A WWII Spitfire pilot honoured.

[Lensman]

 

Well deserved ...

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-42731003

[Trooper117]

Good stuff, well deserved indeed.

[Wulf]

Well, there were plenty of women in the military during the war doing all sorts of things.  Why this particular woman should receive a 'special honour' for moving military equipment from one place to another I'm not quite sure.  Is it because the word 'Spitfire' is involved in the story?

[unreasonable]

This lady is 100 years old, probably one off the last people alive to fly Spitfires in any capacity during WW2, and sometimes resident in the place that gave the honour. Perhaps read the story before being sniffy about it?

[Wulf]

This lady is 100 years old, probably one off the last people alive to fly Spitfires in any capacity during WW2, and sometimes resident in the place that gave the honour. Perhaps read the story before being sniffy about it?

 

 

Thanks for the advice. I did read it and I'm still left wondering.  

 

So your saying it's one of those symbolic feel good things.  Like a participation certificate; that sort of thing.  Okay, fine. 

[Kalthios]

I'm pretty sure the Freedom of the Isle of Wight is given to outstanding residents of the Isle of Wight. Mary Ellis served in WW2 as a pilot and then ran the Sandown airport for 20 years. She was the first woman to be an air commandant. She also founded the Isle of Wight Aero Club. I think she earned it. Good for her.

[Lensman]

Well, there were plenty of women in the military during the war doing all sorts of things.  Why this particular woman should receive a 'special honour' for moving military equipment from one place to another I'm not quite sure.  Is it because the word 'Spitfire' is involved in the story?

I find this comment astonishing and obnoxious. You clearly have no understanding of the part that this lady and her colleagues played in the war and even if it isn't a deserved award (which it is) then deliberately being negative about someone of that age and flight experience is to say the least surprising.

You are NOT a good person.

[Wulf]

I find this comment astonishing and obnoxious. You clearly have no understanding of the part that this lady and her colleagues played in the war and even if it isn't a deserved award (which it is) then deliberately being negative about someone of that age and flight experience is to say the least surprising.

You are NOT a good person.

 

 

Let's see if I'm missing anything.  She flew aircraft from one place to another.  She slept in a warm bed most every night and in all probability never got shot at.  I suspect, unlike a lot of other people, that she had quite an enjoyable war.

 

You're obviously some sort of third wave feminist or something, so just keep on virtue signalling or whatever it is that you do to substitute for masculinity.  I'd rather focus on all those poor bastards who actually put themselves in harm's way.  Mostly guys, mostly forgotten, mostly they never got to live a life.

[BlitzPig_EL]

Wulf, for godsakes man, grow up.

 

YOU are the the only one making a fuss because the word Spitfire is mentioned.  

 

Bloody child.

[Luftschiff]

Capital work, may she live another hundred! 

[Dakpilot]

Let's see if I'm missing anything.  She flew aircraft from one place to another.  She slept in a warm bed most every night and in all probability never got shot at.  I suspect, unlike a lot of other people, that she had quite an enjoyable war.

 

You're obviously some sort of third wave feminist or something, so just keep on virtue signalling or whatever it is that you do to substitute for masculinity.  I'd rather focus on all those poor bastards who actually put themselves in harm's way.  Mostly guys, mostly forgotten, mostly they never got to live a life.

 

 

Very manly

[No601_Swallow]

Her story warms the cockles of me heart! And she was up in a Spit just a few months ago, apparently. 99 years of age. Hats off!

 

[i loved how she said that the Spitfire is a symbol of freedom. And who are we to argue?!  ]

Edited January 19, 2018 by No601_Swallow

[No.401_Wolverine]

Anyone flying a military aircraft during a war is putting themselves in harms way. I highly doubt a Luftwaffe pilot, upon seeing a Spitfire or Wellington, would take the time to consider if this was just a ferry flight or not, let alone if were being flown by a woman, before engaging it....

 

Let's leave misogyny in the past, please.

 

Thank you, Mary Ellis. Well deserved honor for her AND all of the ATA pilots.

Edited January 19, 2018 by No.401_Wolverine

[Wulf]

 

Let's leave misogyny in the past, please.

 

 

 

 

When are you women going to stop your endless bitching...?

[Madov]

Goblok!

[HagarTheHorrible]

Everybodies special, Everybodies awesome.

 

I'm sorry but I'm with Wulf on this one. To suggest that she was a Spitfire pilot and everything that goes with that is over egging the pudding somewhat and cheapens the courage, bravery and SERVICE of all concerned.

 

She was a ferry pilot, end of.

 

To recognize her for all of her many achievements I agree with and quite understand but to define her as something she palpably wasn't is pathetic. It belittles all those serving women who actively put their lives at risk, along with the everyday Tommy or Prune, bombing up aircraft, manning AA guns, air wardens, fire fighters, the list goes on and on and on.

 

The only error those people made was to do something less glamorous, something a headline grabbing, ignorant press can't quite get their heads around.

 

If John Travolta took it upon himself to buy a Spitfire and fly it around, from place to place every now and again that does not mean that it would be accurate to describe him, in his obituary, as a Spitfire pilot and in the same way as to describe someone who buys an old racing car and drives around a race track, even in a few exhibition races, as a professional racing driver. They might enjoy it, they might be good at it but it still doesn't make them a Hunt or Lauda.

[DD_Arthur]

Blimey!  Now she can herd her sheep down Newport high street.

[HagarTheHorrible]

Blimey!  Now she can herd her sheep down Newport high street.

Just because she's got some sheep it doesn't make her a Shep.........., oh, hang on, I think we've been here already !!!

[Wolfram-Harms]

For her it is nice that she was finally honoured. But why the heck did they wait for so long?
Had she not become a hundred years old - she wouldn't have received the honour.

 

I guess she was honoured in place of thousands, who all worked very hard during the time

when Britain was under attack. They all deserved some medal. Or maybe they received one?

Not sure there.

Edited January 20, 2018 by Wolfram-Harms

[DD_Arthur]

For her it is nice that she was finally honoured. But why the heck did they wait for so long?

 

 

Agree completely.  I think at the age of 100 she also deserves be given the freedom of Canvey Island too.    

[NZTyphoon]

Everybodies special, Everybodies awesome.

 

I'm sorry but I'm with Wulf on this one. To suggest that she was a Spitfire pilot and everything that goes with that is over egging the pudding somewhat and cheapens the courage, bravery and SERVICE of all concerned.

 

She was a ferry pilot, end of.

 

To recognize her for all of her many achievements I agree with and quite understand but to define her as something she palpably wasn't is pathetic.

Doh! So, what does one call someone who was trained to fly Spitfires, then flew several hundred of them in all sorts of conditions, while supporting the British war effort in the best way she could? Mary Ellis was a Spitfire pilot, even if she didn't fly Spitfires in combat: it was her job, she chose to do it and she helped serve Britain's war effort.  Are you now going to call all the squadron pilots who flew Spitfires in peacetime something else, because they flew from one airfield to another, slept in comfy beds and never saw combat?

 

Just because the lady wasn't able to fly combat missions doesn't cheapen her courage and abilities, nor does recognizing her for her war service cheapen the war service of those millions of service men and women who lost their lives. To claim that recognizing Mary Ellis for her war service cheapens the service of others is, in itself,  a cheap, feeble "argument".

 

BTW voting your post up was completely unintentional - can the mods change it back to a non-vote?

[unreasonable]

Everybodies special, Everybodies awesome.

 

I'm sorry but I'm with Wulf on this one. To suggest that she was a Spitfire pilot and everything that goes with that is over egging the pudding somewhat and cheapens the courage, bravery and SERVICE of all concerned.

 

She was a ferry pilot, end of.

 

To recognize her for all of her many achievements I agree with and quite understand but to define her as something she palpably wasn't is pathetic. It belittles all those serving women who actively put their lives at risk, along with the everyday Tommy or Prune, bombing up aircraft, manning AA guns, air wardens, fire fighters, the list goes on and on and on.

 

The only error those people made was to do something less glamorous, something a headline grabbing, ignorant press can't quite get their heads around.

 

If John Travolta took it upon himself to buy a Spitfire and fly it around, from place to place every now and again that does not mean that it would be accurate to describe him, in his obituary, as a Spitfire pilot and in the same way as to describe someone who buys an old racing car and drives around a race track, even in a few exhibition races, as a professional racing driver. They might enjoy it, they might be good at it but it still doesn't make them a Hunt or Lauda.

 

I am going to take issue with this as well - since it entirely ignores what is actually in the article. The headline says "Spitfire Pilot..." (which is accurate) and the very next piece of text describes how she delivered 1000 aircraft, including bombers. No where does it say, suggest, hint or insinuate that she flew Spitfires in battle.

 

Some more from the text:

168 women, including volunteers from the USA and other nations, served in the ATA during the war

About 15 female ATA members were killed during World War Two, including aviation pioneer Amy Johnson

 

That is a 9% death rate - not near Bomber Command levels, but somewhat greater than those of the armed services as a whole according to the figures I can find.   

 

Your post reminds me of the  "all must have prizes" approach taken nowadays towards school children.  In no way does recognition of one person cheapen the contribution of others. Recognizing the achievements of old people is a "feel good" exercise, I can agree with that - I expect the lady in question enjoyed the attention, while the others involved had an opportunity to reflect on a part of our history.  I find it extraordinary that people can be so curmudgeonly that they feel the need to sneer.

 

Edit - whoops simultaneous with NZ's making the same post.  I did wonder why you had upvoted?????

Edited January 20, 2018 by unreasonable

[AndyJWest]

...someone who was trained to fly Spitfires...

 

ATA pilots actually received fairly minimal training for each 'class' of aircraft, and routinely delivered aircraft types they had never flown before, using only the standard RAF pilots notes. 

[Wulf]

 

I am going to take issue with this as well - since it entirely ignores what is actually in the article. The headline says "Spitfire Pilot..." (which is accurate) and the very next piece of text describes how she delivered 1000 aircraft, including bombers. No where does it say, suggest, hint or insinuate that she flew Spitfires in battle.

 

Some more from the text:

168 women, including volunteers from the USA and other nations, served in the ATA during the war

About 15 female ATA members were killed during World War Two, including aviation pioneer Amy Johnson

 

That is a 9% death rate - not near Bomber Command levels, but somewhat greater than those of the armed services as a whole according to the figures I can find.   

 

Your post reminds me of the  "all must have prizes" approach taken nowadays towards school children.  In no way does recognition of one person cheapen the contribution of others. Recognizing the achievements of old people is a "feel good" exercise, I can agree with that - I expect the lady in question enjoyed the attention, while the others involved had an opportunity to reflect on a part of our history.  I find it extraordinary that people can be so curmudgeonly that they feel the need to sneer.

 

Edit - whoops simultaneous with NZ's making the same post.  I did wonder why you had upvoted?????

 

 

No, the individual in question wasn't a combat pilot and nor as far as I'm aware has she ever claimed to be, but despite that, she is nevertheless described as a "heroine", for the purposes of the article.  I suspect heroine isn't a word she would use to describe herself, because of course, as we have already established, her job was simply to deliver aircraft (including some Spitfires) so that other people could do the fighting, dying and killing. 

 

No reasonable comparison can be made between what these women did, and the experience of the 55,000  Bomber Command aircrew (for example) who flew back and forth across Germany, day after day, until eventually being burnt or shot to death in the air.   These guys saw what was going on, they could see the writing on the wall and knew the likely outcome but they summoned the courage to do it again and again in the almost certain knowledge that they wouldn't make it.    That is courage, they were heroes.

 

Delivering aircraft, driving a supply lorry, working in an armaments factory, being a land girl.  All  vital war work for sure but  to describe such people as heroes is verging on the insulting.

[ZachariasX]

Ok, we have a newspaper that likes heros (or heroines for that matter) to get more page impressions and some see that as grounds for „comperative heroism“. Sad.

 

If you assume that they just had it easy, here, from Wiki:

 

„Initially, to comply with the Geneva Convention, as many of the ferry pilots were nominally civilians and/or women, aircraft were ferried with guns or other armament unloaded, however after encounters with German aircraft in which the ferried aircraft were unable to fight back, RAF aircraft were ferried with guns fully armed.“

 

No action, huh?

 

There were pilots had rating for more types even than Eric Brown during that time. Women from the ATA. Get a rating for 80 different types of aircraft, from fighter to heavy bomber and deliver them in any weather and see how easy that is. Amongst the people those doing this work was Diana Barnato Walker, first British woman to break the sound barrier later on. The only person ever to have the rating on ALL British aircraft types was a woman from the ATA as well, Joan Hughes. She was even instructor on ALL types then in service. She did also piloting for movies like „The Blue Max“ or a replica Demoiselle for „Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines“. I guess you need to be rather recognized to get these chances.

 

Looking at the hours and types they logged, I think it is also fair to say that many of them were much more proficient pilots than the ones that were commonly sent to the front. This aside from whether or not being a hero.

 

The ATA did get their decorations for good reason. Women made up to 10% of their ranks.

[unreasonable]

No, the individual in question wasn't a combat pilot and nor as far as I'm aware has she ever claimed to be, but despite that, she is nevertheless described as a "heroine", for the purposes of the article.  I suspect heroine isn't a word she would use to describe herself, because of course, as we have already established, her job was simply to deliver aircraft (including some Spitfires) so that other people could do the fighting, dying and killing. 

 

No reasonable comparison can be made between what these women did, and the experience of the 55,000  Bomber Command aircrew (for example) who flew back and forth across Germany, day after day, until eventually being burnt or shot to death in the air.   These guys saw what was going on, they could see the writing on the wall and knew the likely outcome but they summoned the courage to do it again and again in the almost certain knowledge that they wouldn't make it.    That is courage, they were heroes.

 

Delivering aircraft, driving a supply lorry, working in an armaments factory, being a land girl.  All  vital war work for sure but  to describe such people as heroes is verging on the insulting.

 

Pathetic - the sheer ignorance and arrogance of this post. Can you not read?

 

9% of the ferry pilots died on the job - a far higher death rate than for almost all branches of the military, including most of the combat arms. To equate the ferry job with that of being a land girl is breathtakingly stupid. As an ex-infantryman, I know who I would rather have next to me in a trench, if I had to choose between you and Mary Ellis. Actually, scrub that: as Platoon Commander I would choose you and put you on point on the next attack.  

 

I have nothing further to say on this matter. Wallow in your sense of grievance. I know patriotism and courage when I see it - this girl had it in spades, and your petty, mean minded harping is shameful and a disgrace to the male sex.

[MiloMorai]

 

A Brief History of the Air Transport Auxiliary

 

 

http://www.airtransportaux.com/history.html

[Rolling_Thunder]

To face combat isn't a prerequisite to being a hero. A hero of mine may not be a hero of the next guy. The German slave labour, that sabotaged munitions they were forced to manufacture for the german war effort, did not face combat or volunteer for combat. The factory workers, in the UK, the US and Russia as well as the commonwealth working long hours to produce the weapons of war didn't face combat. War isn't won solely on the battlefields. To cheapen those folks contribution to the final victory because they didn't face combat shows the naivety of the gamer. 

[Wulf]

To face combat isn't a prerequisite to being a hero. A hero of mine may not be a hero of the next guy. The German slave labour, that sabotaged munitions they were forced to manufacture for the german war effort, did not face combat or volunteer for combat. The factory workers, in the UK, the US and Russia as well as the commonwealth working long hours to produce the weapons of war didn't face combat. War isn't won solely on the battlefields. To cheapen those folks contribution to the final victory because they didn't face combat shows the naivety of the gamer. 

 

 

[Edited]  The distinction between combatants and non-combatants is a meaningful one.  Buying war bonds, for example,  just isn't the same thing as having the courage to put your life on the line, even though buying war bonds may actually be more useful.  It's sad that you and the other 'progressive' morons can't understand this, but that said, it's hardly surprising either.

Edited January 22, 2018 by Bearcat

[NZTyphoon]

ATA pilots actually received fairly minimal training for each 'class' of aircraft, and routinely delivered aircraft types they had never flown before, using only the standard RAF pilots notes. 

Good point, and thanks for reminding us: if anything, it increases my respect for Mary Ellis, that she got on with the job with a minimum of instruction.

Edited January 20, 2018 by NZTyphoon

[Rolling_Thunder]

I don't know if you were abused as a kid or maybe were involved in some sort of erotic asphyxiation incident that went horribly wrong or whatever it was.  I have no idea and to be honest, I'd rather not know.  But whatever it was that screwed-up your moral compass this badly, you need to understand that there is no moral equivalence between storming a beach on the Normandy coast in 1944 and working an extra shift in a Hormel Spam factory,  The distinction between combatants and non-combatants is a meaningful one.  Buying war bonds, for example,  just isn't the same thing as having the courage to put your life on the line, even though buying war bonds may actually be more useful.  It's sad that you and the other 'progressive' morons can't understand this, but that said, it's hardly surprising either.

Like I said A hero of mine may not be the hero of the next guy. I totally understand your point of view. i don't agree with it. Also I don't quite understand the need for insults, I have a fair idea though. Good luck with with that.

[No601_Swallow]

I don't know if you were abused as a kid or maybe were involved in some sort of erotic asphyxiation incident that went horribly wrong or whatever it was.  I have no idea and to be honest, I'd rather not know.  But whatever it was that screwed-up your moral compass this badly, you need to understand that there is no moral equivalence between storming a beach on the Normandy coast in 1944 and working an extra shift in a Hormel Spam factory,  The distinction between combatants and non-combatants is a meaningful one.  Buying war bonds, for example,  just isn't the same thing as having the courage to put your life on the line, even though buying war bonds may actually be more useful.  It's sad that you and the other 'progressive' morons can't understand this, but that said, it's hardly surprising either.

 

Mate... Take a breath and stop insulting people. Being happy that a 100 year old has received some minor civic recognition doesn't make anyone a "progressive moron", whatever the hell that is supposed to be. What on earth is going on with you?

[JG5_Zesphr]

You do realise the ATA flew all manner of aircraft. Being a pilot in the RAF you flew, usually similar aircraft for the entire war where as these girls had be be able to fly all manner of planes from spits to Dakotas and all the heavies iirc. They were respected pilots in their own rights. To say that she and the other girls were just non-combat pilots and so don't deserve much credit is ludicrous because by the same logic you could say Eric Brown was "just" a pilot.  

[Oubaas]

This was a nice gesture on the part of the community in honoring this lady. She sounds like quite a gal. I'll bet she'd be fascinating to sit and chat with over a cup of tea.

[Wulf]

You do realise the ATA flew all manner of aircraft. Being a pilot in the RAF you flew, usually similar aircraft for the entire war where as these girls had be be able to fly all manner of planes from spits to Dakotas and all the heavies iirc. They were respected pilots in their own rights. To say that she and the other girls were just non-combat pilots and so don't deserve much credit is ludicrous because by the same logic you could say Eric Brown was "just" a pilot.  

 

 

Just for the record, Eric Brown was a combat veteran, before he became a test pilot.

[Cybermat47]

Let's see if I'm missing anything.  She flew aircraft from one place to another.  She slept in a warm bed most every night and in all probability never got shot at.  I suspect, unlike a lot of other people, that she had quite an enjoyable war.

 

You're obviously some sort of third wave feminist or something, so just keep on virtue signalling or whatever it is that you do to substitute for masculinity.  I'd rather focus on all those poor bastards who actually put themselves in harm's way.  Mostly guys, mostly forgotten, mostly they never got to live a life.

I don't know if you were abused as a kid or maybe were involved in some sort of erotic asphyxiation incident that went horribly wrong or whatever it was.  I have no idea and to be honest, I'd rather not know.  But whatever it was that screwed-up your moral compass this badly, you need to understand that there is no moral equivalence between storming a beach on the Normandy coast in 1944 and working an extra shift in a Hormel Spam factory,  The distinction between combatants and non-combatants is a meaningful one.  Buying war bonds, for example,  just isn't the same thing as having the courage to put your life on the line, even though buying war bonds may actually be more useful.  It's sad that you and the other 'progressive' morons can't understand this, but that said, it's hardly surprising either.

You’ve been rude previously. Now you’re just being obnoxiously childish.

 

If people honouring a woman who played a role in defeating Nazi Germany really offends you so much, I’d recommend moving out of your safe space.

 

Also, I would suggest that you inform Amy Johnson that her job was safe and not risky at all, but that’s impossible. Amy Johnson either drowned or froze to death after her Spitfire went down during a routine ferry flight - possibly due to friendly fire. And she wasn’t the only one - 174 men and women of the ATA died during the war. And they did encounter German aircraft, and were shot at.

 

It’s worth noting that the Rural Fire Service seems to have lost about 71 Firefighters in our entire 121 year history. The Australian Army has suffered 41 Soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

 

So that’s 71 Firefighters killed in 121 years, 41 Soldiers killed in 17 years, and 174 ATA members killed in a mere 5 years. It’s funny how your belief that the ATA was a completely safe occupation falls apart with the bare minimum of research.

[Cybermat47]

Oh boy, I just found this gem...

 

OMG, calm the hell down you big girl and take a frinkin Asprin or something. Jesus, talk about excitable.

 

Try breathing into a paper bag or something.

Let me get this straight... you go on about how ATA pilots don’t deserve honours, because their job wasn’t as dangerous as being an Infantryman. And then you call Infantryman a “big girl”, and go on to disrespect him even more... all because he thinks that a woman who risked her life deserves some respect. And you’re the one who started the rudeness in this thread, so I guess that you must only respect people if they risk their lives in organisations other than the ATA, and if they agree with you 100% on everything.

 

Okay, someone disagreed with you but hey, it's not the end of the world. Find a safe space and just try and ride it out....

 

FS!

I have no problem with you talking to yourself, but I think that you being in the safe space is the cause of the problem here.

Edited January 21, 2018 by FFS_Cybermat47

[HagarTheHorrible]

I'm still with Wulf on this one.

 

You're all so busy trying to defend the female pilot, in some sort of fluffy, cuddly protective, modern male way that you've lost all objectively.

 

The bone of contention is not what she did, or achieved or even how dangerous, or not it was, it is simply the headline, describing her as a "WW2 Spitfire pilot".

 

She wasn't. For one very simple and clear reason, she never used the aircraft for it's intended purpose. The phrase " WW2 Spitfire pilot" is loaded with meaning beyond that of a simple sentence and suggests something she was not. Had she only delivered Ansons or Dakotas or Tiger Moths would that have made her any less deserving of praise ?

 

What is sad is that somehow serving in the ATA and doing all that they did was somehow not worthy enough in and of itself.

 

You are all jumping up and down on Wulf, not because what he says isn't true, which you all, because you are all better informed than the average Joe, know to be true, even if modern sentiment blinds you to common reason.

 

It is really sad because it belittles so much bravery, courage, service and sacrifice. As you get older and wiser ( hopefully) you begin to appreciate that not all heroes are Ramboesque supermen but that doesn't mean every action that might require gritted teeth and courage is somehow heroic.

 

Salute her courage, endevour and spirit of adventure but don't belittle it, and by association all other ATA pilots,by subscribing to falsehoods and "fake" news just because the headline panders to modern sentiment and limited general knowledge It does you all a disservice.

[Guest deleted@50488]

I still stare and amaze myself at how a simple post at a Forum, with an interesting theme, some totally innocent piece of info, can light a discussion of sometimes hundreds of flamed posts...

 

It's a very interesting ground for Behavioural Science investigation, I guess... Simply start a thread with a composition of words that can look like something not totally out of context, given the Forum base theme, and wait for the effect to build up :-)

 

WTF ( sorry... ) - the OP just wanted to transmit some interesting article on a "girl" whose gone older, to the "dreds" ( from hun-dred... ) class, and was once a delivery pilot working for RAF. Isn't it nice to know ?

[ZachariasX]

She wasn't.

It was WW2 and she flew Spitfires. But that doesn't make her a Spitfire pilot? You should hear yourself.

 

 

she never used the aircraft for it's intended purpose.

Ah. And all the fighter pilots that never saw an enemy in their tour were also not "fighter pilots"?

 

If the purpose of a Spitfire was to shoot down 50 enemy planes, there would be no "WW2 Spitfire pilots" at all then. But oh, we have you, and we know what the exact puropose is. Else, maybe there should be a checkbox in the flight logs, to mark when a plane has been used to the intended purpose after each flight? It would really help weeding out false heroes.

 

Although there is a tendency to only appreciate actions when they involve the dischage of at least one cartridge, it is fair to say that none of these judgements do not age well.

 

Charles Lamb for instance, flying his lone Swordfish near Corfu on march 13th, 1943, was ambushed alone by two Fiat CR22 biplanes. In his defense, he performed full powered stalled turns right at sea level that the Fiats couldn't follow and both of them spun into the sea. When he made it to their secret base of Paramythia, they gave him sad looks, informing him that had he just popped one round with his fron gun, he could have claimed the two Fiats. But as he did not do so, they couldn't give him credit for some Italians that can't fly propperly.  Leaving the cockpit, he saw a bullet drop out of his parachute packet, where It had just stopped half an inch short of his privates. The Italians sure sent their regards.

 

Besides, shooting down aircraft was never the intended use of a Swordfish, huh?

 

 

 

It's a very interesting ground for Behavioural Science investigation, I guess... Simply start a thread with a composition of words that can look like something not totally out of context, given the Forum base theme, and wait for the effect to build up :-)

I hate to think so, but I guess you have a point there.