GuyNoir
Well-Known Member
I flew American Airlines to the NARCON last weekend, and read their inflight magazine, The American Way. The last page article attributed the first liquid fueled rocket flight to J. Robert Oppenheimer instead of Dr. Robert Goddard, so having attended the NARCON at Clark University, I felt obligated to send a note. I found an email link to the editor at the American Airlines website and sent this message:
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Dear editor:
I don't know who did the research or the editing on Cathy Booth Thomas' story "Countdown to Spaceport America" in the March 1 American Way, but I have to believe that every space enthusiast who read the article went into a fit when they read that "J. Robert Oppenheimer" was man who flew the first liquid fueled rocket. Those of us in the know understand that it was really Dr. Robert H. Goddard.
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Kind regards,
Mark B. Bundick
Past President, National Association of Rocketry
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Much to my shock and amazement, I got the following reply:
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Dear Mr. Bundick:
You are absolutely correct. Dr. Goddard was, is, and will forever be the father of modern rocketry. You are also correct that we've received quite a few letters about this. We are extremely embarrassed by this error and are taking measure to insure such unfortunate mistakes do not make their way into American Way in the future. We're fiercely proud of our track record for accuracy, and we take no black eyes lightly. This is certainly a black eye. Thank you very much for your feedback, and please accept our apology.
Sincere Best Wishes,
Adam Pitluk
Executive Editor
American Way and Celebrated Living magazines
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Dear editor:
I don't know who did the research or the editing on Cathy Booth Thomas' story "Countdown to Spaceport America" in the March 1 American Way, but I have to believe that every space enthusiast who read the article went into a fit when they read that "J. Robert Oppenheimer" was man who flew the first liquid fueled rocket. Those of us in the know understand that it was really Dr. Robert H. Goddard.
--
Kind regards,
Mark B. Bundick
Past President, National Association of Rocketry
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
Much to my shock and amazement, I got the following reply:
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
Dear Mr. Bundick:
You are absolutely correct. Dr. Goddard was, is, and will forever be the father of modern rocketry. You are also correct that we've received quite a few letters about this. We are extremely embarrassed by this error and are taking measure to insure such unfortunate mistakes do not make their way into American Way in the future. We're fiercely proud of our track record for accuracy, and we take no black eyes lightly. This is certainly a black eye. Thank you very much for your feedback, and please accept our apology.
Sincere Best Wishes,
Adam Pitluk
Executive Editor
American Way and Celebrated Living magazines
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