Bond is not the only thing Sir Ken should be remembered for. For Klaus 'Heinie the Tankbuster' Adam was a German Jew who escaped with his family to England. He joined the RAF and was assigned to the legendary 609 Sqn flying Hawker Typhoons. 1/ #Thread #OTD https://twitter.com/007/status/1357630045267914752

Klaus Adam would fly with 609 with some distinction, becoming an integral part of the Squadron. While Typhoon pilots were not highly regarded when captured, Klaus and his brother Dieter, in neighbouring 183 Sqn, would have been executed if captured. 2/

In the documentary Typhoon at War, Klaus vividly describes his time on the Typhoon and would admit to being 'shit scared' at times. It is worth watching if just for Ken!



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After the war, Klaus would go onto Bond and win Oscars for his work with Stanley Kubrick and Nicholas Hytner. He kept a model of his Typhoon next to his Oscars. @James1940's article about Klaus is well worth your time.

https://www.griffonmerlin.com/2016/03/12/ken-adam-oscar-winning-set-designer-german-raf-typhoon-pilot/

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Ken would stay in contact with his 609 Sqn mates and, at the launch of Frank Ziegler's history of the squadron at the RAF Club, when pressed by Sqn MO George Bell and tablemates if it was him in the Bond credits he admitted as much. They made him pay the ample wine bill! 5/

As a slight aside, George Armour Bell's To Live Among Heroes is a beautiful work. To see an active squadron in its darkest days through the eyes of the MO is extraordinary and I would very highly recommend it. 6/

Sir Ken's visuals created worlds and left an incredible mark. The Dr Strangelove War Room even influenced the look of @sampling45's video for @djshadow and @runjewels' epic Nobody Speak. Sam and I discussed this in our @hack_history chat recently. 7/

https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-zd36x-f7e18a

Ken Adam was a remarkable individual. From 'Heinie the Tankbuster' to hollowed-out Volcanoes and giant freaking lasers, by way of Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, Mad Kings and The Adams Family, it was an extraordinary life. /end