Forum Closing

[Alex Smart]

Suggest RAF Commands Forum, they have a photo archive.
For RAF photos.
And WW2 Airforce,net for other aviation stuff.

[leonventer]

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

[edwest2]

Thank you Alex. Good suggestions. Here's hoping an offer to continue the hosting of this forum is under consideration right now. I am considering moving to ww2aircraft.net should any negotiations fall through.


Best,
Ed West