When Russia changed sides in the war in 1941 the airman was sent to England where he joined the RAF's Bomber Command and flew on 45 bombing runs over Nazi-occupied Europe.
On his last mission the Lancaster aircraft he was in was shot down in a ball of flames over France. He was the only one of the seven-man crew to parachute out of the blazing aircraft alive.'Daily Mail' editor: "You, intern! Trawl the photo archives for Lancaster images, right away!"
*counts engines* *sighs* "Close enough. Who'll notice..?"
H/T: Stephen Brown via email
I'm not sure about the first one, maybe a Wellington, but the second is definitely a Polish-crewed Wellington. But hey, why do any research if your editor won't notice?
ReplyDeleteThe quality of journalism.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, the squadron he served with was indeed equipped with Wellingtons until 1944, so its entirely possible that those pictures are his own, from his days flying in Wellingtons, not stock photos the DM has put up to illustrate the story. The article mentions an album of photos being sold with the medals and there's lots of other photos in the article that are obviously personal ones, so the Wellington pics may be from the same source.
ReplyDeleteGiven that the political class seem to think history started in 1997, I don't really think we can blame Millennial interns for being totally confused about something that happened way back in the 1970s.
ReplyDeleteAt least it wasn't a B17 or a Ju88. That's practically service above and beyond at the Daily Disaldo.
"But hey, why do any research if your editor won't notice?"
ReplyDeleteThe modern work ethic!
"The quality of journalism."
Yup! And if they can't be bothered to get this right, can they be trusted with anything else?
"...so its entirely possible that those pictures are his own, from his days flying in Wellingtons, not stock photos the DM has put up..."
It's possible, yes. Is it likely?
"At least it wasn't a B17 or a Ju88. That's practically service above and beyond at the Daily Disaldo."
LOL!