Sir Kenneth Adam (1921-2016), OBE, born Klaus Hugo Adam, was a production designer famous for his set designs for the James Bond films of the 1960s and 1970s. Initially, he trained as an architect in London, but in October 1943, he became one of only two German-born fighter pilots to fly with the RAF in wartime. He joined 609 Squadron where he flew the Hawker Typhoon fighter bomber. After the war, he entered the film industry, initially as a draughtsman on This Was a Woman. His portfolio of work includes Barry Lyndon and The Madness of King George; he won an Oscar for both films. Having a close relationship with Stanley Kubrick, he also designed the set for the iconic war room in Dr Strangelove. Sir Ken Adam was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003.

Title: Trying to avoid being hit by our own explosions

Listeners: Christopher Sykes

Tags: RAF, Royal Air Force, Second Tactical Air Force, British Army, Canadian Army, 1944, Lasham Airfield, Lasham, Gatwick, Northolt

Duration: 2 minutes

Date story recorded: December 2010 and January 2011

Date story went live: 15 August 2011