von Dawson's Express

He would certainly add to a space theme. I'd like to meet him, he always was a popular actor and nice chap. Regards von Dawson's Express

With the recent Russian/Georgian War I guess the British Government will not be giving visa's out and we won't be seeing any Cosmonauts for some time yet. What do you lot think? von Dawson's Express

Excellent suggestion, be great to meet him and am sure he would be pleased to realise that we would like to meet him. Regards all von Dawson's Express

Now here's a real hero, good to see him there again, he was a gentlemen when I met him at A10 and A11. Bests to all esp George von Dawson's Express

Stuff the bloody aliens and BEM Am going to ask him about his Omega Speedmaster, the crystal on his poped or he smashed it while on the moon. Thats not mentioned in the space books Regards all von Dawson's Express

Excellent choice! A subject of some great iconic pictures from Science Fiction/Spaceflight/films. Q. theres a picture on the Internet Movie Database - have a look at the entry for 2001: ASO - I like picture no 33, is this lady in pink Heather? Hope so... If so any chance of a nice A4 picture of her to sign??? Any chance of any of the other ladies from 2001??? Regards all von Dawson's Express

Charlie Duke once gave a talk at the West Yorkshire Astronomical Society, he gives a brilent talk and is a very nice chap to talk to, he talks to you as if you are the centre of the universe, would be a brillent addition to A12 Regards all von Dawson's Express

Some Army units have Marquees and will help out - they class it as training - only problem is the look and smell of them! Guess you want fancy white/silky ones? If the Army do help all they sometimes ask is a few square feet to set up a recruitment stand... Best of luck in your search! Regards von Dawson's Express

Another excellent choice, Well done team Bring on October! von Dawson's Express

Excellent and well done team, I remember the Skylab flights, it was a fantastic time in 1973 and 1974 (for me) watching them chaps rescue, repair and make something of the Skylab OWS. Be nice to meet Mr. Carr. Regards all von Dawson's Express

Excellent suggestion, would tie in nicely with Soviet Spaceflight and other cold war themes. A friend of mine in the USA once met him and she said he came over as a very nice gentlemen. Guess he would be your 'star' guest! Regards to all von Dawson's Express

Thanks von Dawson's Express. I love this story and had come across it some time ago while idly surfing the net. My original exposure to it was at the following: http://www.vermilion-sands.com/rantlib/bettie.html where the item was called 'Die Frau im Mond'. I had rather forgotten about it, so thanks for bringing it back to my attention. Thank you for your words and glad to be of service! Bests von Dawson's Express mmmm... Russ Mayer.... How about Francis 'Kitten' Natividad? Pat 'Aunty Jane' Wynn and her friend Sheila Harrison?? Or any of the Ultra Vixens and models from the '60's and '70's??? Regards all von Dawson's Express

...and if you are a space fan, the following may be of interest.... There is a NASA legend that in 1952, the famous stripper Bettie Page did a private show for the German rocket scientists stationed at Redstone Arsenal, in Huntsville, Alabama. After months of shooting off captured V-2s topped by WAC Corporals in hopes of making 2-stage rockets (many of which failed miserably), the boys wanted to unwind. One of them, we don't know who, was a devotee of American burlesque and was spellbound by Bettie Page. He had seen some of her stag loops and thereafter she filled his dreams. Feeling a little nostalgic, the group devised a one-night revue, The Woman In the Moon, after the 1929 German movie of the same name. The movie had a special resonance with the scientists since some of them, including Hermann Oberth, Willy Ley, and Wernher von Braun, had been technical advisors to director Fritz Lang. Nothing was too good for our pet rocket scientists. In an anonymous room at the Arsenal, on a set that resembled by turns the interior of a rocket and a moonscape, Ms. Page did a burlesque act interpreting the movie. She played Friede, one of the crew members, while Ley and von Braun played her fiance (Windegger) and lover (Helius), respectively. When Friede and Helius embraced on the moon as the ship returned to earth without them, there was not a dry eye in the house. According to accounts by the lucky support workers who worked the show as stagehands, the revue was not as spicy as Bettie's usual act. Though some of the German scientists might have known of Count Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (to von Braun, a fellow blue-blood), these old-fashioned types did not share his tastes (not for them the varied delights of Weimar Berlin; once a nerd, always a nerd). Relics from the show--such as costumes and props--are impossible to find and may be lost to history. I heard the story from someone who had worked on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (1975), but had heard it from older colleagues who'd worked with von Braun and the others in the Mercury project days (1962-63). Bettie Page, though still alive, will carry this secret to her grave. I can not for the life of me find on the www where I found this so sorry I can not credit it, but I guess you fans of Bettie AND Space flight would agree it is a interesting story Regards all von Dawson's Express

Just watched the following... 'Last of the Dambusters' The historical strand returns with this moving documentary following 86-year-old George 'Jonny' Johnson, one of only two surviving members of the RAF's 617 Squadron, better known as the Dambusters, as he returns to the scene of the 1943 raid' Radio Times, Tuesday 17 June, 2008 Tell you what, he comes over as a very spry and fit chap and a true hero. I loved the way he spoke and commented about certain things and issues An excellent programme, worth waiting for the repeat. Regards all esp. to 'Jonny' von Dawson's Express

Just watched the following... 'Last of the Dambusters' The historical strand returns with this moving documentary following 86-year-old George 'Jonny' Johnson, one of only two surviving members of the RAF's 617 Squadron, better known as the Dambusters, as he returns to the scene of the 1943 raid' Radio Times, Tuesday 17 June, 2008 An excellent programme, worth waiting for the repeat. Regards all von Dawson's Express

Robert Lee (Hoot) Gibson would be a fantastic guest http://www.astronautix.com/astros/gibson.htm Am not sure but I think he divorced his wife, another astronaut, Dr Margaret Rhea Seddon http://www.astronautix.com/astros/seddon.htm Shame really, they would have made a great team at the same table at a future Autographica... Perhaps another astronaut couple would be willing to attend? Regards von Dawson's Express

Well done Descartes, am with you! For a hero just click on this link, http://www.astronautix.com/astros/dzhbekov.htm ...and look at his expression.... Regards all von Dawson's Express

...and I fourth it! I have Lt. Col. David Simons book 'Man High' from 1960, its a ex-library copy and a great read. If these chaps were to come over would they have there autobiographies? Mean while have a look at... http://www.sover.net/~devstar/MANHIGH2--DSIMONS.pdf Regards all von Dawson's Express PS We had Dr Allan Chapman at our astronomical society in York on Friday night, he's a great speaker and I got (another) book signed by him.

I agree with Mekon and I would add, when we were having our Jim McDivitt entries signed in our books some one in front of us had about 20+ things for signing, posters and the like in a big case. He not only took a age but would not shift when he was done and hugged the table. All we wanted was one autograph, this idiot spoilt it for us, he was defently a trader and not a real space enthusiast. He seem ignorant as well but thats another thing. Why not have a hour-or-so set by for traders and people wanting more than three things signing and allow real enthusiasts there time to get there autograph, handshake and chat over with? It would speed things up. Regards all von Dawson's Express

I have met Sir Patrick several times over the last 25 years and can say he is a great gentlemen. In 1999 is came to York and spoke to my astronomical society (York AS) and he made us all feel the center of his universe. I had a chance to talk to him in private and we discussed retirement, his comment was 'astronomy and work keeps me going!' Guess there's someting for us all to learn there... Last time I met him (2004) I visited his home and was made very welcome, he gave me a copy of his book 'Patrick Moore on the Moon' and he signed it for me. There's a big difference in his autograph from when I first met him in 1984. If this is the first time you have met him then enjoy your experiance, you'll never forget him! But I do suggest have a chat about cricket and watch his eyes twinkle.... Regards and bests to all von Dawson's Express

Apollo 7 flew in October 1968, try... http://www.astronautix.com/flights/apollo7.htm Be great to meet Walter Cunningham, Apollo 7 never gets much mention and is always side lined and with A11 been (nearly) exactly fourty years after Apollo 7, it would be really good and worth while... Regards von Dawson's Express

I would like to say it was an excellent day, I was sorry the Cosmonauts did not tip up but hey what could we do about it... Met my childhood heros... Dave Scott, Jim McDivitt + Alexei Leonov plus new heros in subjects I am interested, Karl Heinz Decker, Ken Wilkinson, Sid Cleaver, Helmut Maros plus I met David Shayler who was selling some of his books and he signed one I bought from him. Four of us came down from Yorkshire and found the hotel easy to find and access was easy. Although service was very poor in the restaurent. The queues moved quickly but I would say one gentlemen in front of us had about a thousand things and huge folder and got in the way when we met Dave Scott, no probs him having stuff but he got in the way an upset the flow. Perhaps people should be a little more organised and moved away further up the table. A bit cramped with Tony Curtis, Dave Scott and Jim McDivitt. (I was sorry to see Mr. Curtis looking a bit poorly,but he seemed happy enough to meet people) Although the actors are not my field I was impressed at there following and the amount of pleasure and interest they generate in people who had travelled along way. I found my hero's great people to meet and chat too, it must be difficult to sign, shake hands and create conversation hour after hour. Ya, a great day out, will I be at the October 2008 Autographica, 'you bet your sweet ass I will!'* Regards and bests and a great big thank you to you people who organised this von Dawson's Express PS1 * a saying from Wally Schirra who dead nearly a year ago PS2 The pictures were great, I had not seen some of the spaceflight ones, well done guys! PS3 Alexei Leonov's team were selling some Valery Tokarev pictures that Valery had signed - I liked the B&W pic with the Yak VTOL.

Well said Zebredy! Am with you mate, all the best and reagrds von Dawson's Express Yes, for once I believe its not the Russians who are being awkward, but UK Immigration. It p***** me off to hear this Government going on about secure borders when we know if you want to get in illegally its the easiest thing in the world. But stick to the rules, apply officially for a visa and you get rejected. Don't get me started about this subjet, my fiance earned to much for the me to be entitled to job seekers allowance of any kind, where as someone could jsut walk into this country illigaly and be given everything. We were not even sure at one point if we had enough for food, because we had the gas, electric, tv licesnce and car insurance come out all in the same month as everthing else like rent etc, and I wasn't able to help with the bills, at all. This goverment sucks big time, they even get given a second housing allowance, so they can buy stuff for there second home worth thousands, while others suffer. Sorry to go on but things to do with our goverenment and immigrants really gets to me, the good ones can't get in and the bad, well come on down the price is right, we'll even throw in a flat or two rent free (and I know this happens, at least where I live) Sorry guys ignore me I'm still feeling pretty tired after going to bed a little to late (well late for me anyway) LLAP

Hi Descartes, Thank you for your comment and input, its appriciated. I can under stand any missing/cancelling through ill health, etc (And my thoughts go to those...) But for the government to do this and for what? Baffles me C U Saturday! von Dawson's Express PS Love the Descartes name... Apollo 16?

To sign my Big Blue Book of 400 Spacemen/women Dave Scott, Alexei Leonov and Jim McDivitt To sign 'Dark Side of the Moon' Dave Scott and Alexei Leonov To sign 'Supermarine Aircraft: Since 1914' The Spitfire pilots To Sign 'Bionic Woman' Well who else... To sign 'U-Boats in the Atlantic' Who do you think... Am disappointed the Russian Cosmonauts are not going as well as Richard Todd, but hay ho... Regards all von Dawson's Express