Reg Turnill
Encyclopedia
Reginald Turnill was the BBC's aviation (and space) correspondent for over forty years throughout the heyday of space exploration
and British (initial) aviation prowess. He saw at first hand the development of modern aviation and NASA
's space missions. Some journalists saw one of these at close hand, but not both.
In 1958 he became the Air & Space Correspondent, with a brief to include defence as well. Spaceflight and the jet age were just beginning, so he covered all the manned spaceflights as well as the introduction of passenger jets from the Comet IV to Concorde. After being retired from the BBC staff on his 60th birthday he continued working as a freelance writer and broadcaster, writing many books and continuing as Newsround
's Space Editor until the mid-1980s.
, who was similar in age to him, although his approach was initially frosty and reticent.
On 2 March 1969 he was the BBC's reporter on Concorde
's maiden flight at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.
In April 1970, he was the first journalist to report on the Apollo 13
catastrophe via the BBC World Service
when based at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
on 13 April 1970.
In 1990 he presented Return Ticket, a five-part Radio 4 series about the Apollo 13 mission.
He was largely superseded at the BBC by Christopher Wain. He felt the BBC did not give him the kudos he deserved for the experience he gained. His former position at the BBC is now taken by Jonathan Amos.
He has written many obituaries of aerospace and other personalities for the Guardian, the Times and The Daily Telegraph.
of Unmanned Spaceflight in the 1970s, published by Frederick Warne & Co
. In the 1980s he edited the Jane's
Spaceflight Directory.
From his books it is clear that Concorde and the Apollo 11 Moon landings attracted his attention the most. No-one has been back to the Moon since 1972, and neither has another supersonic airliner been built. He was particularly disappointed by the cancellation of the Black Arrow
British space programme
in July 1971, at the very moment it was providing results.
In 2006 he won the Sir Arthur Clarke Award
Lifetime Achievement Award.
.
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
and British (initial) aviation prowess. He saw at first hand the development of modern aviation and NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's space missions. Some journalists saw one of these at close hand, but not both.
Career
Reginald Turnill started his career at the age of 15 as a reporter's telephonist on the Press Association, the national news agency, and remained on their staff as a reporter (with war service intervening from 1940-46) until recruited by the BBC in 1956 as assistant industrial correspondent to help modernise their TV and radio news services.In 1958 he became the Air & Space Correspondent, with a brief to include defence as well. Spaceflight and the jet age were just beginning, so he covered all the manned spaceflights as well as the introduction of passenger jets from the Comet IV to Concorde. After being retired from the BBC staff on his 60th birthday he continued working as a freelance writer and broadcaster, writing many books and continuing as Newsround
Newsround
Newsround is a BBC children's news programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children...
's Space Editor until the mid-1980s.
BBC
He joined the BBC in 1956, when in his 40s. He was mainly the Air and Space correspondent, but as military aviation overlaps with defence, he was also the BBC Defence correspondent, but not a War correspondent; he looked at the technology, not the conflicts, and neither is he an astronomer. He was most seen on the BBC from the 1960s to the 1980s. He became friends with Wernher von BraunWernher von Braun
Wernher Magnus Maximilian, Freiherr von Braun was a German rocket scientist, aerospace engineer, space architect, and one of the leading figures in the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany during World War II and in the United States after that.A former member of the Nazi party,...
, who was similar in age to him, although his approach was initially frosty and reticent.
On 2 March 1969 he was the BBC's reporter on Concorde
Concorde
Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation...
's maiden flight at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.
In April 1970, he was the first journalist to report on the Apollo 13
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. The craft was launched on April 11, 1970, at 13:13 CST. The landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two days later, crippling the service module upon which the Command...
catastrophe via the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
when based at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's center for human spaceflight training, research and flight control. The center consists of a complex of 100 buildings constructed on 1,620 acres in Houston, Texas, USA...
on 13 April 1970.
In 1990 he presented Return Ticket, a five-part Radio 4 series about the Apollo 13 mission.
He was largely superseded at the BBC by Christopher Wain. He felt the BBC did not give him the kudos he deserved for the experience he gained. His former position at the BBC is now taken by Jonathan Amos.
Newspapers
MaHe has written many obituaries of aerospace and other personalities for the Guardian, the Times and The Daily Telegraph.
Author
He contributed to series of books notably the Observer's Book of Manned Spaceflight and the Observer's BookObserver's Books
The Observer's Books were a series of small, pocket-sized books, published by Frederick Warne & Co in the United Kingdom from 1937 to 2003. They covered a variety of topics including hobbies, art, history and wildlife. The aim of these books was to interest the observer and they have also been...
of Unmanned Spaceflight in the 1970s, published by Frederick Warne & Co
Frederick Warne & Co
Frederick Warne & Co was a British publishing firm famous for children's books, particularly those of Beatrix Potter. It was founded in 1865 by a bookseller, who gave his own name to the firm.- History :...
. In the 1980s he edited the Jane's
Jane's Information Group
Jane's Information Group is a publishing company specializing in transportation and military topics.-History:It was founded by Fred T...
Spaceflight Directory.
From his books it is clear that Concorde and the Apollo 11 Moon landings attracted his attention the most. No-one has been back to the Moon since 1972, and neither has another supersonic airliner been built. He was particularly disappointed by the cancellation of the Black Arrow
Black Arrow
Black Arrow, officially capitalised BLACK ARROW, was a British satellite carrier rocket. Developed during the 1960s, it was used for four launches between 1969 and 1971...
British space programme
British space programme
The British space programme is a plan by the UK government and other interested bodies to promote British participation in the international market for satellite launches, satellite construction and other space endeavours. Significantly, however, it has never been government policy to create a...
in July 1971, at the very moment it was providing results.
In 2006 he won the Sir Arthur Clarke Award
Sir Arthur Clarke Award
The Sir Arthur Clarke Award is a British award given in recognition of notable contributions to space exploration, particularly British achievements. It is owned by the Space Education Trust and is independent of and separate from . Founded in 2005, the awards are an annual event. They take place...
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal life
He married Margaret Hennings in 1938 in Westminster. They have two sons (born 1940 and 1944). He lives in Sandgate, KentSandgate, Kent
Sandgate is a village in the Folkestone and Hythe Urban Area in the Shepway district of Kent, England. In 2004, the village re-acquired civil parish status....
.
Publications
- The Moonlandings: An Eyewitness Account, (foreword by Buzz AldrinBuzz AldrinBuzz Aldrin is an American mechanical engineer, retired United States Air Force pilot and astronaut who was the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history...
), 2002, Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, ISBN 0521815959 - Celebrating Concorde, 1994, Ian Allan PublishingIan Allan PublishingIan Allan Publishing is a UK publisher, established in 1942, which specialises in transport magazines and books.In 1942 Ian Allan, then working on enquiries on the Southern Railway, published his first book, "ABC of Southern Locomotives"...
, ISBN 0711022968 - Farnborough: the Story of the RAE, (with Arthur Reed), 1981, Hale Publishing, ISBN 0709185847
- The Language of Space: A Dictionary of Astronautics, 1970, Littlehampton Book Services, ISBN 030493657X
- Moonslaught: The full story of Man's race to the Moon, 1969, Purnell and SonsPurnell and SonsPurnell and Sons was a small family printer based in Somerset which merged with other printers to become a large national publisher.- History :...
External links
Video clips
- Discussing Apollo 13 in April 2010
- An interview about Yuri Gagarin's first international news conference in Moscow on 14th April 1961. Reg was present for the BBC. Astrotalkuk.org April 2011