He regularly contributes to the world's aviation press on military history topics and has also written for national newspapers, including “The Mail on Sunday”.
In 2001, he pleaded guilty to offences under the Protection of Military Remains Act after recovering the aircraft of Flying Officer George Edward Kosh, a Hawker Typhoon which crashed in 1944 in East Sussex, without a licence.
[1] He was given a one-year conditional discharge after the court heard he had committed a technical offence only which related to going ahead with the excavation of the wreckage a month before he had the appropriate Ministry of Defence licence.
He has been involved with military aircraft preservation and recovery for over forty years, including the recovery from India of two World War One bombers for preservation and flight in the UK as well as the wrecks of Gloster Gladiators from Norwegian mountains for UK museum restoration and display.
His experience in this sphere over so many years makes him one of the most knowledgeable experts in his field, resulting in frequent demands for input to written works, research, films and documentaries.