Latest Poll

[leo]

I wonder if anyone finds the latest poll to be skewed. I've been around for awhile and I find the fact that there is that much more interest in the Central Powers than there is in the Allies to be very suprising. Anyone have any thoughts on the topic?

[PeterL]

Leo, I can't say I'm surprized at that outcome, a little under 50% is about what I would have expected. More surprizing in my view is the percentage expressing no particular preference, I would have predicted that to be higher.

Peter

[Vic_Mouton]

Funny thing is that I get the chance to vote every time I visit the forum. Somehow my cookies are not updated. Millennium bug?

VBR
Vic

Not really Leo, there is a strong IGAF supporters group here on the Forum. Just ask Al and Jim.

Andrew.

Poor American Aces, only 25 that voted are interested in them. The Australians and the AFC I can understand as it is barely represented in publications past the last ten years, but the American Aces have had a decent run of publications and noone is interested in them, instead they are interested in the Germans. I dont think I will ever understand what draws people to the Prussian style ideals.

I started ages ago a USAS and a Belgian Aviation Militaire style website in the same style as the AFC website, but the AFC website was taking too much time. The web needs a minority interest researcher who is going to spend 5 to 10 hours a week on a website devoted only to the USAS

But with a grain of salt, I havent voted in any of the polls lol.




cam

[Ron_F]

Just my theory, but i believe the interest in the 'other side' ie, Germany, is possibly the passage of time from those 2 world wars. That coupled with many newer publications on the German units, both Air, sea and land. If one goes to Ruy Hortas discussion forums, one will find that the Luftwaffe disussion forum gets more messages and sponsors than does the Allied or WW1 forums do.

I hit the german button too on that test. But since i have hit the 'no preference' button about 3-4 times. both my computer and the 2 at work or so. But if one looks at my library, one would find that i do both sides equally. Even Russians. And i hate communism! ;o]
And i dont doubt like many polls, that some erase thier histories to skew the results by hitting thier favorite button/preference too many times...So id say the results are probably a bit off.
Cams comment on Prussian ideas. Dunno cam, I dont quite subscribe to that, even tho im in a Jasta for Rb3d. For me, its doing something out of the ordinary/not mainstream. IE, not modeling a P51, instead choosing a Zero or 109 instead. Talking R/C models here...

my .02 pfennig, cent, rubles, pence worth...

Ron F. aka Ronbo

[stephen]

There's something mysterious and cool about being the villain. Or in some cases the martyr. That's enhanced by the fact that circumstances and policies offered German pilots a far better chance at kills and confirmations of kills, hence their greater scores. German aces will always be more popular and always have a bit of mystique to them... and let's face it, they certainly were good. Likewise, with the general attitude of self-proclaimed scholars and writers in the US and Canada, it will always be popular to bash US aces. To wit: Bishop, Rickenbacker, Luke. You don't find the hack jobs being written on German aces the way you do on Allied aces because its only considered noble by historical revisionists to bash your own side, not the other side. So yes, I believe the stats on this poll and for that matter the last one as well.

[Barrett]

There definitely IS a stronger continuing interest in the German armed forces than other varieties. My friend and sometime colleague Jerry Crandall of Eagle Editions is still making a good business of selling signed lithos and decal sheets for Luftwaffe topics when other WW II stuff has almost dropped off the scope. Jerry says that Luftwaffe topics even outstrip his beloved western art in some respects.
And yes, I'm more interested in WW I Germans than WW I Americans, which is not to say I'm UNinterested in the USAS. But the Luftstreikrafte (and Service Aeronautique, and RFC/RNAS) was where innovation and leadership principles were built, with a 3-year head start on Uncle Sugar.

Blame it on The Red Baron and Snoopy.

Also blame it on The Flying Circus and the the Germans having more individulaized/colorful paint schemes on their planes.

As for the poll being skewed? So are you inferring that those who like the German aces are more computer savvy or just lack ehtics?

Dawn Patrol, a film about the RFC was beaten 2 to 1 by the Blue Max, a film about the IGAF. Of course DP didn't have a "towel scene"

Tobias

Leo,

You have got to admit that Allied aircraft come only in three primary colors:
Clear Doped Linnen
PC10 "kakai"
Silver.

German crews were free to do as they pleased within prescribed limits (jasta tail colors). Colors were WILD and each aircraft was unique from a distance to foster instant recognition.

IMO hand painting lozenge on a Gotha is where the fun beguins.

Shag