General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
TV Series Hell in the Pacific - Atrocities
Posted by:
John Griffiths
()
Date: June 28, 2001 07:20PM
<HTML>Hi,
UK TV viewers will have been able to watch the documentary on Channel 4 entitled \'Hell in the Pacific\', which is an awesomely detailed, very personal view of the Pacific campaign during WW2.
Tonight\'s episode showed archive Allied propoganda footage of Royal Australian Air Force aircraft machine gunning survivors from a Japanese convoy, together with the commentators gung-ho excuse that \'those little Japs get a taste of their own medicine\'....
Now I know we have argued many times on here about atrocities, with the Germans displayed as the villains of the piece but this is proof - documented archive footage - clearly showing Aussie aircrew gunning men in the water in lifeboats and groups - and giving the thumbs up after, all smiles and laughter. Those who said we would never do that sort of thing - gun survivors down - would be a bit shaken by that. I know I was, although I always maintained war is never a level playing field.
Seems there were bad on both sides - it\'s just that the War Crimes Tribunal was somewhat less than fair when it came to looking for criminals....we won, they lost. We\'re the victors and to the victors the spoils....
One other point. The film maker who produced and directed this series - last one next week on Channel 4 between 9 - 10pm - is Jonathon Lewis. He is the husband of my (indirect) Line Manager. She said she cried all the way through seeing the atrocities and pictures which are shown. I myself found it very gritty.
I believe it will be syndicated to the US later this year but - alas - only as a two part series.
Aye,
John</HTML>
UK TV viewers will have been able to watch the documentary on Channel 4 entitled \'Hell in the Pacific\', which is an awesomely detailed, very personal view of the Pacific campaign during WW2.
Tonight\'s episode showed archive Allied propoganda footage of Royal Australian Air Force aircraft machine gunning survivors from a Japanese convoy, together with the commentators gung-ho excuse that \'those little Japs get a taste of their own medicine\'....
Now I know we have argued many times on here about atrocities, with the Germans displayed as the villains of the piece but this is proof - documented archive footage - clearly showing Aussie aircrew gunning men in the water in lifeboats and groups - and giving the thumbs up after, all smiles and laughter. Those who said we would never do that sort of thing - gun survivors down - would be a bit shaken by that. I know I was, although I always maintained war is never a level playing field.
Seems there were bad on both sides - it\'s just that the War Crimes Tribunal was somewhat less than fair when it came to looking for criminals....we won, they lost. We\'re the victors and to the victors the spoils....
One other point. The film maker who produced and directed this series - last one next week on Channel 4 between 9 - 10pm - is Jonathon Lewis. He is the husband of my (indirect) Line Manager. She said she cried all the way through seeing the atrocities and pictures which are shown. I myself found it very gritty.
I believe it will be syndicated to the US later this year but - alas - only as a two part series.
Aye,
John</HTML>