Reginald Turnhill

Yes he was. And he battled with the BBC during his career for support for stories he knew to be important. He was a part of my aviation life from the beginning so it is sad to read of his death but he had a good, long and productive life. He wrote half a dozen books and the Moonlandings one and the Farnborough one are excellent reads.

Apparently he scooped the story of the problem with Apollo 13 because he was the only journalist to keep visiting Mission Control after the launch and so caught the distress call when it happened.

One of his first BBC assignments (in his raincoat!) was the first transatlantic BOAC Comet 4 service send-off at Heathrow October 1958
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/c2588e84da67eba3.html

My memories of Reg were hearing his voice through a phone line from Cape Canavaral to John Craven’s Newsround in the 1980’s giving updates on when or if the latest Space Shuttle mission was going to lift off or if it had landed.
A great man who no doubt reported it all ‘off the cuff’ unlike today when they wheel out a young lady to stand in front of a camera and read off an autocue complete with mistakes.:rolleyes:

I’d like to add my regrets at Reg’s passing. In April 1969, I was a very junior press officer at BAC Filton, drafted in from my usual tasks at the Guided Weapons Division to be part of an ‘all hands’ team hosting the media for the UK Concorde first flight. I ended up looking after Reg and his camera/sound crew. It made my day, he was so helpful and professional. For many years after, he’d recognise me and stop for a natter at Farnborough, Le Bourget and the like. A really friendly, intelligent man.

Thanks for posting this mmitch. Reginald Turnill used to share the Farnborough show commentaries on BBCTV with Raymond Baxter and other aviation programmes. At the age of 97, what a good ‘innings’ he had and didn’t know he had lasted that long.

RIP

RIP Reg.