ZS-VAN
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Join Date: Sep 2006 | Location:
Cape Town, South Africa | | |
|   Re: Women Spitfire Pilots Honoured At Last !
Great thread Momo, they deserve being honoured.
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You bet ZS-VAN ! I think that all the vets who are still alive should be honoured, as well as all those who were killed or who have passed away over the intervening years.
The British government, several years ago, amidst great controversy, unveiled a statue of Bomber Harris. They thought that this was as far as things should go. However, despite the political controversy sparked off when Churchill and others decided to rein back on saturation bombing because they were afraid of a post-war backlash, the fact remains that the men should be honoured for the courage which they demonstrated by just serving in a campaign which was regarded as a nightly suicide mission.
They risked almost certain death, if they were hit by flak or nightfighters. Very few had the opportunity to jump. Very few ran for the neutral countries. Many died an agonising death by fire.
These patriots who were absolutely convinced that they were hitting back in the only way they could against a ruthless enemy. And who were also convinced that they were destroying the enemy's capacity to wage war because they were told so, did not question the campaign. They questioned operational details, but they stepped up and did their duty. What's more they did their duty because they wanted to hit back at the power which sought to destroy their way of life.
It is high time that the British government stepped up, and admitted that a campaign medal should have been issued. There are only a few elderly men and women left who took an active part. Only a few left who contributed to the whole.
Government, do your duty and render to these people the honour which they merit !