tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post631049520327498417..comments2023-04-27T07:06:09.269-07:00Comments on Dux Homunculorum: Bomber Command - Lest We ForgetDux Homunculorumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00536604035307855671noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-80948350638944275372013-05-06T03:39:51.171-07:002013-05-06T03:39:51.171-07:00Well, let's put it this way: I remember seeing...Well, let's put it this way: I remember seeing an interview with a German day fighter pilot who described the terror of attacking US formations, knowing he could be 'bounced' by US fighters at any time. Would I describe his ability to continue doing that day after day as heroic? Yes. I think the allied bomber pilot who thinks he is striking a blow against the Nazi ability to wage war could be motivated by feelings just as noble as the German fighter pilot who believes he is defending his homeland. And there is one of the tragedies of war - good men are called on to do terrible things - sometimes for good reason, sometimes for evil reasons, and often for reasons that are barely clear to dispassionate observers years after, let alone participants at the time. And usually it is the young men who are left carrying the heavy responsibility, not the politicians who send them off to do such things. This doesn't mean that I think any action by soldiers in war is morally equivalent. Dux Homunculorumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00536604035307855671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-30076879225335627352013-05-05T05:49:53.650-07:002013-05-05T05:49:53.650-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064168689292574582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-3340021120922697562013-05-05T05:48:43.745-07:002013-05-05T05:48:43.745-07:00"While I don't think bombing cities is in..."While I don't think bombing cities is in itself heroic, I certainly think it is heroic to persevere in doing your duty in the context of danger the RAF crews faced. The distinction is important."<br />But doesn't that apply to most soldiers on every side?Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064168689292574582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-13324855605147811392013-05-04T23:42:05.413-07:002013-05-04T23:42:05.413-07:00Thanks for your responses chaps. When i was writin...Thanks for your responses chaps. When i was writing the speech I was acutely aware that the elephant in the room was the whole question about the morality of the bombings. Unfortunately, I think one of the reasons the veterans have often been ignored is because people shy away from the topic as raising ethical problems, and I didn't want to do that. I agonised a bit over how to acknowledge the suffering of innocents on the ground, while being sensitive to the presence of veterans and the context of Anzac Day which exists to commemorate them. The crucial distinction I was trying to draw is that the strategic decisions of the politicians and generals were carried out by young men who have, unfairly in my view, been made responsible for carrying the ethical burden. What is very obvious from reading memoirs and even contemporary diaries and letters is the great mixture of motives and reactions from different airmen. Some simply took the position that they were doing what they were told to do. Others saw the bombing as legitimate revenge for German bombing. Many expressed regret about the suffering they were causing, but believed that they were saving lives in the long run by shortening the war. They, and I think we, need to see a distinction between the strategy of deliberately targeting civilian populations and the acceptance that bombing industrial infrastructure would cause civilian casualties due to the inaccuracy of the bombers. Both strategies were articulated by the RAF and USAF leadership during the war.<br /><br />While I don't think bombing cities is in itself heroic, I certainly think it is heroic to persevere in doing your duty in the context of danger the RAF crews faced. The distinction is important. Dux Homunculorumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00536604035307855671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-52236055487824357502013-05-04T18:50:43.428-07:002013-05-04T18:50:43.428-07:00War is always horrible in its execution...but it, ...War is always horrible in its execution...but it, itself, is not horrible in the sense that great good can be the ends of the warriors. War has freed slaves, war has liberated would-be victims of genocide, war has brought freedom...war is not always evil. Though it should be a last recourse...sometimes it is the only one...and necessary. I think his post was spot on.Garesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04052328953024360631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-80216612732724664082013-05-03T15:03:25.643-07:002013-05-03T15:03:25.643-07:00A very thought provoking and well written memorial...A very thought provoking and well written memorial. Thanks Alan.Nick Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15668435293578877174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-67278824516813592232013-05-03T14:19:32.747-07:002013-05-03T14:19:32.747-07:00That was fantastic! Survival required so much luck...That was fantastic! Survival required so much luck , we don't know how lucky we are!Rodgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447816347472085277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-53028436675114539162013-05-03T09:00:26.010-07:002013-05-03T09:00:26.010-07:00A sad story. They surely had the best intentions. ...A sad story. They surely had the best intentions. But the 'school' of strategic bombing was a huge fault which killed many civilians on boths sides. I see no heroism in bombing cities, no matter which country you where fighting for (as you wrote, bombing was a very inaccurate technique and it was part of the doctrine to bomb civilians - again, on every side).<br />You know, war is always a terrible thing. I miss that a bit in your text.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064168689292574582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-44451020253897683292013-05-03T06:32:26.615-07:002013-05-03T06:32:26.615-07:00It is important to remind people of what these men...It is important to remind people of what these men did while serving their country. My great uncle was a bombardier in a B-17 and flew his 30 missions and returned home. He was wounded on his last mission over Berlin 4/29/1944. Thanks for keeping the memories alive for the current crop of students.Heislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16825061407797980077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-77512886340590259462013-05-03T06:27:08.915-07:002013-05-03T06:27:08.915-07:00Wonderful speech mate - superbly written and heart...Wonderful speech mate - superbly written and heartfelt.Paul O'Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08611720164170399684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-40324703210138302012013-05-03T05:50:40.526-07:002013-05-03T05:50:40.526-07:00Great post, Alan. To go back time and time again, ...Great post, Alan. To go back time and time again, knowing that death is waiting for you is truly heroic. Not getting the recognition they deserved from their governments is truly disgusting.<br /><br />Bombing cities is a terrible thing, but to do your duty in the face of certain death is just incredibleBen Gilmourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09548280904041987733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339653801453633850.post-76922802535850658192013-05-03T05:29:42.403-07:002013-05-03T05:29:42.403-07:00Thank you for a truly great post. I'm humbled ...Thank you for a truly great post. I'm humbled by their sacrifice and heroism.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15959234679802481723noreply@blogger.com