It's Nigger Sir, it's gone!

Without a doubt Nigger was Bomber Command's most famous pooch!
We were at Newark Air Museum Tuesday and saw a little wooden cross on display. On it is stencilled:-
Doggie Edwards. Killed on active service 11.8.44
None of the staff knew where it had come from... so we told them. RAF Wigsley was a heavy bomber conversion unit during the war. It's got a very interesting Watch Tower, being three stories high instead of two. This was so the sproglets, not flying that day, could see how easy it was to kill yourself in the skies over Lincolnshire. Today the Watch Tower is just about the only bit left standing of RAF Wigsley. In 1970 when we first found it there was a lot more, perimiter track, runways and dispersal hardstandings. In the long grass next to one of the dispersals was a little circle of white painted stones and a white painted cross stencilled:-
Doggie Edwards. Killed on active service 11.8.44
We took several colour slides of the little grave, a print from one will soon be winging it's way to Newark... how's that for a shaggy dog story?

 

Best not use that name over here in the USA today or get sued for 'racial insults'

 

I think they're changing his name for the new "Dambusters" movie being made by Peter Jackson her in Zeeland because, as cmomm said, of "racial insults"

I dont see why though - He is a part of history

 

I'm amazed at how Tom Mix could have a horse named Trigger!

 

Well done Jamie.

Za,

I can't believe Billy had a boy dog called Lassie

 

Is this still at RAF Scampton?

 

I'm sure Kigi's grave wont be that impressive... -_-

 

I think they're changing his name for the new "Dambusters" movie being made by Peter Jackson her in Zeeland because, as cmomm said, of "racial insults"

I dont see why though - He is a part of history

What are they coing to call him, "Afro-Anglican"?

 

Yep, the grave is still in front of Guy Gibson's old office at Scampton. A name that is not acceptable at the flicks these days... unlless black people are calling it one another in gangsta rap movies!
Thing is though, the dog's name was used as the codeword for a breach of the Mohne Dam, that's historical fact, not pc claptrap.

 

Whilst I agree with a modicum of Political correctness, I fail to see why we should change Historical Facts.
History is History and you cannot change it, even if you would love to do so.

Regards
Tom

 

PC gone mad yet again.

Cheers
Paul

 

Nah, they call each other 'Nigga'.

'Nigger' is what white people called black folk.

The difference is subtle, but it's there.


Dont mind me though, I'm firmly of the 'dont revise history' school.

Sadly, if you watch the dambusters on tv these days, you'll find that the dogs name was overdubbed long ago. I think it's 'Blackie' these days?

If they are remaking (yawn!) the movie, it will be interesting to see how they handle it




A name that is not acceptable at the flicks these days... unlless black people are calling it one another in gangsta rap movies!

 

You could imagine how shocked I must have felt when I saw the word in the title, clicking the link was completed different then what I had in mind! :p

In some parts of America even shows like Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, etc are being censored because of the racial wording they used. If a movie were made about this dog and it was still used, I'd see a mixed reaction. People like Jesse Jackson of course would lead the charge to get hte film banned even if they haven't seen it.

I'm against changing history as well, although political groups are so unpredictable these days.

 

In the Flaklands War, for PC reasons the RAF changed the codesign for 617 Sqn's attack on Port Stanley from "Nigger" to "Black Buck"...

Frankly - I think I would have preferred the original! Far less..."specific"....

 

I thought this was a thread about Dougie Edwards Dog and not Guy Gibsons?

I fail to see the importance of even having Guy Gibson's dog mentioned in the new film after all Guy Gibson and his squadron flew the mission not the dog. However I can see how both sides of the fence would want to exploit this opportunity with the rights and wrongs of that word.

As for the Falklands War 617 Sqn took no part in the Black Buck missions as far as I'm aware. They were disbanded in 1981 and were reformed the following year with Tornados.

The Vulcans came from No.'s 44, 50 and 101 Squadron -One being held in reserve whilst the other two took part in Operation Black 1 to 7 with EW support from Buccaneers out of RAF Honington.

Just to get it back on subject do you have a picture of the grave you can post on here please?

Cheers
Andy

 

I thought this was a thread about Dougie Edwards Dog and not Guy Gibsons?

I fail to see the importance of even having Guy Gibson's dog mentioned in the new film after all Guy Gibson and his squadron flew the mission not the dog. However I can see how both sides of the fence would want to exploit this opportunity with the rights and wrongs of that word.

As for the Falklands War 617 Sqn took no part in the Black Buck missions as far as I'm aware. They were disbanded in 1981 and were reformed the following year with Tornados.

The Vulcans came from No.'s 44, 50 and 101 Squadron -One being held in reserve whilst the other two took part in Operation Black 1 to 7 with EW support from Buccaneers out of RAF Honington.

Just to get it back on subject do you have a picture of the grave you can post on here please?

Cheers
Andy


Andy,
Check out post 6 on the thread. You must have overlooked it.

Regards
Tom

 

I thought this was a thread about Dougie Edwards Dog and not Guy Gibsons?

I fail to see the importance of even having Guy Gibson's dog mentioned in the new film after all Guy Gibson and his squadron flew the mission not the dog. However I can see how both sides of the fence would want to exploit this opportunity with the rights and wrongs of that word.


Wonder they bothered putting the dog in the original film then?

 

You'd have to ask Michael Anderson that

 

Wonder they bothered putting the dog in the original film then?

Quite. Did Guy Gibson ask for the dog to be buried just as he would be over the dam? Or is that bit made up for the film. Can't see why the dog should be excluded from the film, if that's what he requested. Also can't see why it need remaking. I'll stick with the original. If the dog was called Honkey, would PC still kick in?

 

I don't want anyone to change the name---just 'ongue in cheek' remark to show how far we have gone in becoming 'a--holes' today with the pc garbage-cheers