In today,s Politically correct world Should the RAF (BOMBER COMMAND ) be awarded a appropriate medal for the battle of Germany by the British government.
A campaign medal for a campaign, what a novel idea. The rights and wrongs of the bombing campaign will be fought over for many more years...However the guys that went out night after night or day after day, did not have the luxury of considering the matter with a view to future histories. At one time it was seen as the only offensive weapon in the arsenal capable of hitting the German war machine. The military has never been a democratic debating chamber as far as I am aware. Winners never face war crimes trials, not that I would agree the campaign was one, just a view of others I suppose. I cannot think of a successful campaign that the British forces fought that didnt attract a campaign medal, Dunkirk perhaps, but defeats didnt attract them, Suez but again a defeat even if only by political means. Yes they have waited too long is that is the case.
I agree Urqh-I have absolutely no sympathy or even patience whatsover with the politically correct morons-most of whom weren't even born when WW2 took place who go on about the Allies bombing policy-particularly Dresden 1945 and amking retrospective judgements about Arthur Harris etc. When in London I always go to the RAF church in the Strand-St. Clements Danes and apy my respects to ''Bomber Harris's statue outside the church. When the war began in 1939 British bombing policy was characterised by Cabinet Minister Sir Kingsley Wood who objected to bombing the Black Forest by saying ''WE can't do that-it is private property!'' Subsequently, Hamburg and Pforzheimm changed that because of the Nazis at Coventry, Clydebank, Scotland in 1941 and many other British cities. As goog old Bert ''Bomber'' Harris said ''They-the Nazis- have sown the wind-we shall reap the whirlwind...'' So yes,! let's have a Bomber Command medal with special hasps of ''Hamburg 1943-Pforzheim 1944 Dresden 1945-Amiens Prison 1944-the Copenhagen Shell House Raid 1944 etc.
I agree they deserved the medal. However I would not go for putting the names like Dresden etc because that´s a bit over the top in my opinion. Just make it "for the excellent results in bringing down the enemy!" or something like that.
If the prospect of bombing Dresden was "a bit over the top" perhaps you need to research some more. Robin www156Squadron.com
interesting but my question would be why just one battle in particular ? there is really nothing special about Dresden except the old city was torched and there was hardly any resistance put up by the Nachtjagd. One would think that in a positive way the many battles over Berlin would strike up a medal if indeed one was to be established. The Dresden mess was actually part of a week long campaign to terminate cities/industry in the eastern portion of the Reich. Chemnitz comes to mind ........... in which their were losses to the RAF of note, some of the Lancs-4 to 5 actually crashed over the Erzgebirge NJG 5 put up a few Ju 88G-6's for the night and had a few victories but also suffered as well . . .
156squadron, I think I´m rather pro-Bomber command as I say there should have been a medal for them.... And what I meant is that putting names of places where lots of civilians died horribly on the medal - ok that´s hard core - but even if it was considered a great job done we´ve seen what later on the public opinion said about it. Like we´ve seen many WW2 heroes have been almost lynched later on for being a killer as they were heroes back then. No need to push the limits with adding the names as well in my opinion.... -------------- I´d also like to point out that it was not just Dresden I referred to.
Kai, by that logic most battle honours, medals or military awards could no longer be displayed by the Regiments or organisations that earnt them. Many actions that have relevance militarily also inevitably involve civilian casualties. As Admiral Fisher said: "The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility." Tragic but true and I don't believe one can cover it over. Cheers, Adam.
IMO the Bomber Command medal should have been an 'issue' not a 'to buy'. My father was not acceptable for aircrew but gave up a job in a safe reserved occupation in middle Wiltshire far from any front. He was taken as an armourers assistant, not just stripping and repairing guns but helping out with the bombs. Yes, no doubt he would have liked to actually be air crew but the fact is all he got for 4 years service is the British War medal, because he was not at any airfield for long enough , he didnt even get the defence medal, infact neither did mother who served at Whitby on anti-aircraft guns. As an aside to the conventional armourers role he also stood guard duty and crash duty, pulling bodies from planes that crashed on landing. Footnote, after visiting his 'work safe haven' after joining up, his foreman was sent white feathers by unknown parties (possibly the women working under him!) because he had not 'done his bit'.
