Challenges to Portrayals and Casting

In the recent PBS miniseries “A Piece of Cake,” about the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, the air sequences as well as in-cockpit situations were accurate; however, the behavior of the personnel on the ground was grossly misrepresented. (The miniseries showed several of the pilots in a very unappealing light.)

Now comes “Memphis Belle,” which does an identical disservice to the people who served in the U.S. 8th Air Force in World War II.

I simply cannot understand why the entertainment media--on both sides of the Atlantic--chose to distort half of these historic events and to bring dishonor upon flight personnel--in a tawdry effort to sell their product--particularly when most of those involved are no longer alive to defend themselves.

ROBERT CURLENDER, South Pasadena