Dr Ross Mahoney
@airpowerhistory.bsky.social
2K followers 560 following 720 posts
Editor-in-Chief of 'From Balloons to Drones.' Specialist in Air Power History, Transport History, & Heritage. Brit in Brisbane, QLD. Tweets ≠ endorsement. https://drrossmahoney.wordpress.com/ & https://balloonstodrones.com/
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airpowerhistory.bsky.social
As someone diagnosed as #dyslexic as an adult, this chimes with my feelings. ‘[d]yslexia [has] caused me to distrust my intelligence which in turn [has] resulted in a lack of faith in my opinion [...] My lack of trust in my judgement [comes] from a fear of making mistakes.’
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
The official history of the RAF in #WW1 by Raleigh and Jones.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
While official histories can be interesting, the archival files related to their production are even more fascinating.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
While Sir Julian Corbett wrote an admirable official history of naval operations in #WW1, the controversies surrounding them unduly influenced the writing of other official histories.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Most historians who have criticised the official history of the RAF in #WW1 have done so by feeling their way to a conclusion rather than an examination of the archival record.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
I have managed to weave the RAAF into my article about Raleigh and Jones' official history of the RAF in #WW1. #result
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Almost finished my article on Raleigh and Jones' OH of the RAF in #WW1. So close...
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Let me guess which bestselling history? Dimbleby?
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Peer-review completed. Hopefully, I did not come across like reviewer two too much! I always try and be supportive and provide constructive feedback.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Official histories are like Clausewitz's 'On War,' commonly cited but little read.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
I think when two well-known academics, who hold clearly diametrically opposing views, can not debate civily, we are clearly f*****.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Saw our local supermarket Christmas food. Even my 10 year old daughter was shocked!
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Also, note I did not say all modellers. Yes, there are specific examples where they might do well. In the same vein, historians make mistakes.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Not arrogant but based on lots of experience listening and talking to fellow modellers. We will agree to disagree.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
P.S., I'm a modeller myself.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Yet to see proof of that when it comes to things that matter.
airpowerhistory.bsky.social
Modellers do not make good historians... There I said it.