10% of American GDP in the 60’s. So whatever that is today. Don’t worry you will see a man set foot on the moon in your life time and he will have come from China.

He was Vice Chairman on the commision that investigated the loss of Challenger.

True, but can’t help thinking a picture of Apollo 11 lifting off would have been more appropriate.

In today’s DT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9490827/Don-Charlwood.html

That wasn’t the only error.

He twice referred to “Volunteers for Bomber Command” or “Bomber Command Volunteers”. Volunteers for aircrew, yes, volunteers for Bomber Command, not necessarily (or even likely?).

Still, inevitable tosh from narrator aside, it was a good programme.

I think you need to look at the bigger picture. This was on main stream ITV. One word for this documentary, Superb. John Sergeant may have got a couple of things wrong, but come on!

Very sad news. No Moon Tonight and Journeys into Night are probably amongst the best books by former Bomber Command aircrew. 25 plus years ago I first read these. Don also had a major part in the Australian TV programme on Bomber Command from the mid 80s, Wings of the Storm, shown on UK Channel 4 around that time. Worth seeing if you can get a copy. Sad he was unable to have seen the unveiling of the BC memorial on 28 June.

Tom Neil is still very much with us. Can’t be that difficult to ask him what the hell this is about.

I too have just been re-reading this book. Probably a more balanced portrait of the man than some of the born hero type. He had his flaws, but who doesn’t. Also worth reading the same author’s biography of Leonard Cheshire if you haven’t already.

The National collection already has benchmark examples of all the types being disposed of.

There is a Ju52 at Cosford, a Fieseler Storch and a Varsity

Yeovilton has a Vampire T22 and a Sea Venom

As types, they all have limited relevance to IWM.Bruce

Bruce, this sort of implies that the National Collections are working together with collecting policies. I hope this is true. Perhaps someone can confirm this was part of IWM’s thinking, although I feel it unlikely. Just one point, there is no JU52 at Cosford, it’s a Spanish built CASA 352L pretending to be a pre-war civillian aircraft. Same Logic says this should go to. A few years ago, I heard a talk by IWM staff member who mentioned the restoration work gone into the Toucan and how proud they were. Seems a shame now.