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Re: Why the petty sarcasm?

Posted by andy saunders on Fri Sep 06, 2002 12:23:07 PM

In reply top Why the petty sarcasm? posted by Tony on Thu Sep 05, 2002 07:14:54 PM

: Is this the start of an "Us versus the Huns thread"?
:
: Some of your remarks, are just plain tasteless, uncalled f
: or, and very ill-informed Andy.
:
: Now before we all go on, about the "Beastly Boche" lets tr
: y and remember something.
:
: The German museums organisations, are trying to restore th
: eir heritage. I am fortunate and priveleged enough to coun
: t myself as the friend of one of the prime movers in this
: organisation. A man, who among other things, has a very la
: rge say, in what leaves Germany and what doesn't.
:
: Right now, this man is tearing what is left of his hair ou
: t, trying to recover aircraft from Poland, that have gone
: very very "Politikal"
:
: The Poles are insisting, that the aircraft are Nazi artifa
: cts, and as such, "War Prizes". Now anyone with a modicum
: of common sense, knows that the original collection was SO
: C by the RAF in 1943-44, and the Germans did a hell of a j
: ob, getting any sort of collection together, just in time
: for the Russians to relieve them of the responsibility of
: looking after it.
:
: This row, has gone all the way to the top. The German Gove
: rnment, has offered everything short of dual nationality t
: o Polish citizens to try and do this deal. The German Air
: Force, even let a third party country, with an appaling hu
: man rights record, have Jets at a bargain price, just to e
: xtract ONE aircraft, that MIGHT swing the deal.
:
: The 3rd party country reneged (quelle surprise) leaving th
: e Germans high and dry, and still desperately trying to ba
: rgain.
:
: Now, at the time I was hauling Iskras out of Poland, I ask
: ed the Poles what they wanted, and I have their dream list
: . There are 3 aircraft on the list, any of which, they wil
: l do a deal on. One is possible, the other 2? let's just s
: ay if the German Government couldn't do it with low hours
: RF-4's the rest of us don't stand a chance. For the record
: , those aircraft are:
:
: 1 x genuine Polish Hurricane
: 1x Halifax - you would not believe the deep symbolism of
: the Halibag in Poland
: 1x PZL-24.
:
: Other also rans, are a Mustang (Must be Polish) and a Libe
: rator.
:
: In other words, not impossible, but you see the problem.
:
: The Germans are insisting on ownership of these aircraft r
: ight now, because they have very little, in the way of exc
: hange stock, for something that might come along.
:
: No one criticises Bodo, but I think it's apalling, the way
: the Norwegians are laying claim to everything that ain't
: nailed down in that country.But, that's me personal feelin
: g. We know why their doing it, because it gives them inven
: tory and leverage.
:
: This rule, does not just apply to Auslanders. it applies t
: o German organisations too. Do you remember the saga of th
: e frankfurt engines? Well i know most of the story now, an
: d even the german museums, and I mean, the Government owne
: d ones, had a hell of a job, trying to get the Finance min
: istry to release them. Why? Because they were never offici
: ally taken on charge by the Luftwaffe. In other words, the
: finance ministry still owned them, and some Joe "Arbeiter
: sworth" wanted the paperwork from 1945 tied up.
:
: If the Germans lay claim to the Emil, so what? They'll sti
: ll have to deal with the man who has legal ownership of th
: e aircraft, and he is a canny chap, he knows he can get a
: deal.
: Now, can we stop Jerry-bashing?
:
: They are not ogres, and surprisingly enough, they want the
: same as all of us, preservation of historic airframes.
:
: ...I must say though, it is really jolly decent of you to
: offer to donate your luftwaffe bits. I'm sure I can arrang
: e for you to get some nice RAF lumps in return. Bear in mi
: nd, that as there is an ownership dispute, it is illegal t
: o sell the bits, as they were never officially SOC by the
: Luftwaffe. I read somewhere, I think it was Merlin 3945 on
: the Flypast board, that it is in fact, illegal to sell bi
: ts from RAF aircraft,digs, excavations or otherwise unless
: title has been specifically granted to do so. Of course,
: he may be wrong, but he seemed to know his onions.
:
: Cordially
:
: Tony :0)
Tony. Sorry that you felt my tongue in cheek comments were tasteless uncalled for and very ill-informed. I had hoped most people out there had a modicum of a sense of humour and would see those comments for what they were - an attempt to add a little light heartedness to the subject matter. I failed there, then!! As to my comments being ill-informed - which ones exactly? An no, I'm not starting an anti German thread. I have a lot of contacts and do a lot of work over there. Indeed, not too long ago I was honoured with an award by the German Embassy in London for my part in post war anglo-german reconciliation and I know that anyone reading my message could not have been offended by it. If they were, I apologise unreserevedly. No offence was implied or intended. On the contrary! As to my ill-informed remarks - which were they? I can assure you that my reporting of the official German stance is 100 per cent accurate. My light hearted but offensive comments aside, I was seriously of the impression that the Allies won WW2 so I dont think that is ill informed and neither is the fact that Germany surrendered unconditionally. Andy Saunders.

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