Unfortunately for them I think that horse has already bolted.

I didn’t think this was about Mustangs?

BTW why do I keep thinking of ‘The word of the year?’ over this

Having just read the whole 3 pages of the pulled thread again I must admit to me it looks like everything reported was in public domain. You can read the last 2 years annual reports online and find out directors of companies also. Also people reporting their recollection of specific events and facts that people have resigned…

I have been through the recent threads where I know the banned members where contributing to try and see what is behind this.

As far as I can see there are only 3 possible contenders for this.

These are

1) Burma Spitfires thread
2) Egyptian P-40 thread
3) Spitfire HerItage Trust thread

If we take each of these in turn.

1) Burma Spitfires thread

Admittedly this has been pulled, but at least 1 of the banned members was going to travel out to Burma in the new year and write about the saga in a book. Though I really hope that they find something, I must admit that the way the PR has been handled over this has a lot to be desired. Snatching ‘defeat from the hands of victory’ come to mind. However, I am happy that the Tank guy is going into this with his eyes very much open and the PR value as far as he goes is in the hunting expedition and the excitement and if they find anything then that is a bonus. If he does World of Burma Spitfires off the back of it I say good luck to him.

2) Egyptian P-40 thread

This is another ‘defeat from the hands of victory’ example. Though I subscribe to the “C**k Up” rather than Conspiracy theory. Can you image what would happen if it was revealed that the MoD/FCO “lent” on Key, just because they were embarrassed by their own mistakes in relation to what they told Denis Coppings family? Also another of the main players close to this in this is also on the banned list and in contact with family which would seem any MoD/FCO pressure to be wholly ridiculous and would only back fire in the long run.

Which leads me to the final one

3) Spitfire HerItage Trust thread

This is the one I know least about because (to be honest) I have not been following it that closely, though I know it is linked to recent resignations at the Spitfire Society (SS) on which one of the banned members was a patron. He resigned (as have others) as it appears they were not happy with the current direction of the society. I also know another of the banned members was asking questions about SHT in relation to the SS.

I know nothing more than this or what has been going on behind the scenes, I was just putting some background out there for those on this forum who have not been following these threads to closely.

I understand that Key may have had to act quickly on a Friday afternoon, and that in-experienced staff may have been involved, and it may be sorted out next week. I just am worried we have lost a number of valued and expert contributors who may not be happy to ever come back after being treated this way..

It has been requested that I post the following

Mark12′ says goodbye to his friends on the Flypast Forum.

The 1000 odd images posted over the last 12 years will continue to be funded and hosted by photobucket.

There is an image associated with this but I can’t upload it from my mobile phone I will do when I computer access

Paul