O/T:- The Dam Busters!

[bule1]

There is a hotel in Woodhall Spa called Petwood which is where the 617 "Dambusters" squadron were based for the operation, there they have a squadron bar which was the officers mess. In there they have numerous photos of the squadron, associated ground crew and various newspaper clippings etc with brief comments below them and they have changed the name of the dog underneath a photo of it together with Guy Gibson. Now I totally understand the term is wrong, offensive and upsetting to many but I think that to change it on factual historic representations like that is also wrong. For me it would surely be better to leave the name as it was and put a explanatory message there acknowledging the offence the term causes now, but saying they are leaving it there for historical accuracy reasons.

[LincsPie]

There is a hotel in Woodhall Spa called Petwood which is where the 617 "Dambusters" squadron were based for the operation, ................

To be historically correct, the 19 Lancasters took off from RAF Scampton for the dams raid not RAF Woodhall Spa. 617 Sqn located to RAF Woodhall Spa towards the end of the war, they flew from Woodhall as part of the force that sank the Tirpitz.

[Magpies1959]

Just imagine if we rubbed out all the things we now see as wrong in our history. People would grow up not even knowing there was a holocaust or slavery, just to mention two things.

[bule1]

To be historically correct, the 19 Lancasters took off from RAF Scampton for the dams raid not RAF Woodhall Spa. 617 Sqn located to RAF Woodhall Spa towards the end of the war, they flew from Woodhall as part of the force that sank the Tirpitz.

Never said where they took off from Woodhall Spa, I said that hotel is where there is a squadron bar with the relevant pictures etc. Their squadron was based there at whatever time... Missing the main point of the message there I think though.

[Mapperleypie]

Just imagine if we rubbed out all the things we now see as wrong in our history. People would grow up not even knowing there was a holocaust or slavery, just to mention two things.

I know. Now they have changed the name of a dog on a film adaptation the whole of the history of WW2 has been lost for good.

[SwalePie]

I know. Now they have changed the name of a dog on a film adaptation the whole of the history of WW2 has been lost for good.

Well at least if we make sure we all watch only Hollywood films we can never lose sight of the fact that the good'ol US of A single-handedly won the war using chewing gum and ladies' nylons and 'gave' Britain everything it needed for absolutely free, no strings attached - and no need to pay them back every cent whatsoever.

[maddogslater]

It's nailed on we wouldn't have been on the winning team without the help from the USA.

[LincsPie]

Never said where they took off from Woodhall Spa, I said that hotel is where there is a squadron bar with the relevant pictures etc. Their squadron was based there at whatever time... Missing the main point of the message there I think though.

"There is a hotel in Woodhall Spa called Petwood which is where the 617 "Dambusters" squadron were based for the operation"
gives the implication they took off from there.

Not missing the main point of the message bule, the thread has highlighted how historical facts appear to be being
changed over time for whatever reason. Just giving a bit of input as I'm not far from Woodhall.

[bule1]

OK stand corrected but it is a bit nit picking there, does not change the point I had tried to make at all but does distract from it.

[LincsPie]

OK stand corrected but it is a bit nit picking there, does not change the point I had tried to make at all but does distract from it.

You're quite right about the Petwood and Woodhall Spa village in general being a fine
tribute to 617 Sqn especially the monument in the shape of a dam by the roundabout
and particularly now RAF Scampton has closed (and part of which is to be used used for another
purpose which would kick off a whole new thread), but I had to point it out.