What were you doing 45 years ago today ?
Smuj: The Dish, "The US Ambassador is paying us a visit. He knows everything about Apollo 11"
"Does he know where it is?"
I was listening to the landing on radio in a caravan at Loch Sween in Scotland, not many hours after being buzzed by a FAA Buccaneer in my fishing boat. (I caught a record-breaking Mackerel on that trip).
"Does he know where it is?"
I was listening to the landing on radio in a caravan at Loch Sween in Scotland, not many hours after being buzzed by a FAA Buccaneer in my fishing boat. (I caught a record-breaking Mackerel on that trip).
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3 years old and one of my earliest memories, being driven down the private road that my grandparents lived (they had a colour TV) to see a load of men sitting in front of TV screens and a large gird on the wall with a curved line down it.. It was a different evening from the normal. Was a long time in bed when Armstrong "Walked". First actual memory of seeing a Saturn 5 launch was 15 a couple of years later. Never thought that 45 years later, the yanks would not have any manned launcher whatsoever and the venerable Soyuz system would be the only way Man could get into space..
There's a somewhat querky programme on UK TV at the moment, on channel 38/quest - Moonwalk 1, the narrative is a bit gushy and inaccurate (" NASA footage never seen before"..err, yes it has..) but nevertheless there's some interesting stuff .
Oh, 45 years ago tonight I was at home listening to something like this via the black and white TV,
The First Men on the Moon: The Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
and looking at the cartoon LM graphics provided by James Burke et al... later, having had nap I was eventually woken up at oh dark thirty to see the first step ( my Dad, bless him, fell asleep in the armchair and missed the whole Moonwalk....).
Oh, 45 years ago tonight I was at home listening to something like this via the black and white TV,
The First Men on the Moon: The Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
and looking at the cartoon LM graphics provided by James Burke et al... later, having had nap I was eventually woken up at oh dark thirty to see the first step ( my Dad, bless him, fell asleep in the armchair and missed the whole Moonwalk....).
Last edited by wiggy; 20th Jul 2014 at 20:45.
Small black&white TV, several beers so not really paying attention - but I do remember the occasion. Oh yes, doing the Vulcan OCU at Finningley as well!
Happy days!!!
Happy days!!!
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In the TV room of the Cpl's Club, Plumer Barracks, Plymouth as one third of 604 FAC, attached to 24 (Air Portable) Brigade. The RSM allowed the bars in the Cpl's Club and the Sgt's Mess to remain open
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UN OPERATIONS CYPRUS
Watched moon landing on small black and white TV in officers mess at Nicosia whilst detached from 72 Sqn on UN peace keeping duties flying the mighty Wessex helicopter.
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There's a family photograph somewhere of me sitting on the bottom step of the stairs, in my Woolies Ladybird dressing gown, drinking a mug of hot chocolate and peering at the murky picture.
I still remember my dad sitting next to me and telling me it was very important and that one day, I'd be glad I could say I saw it. He was right. It has allowed me to bore my kids senseless on more than one occasion.
I still remember my dad sitting next to me and telling me it was very important and that one day, I'd be glad I could say I saw it. He was right. It has allowed me to bore my kids senseless on more than one occasion.
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In a Herc enroute Muharraq to Changi on the Changi slip. For some reason fuel flow was too high so we changed from Long Range Cruise to High Speed Cruise and diverted to Gan, quick refuel and continued HSC to Changi. As we were being turned round the ground crew were rushing around with transistor radios held to their ears as the module was about to touch down. We listened to events on BBC world service the rest of the way to Changi. The next morning the TV room in the transit mess was packed as every man and his dog was watching the grainey black and white pictures from the Moon.
I can't remember where I was when Kennedy was assasinated, but I'll never forget where I was when Man landed on the Moon.
I can't remember where I was when Kennedy was assasinated, but I'll never forget where I was when Man landed on the Moon.
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I can't remember where I was when Kennedy was assassinated, but I'll never forget where I was when Man landed on the Moon.
JFK assassination - likely crawling on the floor (1 year 4 1/2 months old)
Apollo 11 Lunar landing - sitting in the living room watching it on TV (just turned 7 years old).
Reagan assassination attempt - on the bus on my way to classes at the local University, the bus driver had the radio on with the PA mic on and held close to the speaker.
Challenger Space Shuttle explosion - heard the first reports driving across MCAS El Toro coming from my parent squadron back to base HQ where I was temporarily on detached duty - upon arrival I joined the others watching the TV coverage.
Fall of the Berlin Wall - sitting in a friend's house having left active duty 4 months earlier.
Last edited by GreenKnight121; 21st Jul 2014 at 19:51.
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Watching the moon landing in Watton Mess
I watched it in the relative luxury of the fine 'club' in the Officers' Mess at Watton.
A wonderful facility much missed after the move to Cottesmore
A wonderful facility much missed after the move to Cottesmore
Aviator Extraordinaire
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Sad to say I cannot remember the launch, most likely watched it.
As for the landing and Armstrong's first steps, I was in a hotel room in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania watching the landing on a black and white TV. I was waiting for the weather to improve enough the next day so I could ferry a new Piper Pawnee crop duster from the factory back home.
It was the most exciting thing I have ever seen, before or since.
As for the landing and Armstrong's first steps, I was in a hotel room in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania watching the landing on a black and white TV. I was waiting for the weather to improve enough the next day so I could ferry a new Piper Pawnee crop duster from the factory back home.
It was the most exciting thing I have ever seen, before or since.
As an all-for-it weather forecaster at RAF Guetersloh, nipping across the road to S/Ldr Lewis [Eng O] in Zeppelinstrasse [top patch] and watching his goggle box.
I think he was SEngo of 19 squadron Lightnings but ..............
Zepp housed many future luminaries: Sandy Wilson, Stu Penny and the Govers.
We were next door to Bryan and Mary Smith.
Fabulous gorgeous marvelous days, we thought we were masters of the universe.
Perhaps it was was the Warsteiner.
I think he was SEngo of 19 squadron Lightnings but ..............
Zepp housed many future luminaries: Sandy Wilson, Stu Penny and the Govers.
We were next door to Bryan and Mary Smith.
Fabulous gorgeous marvelous days, we thought we were masters of the universe.
Perhaps it was was the Warsteiner.
16 July 69, I flew for 6hours 15 mins in WR960 Shackleton Mk 2 from RAF Changi with 205 Sqn. Crew training, no doubt radar homings 1c Sonics and circuits. Captain Flt Lt Bob Parratt (Nav). A month later I flew to Whenuapai NZ for an ASW exercise. Good times.