Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/announcement.php?f=13

I do not know about it ;( - so much very interested and friendly people ! Great job , support , help ...... this is not good information ;(

But THANK YOU for this 20 years Your Administration Dear Ruy ! ;) I wish You all the best !

Maybe this forum could be still open ? Really no chance ? ;)
Also all the best for forum friends and members ! Thank You All colegues / Senior members / Authors of books .... for help ! ;)

Kris
(Szczecin/Poland)

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

oh heck no!

Perhaps someone would be willing to take the forum over?

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

I warned about this a few times. Archive this site, as was done with the Luftwaffe Experten Message Board.

Unlike books, which last for many years, people need to realize what the internet is.

I thank Ruy and all here for their hard work and interest. Perhaps someone else can take up this task.


Ed West

*this forum is closing down 31st august 2025*
 

In case you missed it (it isn't obvious) - see the pinned announcement at the top of each sub-section :-(

Given the massive amount of important data available here hopefully someone will want to take over as forum administrator?

If it's a question of money then I would definitely be willing to chip in. Anyone know how to set up a go fund me page?

Re: *this forum is closing down 31st august 2025*
 

Yes, indeed, assuming Ruy is willing to hand it over.
The other question is, if the forum could be archived, as it would be a tremendous loss of historic information.

Re: *this forum is closing down 31st august 2025*
 

I warned about this. It should be archived just like the Luftwaffe Experten Message Board.

People need to realize what the internet is. It's not a book that can be kept for a long time and referred to, it's electronic bits that will disappear unless a plan is put in place to archive this site. Thee was a lot of important historical information on the LEMB. I can still log on. I don't think that's the case for others.

Re: *this forum is closing down 31st august 2025*
 

Yes, frustratingly, you can see the titles of the threads on the LEMB but you cannot open them.

This is yet another major flaw of the internet compared to hard copy documents: if someone switches it off, it all instantly disappears.

I fear for future historians trying to research the 21st century. I know of huge digital archives at local newspapers with 100,000s of photos and stories (many with WW2 content) that have disappeared at the touch of a button when the newspaper archive downsizes/saves data costs.

Re: *this forum is closing down 31st august 2025*
 

It's time to list other sites where people can post.

Re: *this forum is closing down 31st august 2025*
 

It's a shame. For the last twenty years, whether at home or at work, I would always check the Forum to see what was new and exciting. That and the great help people such as Leendert and Rswank who provided many answers to my questions. As WWII, recedes into the distance, governments are starting to increase their Defense budget, leading one to think that WWIII is around the corner.

Re: *this forum is closing down 31st august 2025*
 

Europe is afraid of Russia.

Back to the subject, start listing other sites where research can continue.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

It's been apparent after past crashes that there are several people here (me included) who would be willing to make a financial contribution toward a new forum, if anyone felt moved to take on the set-up and administration. There also seemed to be a few here who knew something about the necessary software.

P.S. One post here mentioned possible alternative forums and I've posted occasionally on ww2aircraft.net although currently it seems heavily skewed to 'what-if?' questions.

Re: *this forum is closing down 31st august 2025*
 

Back to the subject, start listing other sites where research can continue.[/quote]


https://www.luftwaffe-research-group.com

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

I have much enjoyed the discussions here and the people/members were one of the most helpful and sophisticated when asked for help. this forum will be missed....a lot.
good luck Ruy and THANK YOU!

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

If we need to support the forum financially, I think many of us could chip in? (For server fees).
I'm not an IT or website management expert. So, I'm afraid I can't help with that. However, I can contribute financially.

Maybe someone would actually be able to take over the Administration if R allows it?

Kris

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

that's what I'm hoping too.... I have sounded out the guy who runs my own website. Let's see what he says

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

As an admin on a large forum on another site, I know what it costs to run something like this. The problem here is the average poster does not know the annual or monthly cost. If the cost is known then things can move forward.

And if nothing is done, then all of this disappears. I recommend a download of everything to cloud storage, with access, if the other options are not workable.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

I e-mailed the "Contact Us" at the bottom of the page and inquired about the costs to buy the forum but have not received any reply.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

It really doesnt cost much to run a forum like this. ask me how i know. Should be the cost of a nice family lunch once a month. ( There is the startup cost of buying the software license in the first place. )

However, the real cost is in the personal time that the administrator has to invest.. and the stress of the site going down once in a while. The cost of the human minutes cannot be priced. and hence i understand Ruy's decision. there comes a point where you cant put a price on your time.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

No. Most Admins there are loose self indulging numb nuts.
Most can not tell a 109 from a 190 .

Post anything beyond and they will gang up edit posts or delete. Silently. Ask me how I know..

There is a reason why writers do not frequent that site any more.

I am how ever would be interested to take over from Ruy.

There is so much info on this board it would be awfull to see it gone.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

I , for one would be willing to pay a fee for the maintenance of this site

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Indeed....a terrible loss if the forum disappears. It's really down to Ruy I guess.

Ruy, you have at least two offers now from people willing to take the forum over and keep it going, be great if you could respond to either of them.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

D'oh, maybe we should organise a bottle drive.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Hi rich,

The whole process may be in progress right now.

Like Trump meeting Putin, we don't know what's being said. :)

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Hi all,

I'm currently traveling abroad with limited connectivity, so I've just read Ruy's announcement about TOCH being shut down at the end of the month. It's very sad, but it was foreseeable. It'd be great if someone else would be able to pick up the reins and continue the site in its existing form, but even if that doesn't happen, I can assure you that all of its invaluable contents will not be lost.

Some time ago, I posted that I was busy archiving TOCH. Here's a quick update:
- I currently have a complete archive of the forum up to November 2024.
- I'll be back home in a few days, and then I'll work as quickly as possible to update the archive with all the changes since then. (This process is trickier than it used to be because the forum's hosting provider now employs anti-scraping measures that block bots after a certain number of page requests. I used to be able to download the entire site in one big 4-day session, but now it has to be done in many small chunks.)
- When it's ready, I will publish the archived version of TOCH at a new domain name (to be announced soon.) It will be made available free of charge, without any ads or tracking cookies.

I will be publishing further progress updates here at TOCH until it closes, and also at the Luftwaffe Research Group forum (luftwaffe-research-group.com) If you don't have access to that site or would like to receive email updates instead, please send your email address to this address: luftkrieg_at_msn.com (just replace the _at_ with an @)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ruy Horta for providing us with this wonderful discussion forum for all these years (in two different incarnations!) It has been a privilege to learn from this distinguished community, and to participate in our common passions.

Regards,
Leon Venter

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Thank you, Leon!

It is very sad that this forum may cease to exist. I think all of us, the participants, have gained a lot from communicating in this wonderful place.

And many thanks to Ruy Horta.

Best regards,
Andrey

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Thank you to Ruy and everyone for making this board so useful and such a friendly place to visit during the last 20 odd years.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Hi,

Like many others - this forum has been a real support to me and provided a wealth of information. I feel that there is a real community of knowledge and specialists who provide help and guidance for less exprienced guys like myself - a real mix of authors, academics and enthusiasts who are just focused on military aviation history and not the politics that could go with it.

I too would be willing to provide a monthly subscription to help with the upkeep of the forum - surely there is too much information to lose and too close a kinship between us all to let this fade away?

Rick

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

SECONDED

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Hello gentlemen,

Can we all choose a "virtual bar" where we can meet again and continue our hobby (i.e., emergency lifeline)? Time is running out. Unless someone takes over this forum, then this question won't arise ;) (as volunteers have shown up in this thread). With all due respect to Roy and his forum.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

A decision needs to be made now and communicated now regarding where people here will go. Barring a last minute reprieve which must be posted here, this is all going away. I am grateful that Ruy set this up but unless new ownership appears, there will be no site to return to.


If that happens, I will give ww2aircraft.net a try.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

From a number of posts on this thread it appears to be very difficult to elicit any response from Ruy, but Jagan, one of those offering to host the forum (#19), has already archived the whole TOCH forum, see #10 of https://forum.rafcommands.com/forum/...lock-highforum, but note his caveats.
Brian

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

It's nice to know this site has been archived but that does not solve the problem of posting new material going forward. I suggest launching an entirely new site should nothing happen regarding a change of ownership.


But, that decision needs to happen very soon and get posted here, before the lights go out.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Agreed Ed, I really posted the link for info. A great pity Ruy has not yet responded to the several offers.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Gentlemen,


The clock is ticking. Plan your next move should nothing happen here in the meantime. The incredibly bad thing about the internet is that no one will be able to contact anyone. So, I suggest making those direct contacts now. Request that email address. Or find another site to move to.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Ruy please answer !

there are a bunch of people willing either to pay ( I am among them) or give time.

You created something unique with TOCH, don't let it die.

One of my friends wrote what follows, it is so true and I am on the same wave:

"if the past records are not available, it would be a tremendous loss. There is no other historic research resource like it. So many knowledgeable people, many subject matter experts, learned historians, and niche area specialists with years of experience, are connected. Most are more than willing to educate, answer questions, and share information. Hopefully, someone will take the webmaster helm, the site will continue, and past records will be preserved and accessible. I would be willing to pay for membership. That’s the least I can do."

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

Patience one and all; Ruy is busy and will no doubt answer in due course

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

One possibility for remaining in contact, and also posting information, would be the formation of a Facebook page. Perhaps simply titled 'The TOCH continuation'.

Whereas the topics posted would be wide-ranging, it would mean a continuation of the posting of information.

This may be the way forward should this website tank...

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

I think it's an excellent idea to create - quickly and easily - a Facebook forum, even temporarily, until a final solution is found.

Re: Please have a look ! ---- No ! ;(
 

A fine idea John. Whatever is happening behind the scenes will do no good if it's not communicated here before the closing date. I understand such things take time. I have been involved in business negotiations for over 40 years. Most people have little knowledge or little interest in such things.

However, the Luftwaffe Experten Message Board is a good example of what can happen. I can still log on. There is a lot of good information there but I suspect the average person cannot.

Another example is the Luftwaffe Archives and Records Group (LWAG). Those hearing about it for the first time might be able to see the landing page or an individual page but that's it.