It is with much sadness that we have to inform Members that Mr Charlton Heston, US Chairman of the American Air Museum, passed away at his Beverly Hills home on Saturday, April 5th.

Charlton Heston appeared in some 100 films in his 60-year acting career and is remembered chiefly for his monumental, larger-than life roles such as Moses, Michelangelo and Ben-Hur, for which he won the Best Acting Oscar in 1959.
What is perhaps less well known is his three-year service in the US Army Air Force, including serving as a radio gunner, flying B-25s off the Aleutians at the end of World War II.

We were therefore delighted when this great actor and public figure agreed to take on the role of US Chairman in 1991 at the request of his friend Jimmy Stewart and, as he said himself in 1997, "If Jimmy Stewart asks you to do something, you’re supposed to do it." We so much appreciated his commitment to the early fundraising efforts, in the context of his busy and professional life.  He was a regular attendee at events during the early fund-raising days in the 1990s, visited Duxford a number of times during the construction of the Museum, and we were honoured that he was able to attend the official Opening Ceremony in August 1997.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this distressing time.

Charlton Heston with B-17 'Grumpy' at Duxford in 1992