...feeling like a U.S. marine visiting Fallujah...
I appeal to all to lighten up a bit... I went back over the posts from the beginning to get a sense of the flow and i think i can see where people are coming from...
Stephan repeated an old tale which has been repeated in other places and inadvertently passed it on. he has quoted a few older works which have since been debunked. Stephan stepped onto a bit of a minefield here.
Alex has gone over this a hundred times and, like my Dad telling me to put the milk back in the fridge for the umpteenth time, is ready to pour a gallon over one's head!
It is easy for people who are active researchers to lose patience with laymen. I experience this all the time when I ask our IT coordinator to rectify a "problem" with my laptop. She exhibits considerable graciousness in indicating the refresh button!
Frankly, I for one could have made the same mistake as Stephan. There has been a lengthy break in my covering the relevant literature and even now I can recall a documentary video "where they flew and where they fell" (cannot recall the author) -- this was some 20 years ago -- narrating something to the effect that the circumstances of McCudden's accident were so embarrassing that high command quietly buried him without a big send-off. (DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER -- just quoting from a dubious non-authoritative source!!!).
This forum exists to correct errors and it can be done quickly and efficiently. I couldn't possibly take the time to research thru the forum threads ALL the archived accumulated discussion about a subject before venturing to make a comment (or reading all published works in advance, otherwise why use the forum?). This makes the forum awfully redundant, yes, that is the nature of these spontaneous, on-line sites. How many newcomers to the forum would we have to execute on 21 april when they ask repetitive questions about the death of the Red Baron (refer them to Ginger, I say!).
I appreciate the books that were recommended on the subjct of McCudden, but i also looked in vain for a substantive reply to Stephan's question. I don't think it should be the nature of this forum to reply with "read the book". And Yes! i hereby commit to obtain and read Alex's book
HITEB, unconditionally! I greatly admire Alex’s work "Brief Glory" (which I strongly recommend to put on your list, Stephan) and his scholarship.
My only plea is to ease up all around, have patience with one another, educate one another, and have some fun on this forum!
Have a great week!
marc