大象传媒

Arthur Harris led RAF Bomber Command in World War II, earning him the nickname 'Bomber Harris'.

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The policy of 'area' bombing German cities including Cologne and Dresden made him a hugely controversial figure.

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大象传媒 Inside Out has gained exclusive access to a rare interview with the Cheltenham-born RAF commander which has never been seen by the public.

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In the interview Harris shoots down the myth that the controversial 'saturation' bombing was his idea and says it was already government policy.

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on the 大象传媒 News website.

Sir Arthur 鈥楤omber鈥� Harris, RAF Bomber Command Chief in World War II, claimed he would 鈥榙o the same again鈥�, in a rare unseen interview shown on 大象传媒 Inside Out.

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Cheltenham born Harris, one of the key figures of World War II and chief commander of the Bomber Command, was interviewed in 1977 by Air Vice Marshal Tony Mason.

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Mason was given an hour and a half to question the senior RAF officer about the three years he spent directing air attacks against German targets. 大象传媒 Inside Out has been given permission to show this rare film, unseen by the general public until now.

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During the interview, Mason, a recently promoted group captain, asked Harris if he would do the same again. To which Harris responded:

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鈥淚f I had to have the same time again I would do the same again, but I hope I wouldn鈥檛 have to鈥�. He also said: 鈥淚 hope it鈥檚 been of some use, for future generations in keeping them out of these riots. It never does anybody any good.鈥�

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Also in the interview, Harris shoots down the myth that area bombing was his idea, claiming it was already Government policy. Mason asked Harris why he was ordered to bomb whole cities rather than specific Nazi targets. In response, Harris said:

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鈥淭hey came to the conclusion that they weren鈥檛 hitting very much and they didn鈥檛 have very much to hit things with鈥︹��

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The value of this unseen film is apparent to war historians. Professor Richard Aldrich, University of Warwick, said:

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鈥淚t鈥檚 also interesting because it鈥檚 not done immediately after the second world war, it鈥檚 done at a time when there have already been several waves of interpretation about Bomber Command, about Harris himself and so one not only gets his memories which are still clearly quite fresh, but also is commentary on those different interpretations. It鈥檚 a multi-layered interview and all the more interesting for it.鈥�

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Mason also questions Harris on Dresden, a subject which many regard as a 鈥榗ity too far鈥� in which around 25,000 died in the British and American air raids.

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However Harris stood his ground saying: 鈥淭he bombers kept over a million fit Germans out of the German army鈥� Manning the anti-aircraft defences; making the ammunition, and doing urgent repairs, especially tradesmen.鈥�

We investigate a rise in reports of child sex abuse and grooming in the West Midlands.

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One charity says calls from the region have doubled in five years.

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Giles Latcham visits听Staffordshire Police鈥檚 Child Protection Unit to see them at work.

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If you've been affected by any of the issues in this programme, further support and help听is available from the following organisations:

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