who came here, fought and died
or were wounded. Brave men indeed (but we did suggest to your top-brass that
daytime bombing was a bit daft - especially in an old jallopy like the
B-17!).

----- Original Message -----
From: <THX0001@aol.com>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>; <clive.harman-smith@ntlworld.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: Re:Proud (long (i.e., boundless) semi-rant)

>
> In a message dated 11/6/02 10:02:25 AM, clive.harman-smith@ntlworld.com
> writes:
>
> << how about paying for the technology first before you start
>
> ranting - we're still waiting for a %age of all those bucks you've earnt
>
> since sending a few Rolls' over in '44 to show you how they work for free!
>>
>
> For free?  Please show some gratitude.  If it were not for the *USA*, you
> would be speaking a different language, mein gut Junge.  Whatever is owed
to
> die Englisch for some antiquated bit of technology pales in comparison to
> what you owe us for allowing you to have Rock n' Roll.
>
> George
>