Great caricatures by Wren along with amusing poems.
So I scanned a few pages in for sharing.
This was published in Britain during WW2, so my apologies to German and Italian friends for the propoganda, but I hope you will appreciate the art and historical significance despite this?
It is a lesson in social history as much as a lesson in spotting. I found particularly amusing the description for the Ju52 and what the spotter should do to himself if he can’t identify it!
‘The Aeroplane’ - I’ve got some of those at home I think - and some of The Spotter I think it’s called - WW2 ephemera. The adverts are amazing, for plane engines and things “Use De Haviland nuts and bolts” or summat
Some of the comments are quite scathing and unjustified.
Well i think we are used to this “WAR RETORICA” expecially from english side. (I think in general US were more tender with us “maccheroni”)
But at the same time we know it’s nothing personal (except some rare case) and it was because of the war!
Knowing this i was even surprised to find some senctences like this:
In fact, of course, Italy is not a nation composed entirely of rogues and cowards. Equally not all her aeroplanes are of the poor military design…
I think the intent was to denigrate the Fascism and his arrogance, and not the poor and brave soldiers who did what they could even when badly supplied.
Infact i think after some natural diffidence at the beginning , the Italian co-belligerant soldiers earnt the respect of the Allied.
For example, this is the case of Massimiliano Erasi named Mister Bridge after he destroyed an important bridge at first try after (i think) 2 english missions failed to destory it. (but Bear knows much more on the subject!)
Obviously Mr Bridge flew with a Baltimore in 132° And his callsign was GRAPPA 1 !!!<img><img>
EDIT from some time when i try to add smiles i have broken links…(like this<img> ) Using firefox<img><img><img>
TO have smiles i have to copy the whole code :mad: :mad:
any idea?
I am also convinced that most of the words are not justified but understandeable considering the time of war. In spite of that the book is enjoyable.
Probably the men who wrote the book had a bad experience of Italians, or was simply “assuming” some common thinking. As you may know, assumption is the mother of all fuckups So I take this opportunity to show you a picture taken by one of the “cowards” flying S.79
It is a famous picture indeed. Capt. Graziani with Faggioni and Cimicchi were attacking a British ships formation in the Mediterraneum. After launching his torpedo Graziani flew a low altitude evasive manuevers just in the middle of the enemy ships, overflying the HMS Barhan , at about 60 feet over his deck.
His photographer, Tommaso di Paolo, took this dramatic incredible picture
Talking again about war retorics and propaganda, this is another interseting pic from the Italian side
It is showing a rare wartime postcard (credits to Ferdinando D’Amico) from the period of the Italian Expedionary Corp in Belgium during Battle of Britain, from October 1940 to January 1941 . The phrase says: “Greetings from England”. The sense is obvious…
As for the war assumptions in this wonderful manga http://parvatiquinta.altervista.org/fumetti/alidarg_e.html
the japanese tought the americans couldn’t see zeros flying low level over sea because of blue eyes… :eek:
On the other side
we all know how were depicted japanes pilots to americans. As stupid short-sighted pilots etc…
