h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Mi Amigo : the Fate of a Flying Fortress - A7148478
Author: Pinniped - U183682


AWW or PR? I wasn't sure, but had to make a choice because offering while it was still Thanksgiving Day felt important.

I think this is maybe the right place. Please let me know what you think, Hypatia and Phred particularly, because I thought of you two as I wrote it.

Farlander's Entry on the B-17 (A1913438) is worth a read. I should maybe add a link.

Pin

Well done. A very well-written and interesting account. The annual remenbrance by the citizens of Sheffield adds a special poignantcy to the too often repeated fate of the crew. I'm reminded of a small French memorial in Normandy built by local farmers on the crash site of a C-47 in a hedgerow loaded with paratroops. They bring fresh flowers year-round after over 60 years. There's still a gap in the hedgerow.

I noticed that there are guide entries on either Curtis LeMay or "Bomber" Harris. Lemay was still verbally calling shots as late as Viet Nam. Unfortunately he was restrained by timid politicians.

Interesting entry, Pin!

Doesn't seem to break the guidelines of PR, as far as I can see.

... and yes - I would add a link to Farlander's entry.

Thanks Phred and ZSF

I'm going to wait for more feedback before deciding about PR. To tell the truth, I'd be delighted if this made it into the Edited Guide in the form it's now in.

On the other hand, it would be a shame if a piece intended as a eulogy got sloughed down in pedantry about Guidelines.

Pin, you have done a wonderful job with this. I agree that it belongs in the EG. And exactly as it is written. I have printed it off so I can reread it properly. It is probably my age and occupation, but I just enjoy things more when they are ink on paper.

I'm glad that the crew is still remembered. And that they are being honored by succeeding generations. And on a purely personal level, I am happy to have even a backdoor connection to Sheffield and these brave men.

Hyp

Why not whack it into PR, see what reaction it gets and then make a judgement? If you feel you're being asked to chop it around too much, you can then make a decision. It depends on how quickly you want this to progress. If time isn't an issue, then this might be the best option.

It violates none of the EG guidelines. Since AWW is for things that don't meet the guidelines, you should move it there.

I've been googling quite a bit on this one and hoped that there might be something additional on Krieghauser in Missouri or Kempler's exhibit but haven't located anything of use.

The "Stars and Stripes" online account has the crew trying to wave the kids off the field and the kids waving back. There's a picture of the memorial stone.

http://www.geocities.com/milphotos/sheffield1.html

Thanks all.

I know Tony Kemplen a little. I'd like to call him a friend, because he's a nice guy and a very interesting one, but it would be an excessive claim since I've only met him a few times. He's the friend of a friend, really. His website is easy to find, but the Mi Amigo work is early and not featured. I saw the exhibition ten years ago, and it probably hasn't been shown since, I guess.

The 'Stars and Stripes' account is touching but hard to reconcile with the photos and the geography. As the Entry suggests, the aircraft was pointing towards the open field when it crashed. Also, the cafe (which is actually part of a pavilion) is directly between the field and the monument. I've now found that the pavilion was built in the 1890s. If Mi Amigo had overflown the field to reach its crash site, the pavilion would have been destroyed.

The aircraft must have made some kind of turn not long before it crashed, though, since the wreck pointed almost due south. I wondered about it a lot, and decided that speculation was inappropriate, but that perpetuating a doubtful romanticised version was inappropriate too.

OK. Let's move it to PR and see what happens.

Thanks to all for the comments in AWW.

Pin

What Hypatia said.

I can see requests coming to straighten out the timeline, be more explicit about Kemplen’s place in the story and making the start into a more traditional intro paragraph. Which would take away some of the interest and the sense of the past affecting the present.

Shame about Kemplen's pictures not being available, would've liked to see those.

Wishing it well in PR,
Waz

There are a few punctuation errors too, apparently