When did Roald Dahl crash his fighter plane in the Libyan desert?
Roald Dahl crashed his fighter plane on the 19th of September 1940. The incident fractured his skull and temporarily blinded him while he lay unconscious for days.
Common questions about Roald Dahl
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What event in Roald Dahl's childhood inspired the character Miss Trunchbull?
Roald Dahl based the character Miss Trunchbull on the headmasters of his youth after he and four friends were caned for the Great Mouse Plot of 1924. This punishment led him to doubt God and shaped his fiction regarding adult tyranny.
Who did Roald Dahl meet at the British Embassy in Washington D.C.?
Roald Dahl met Ian Fleming and William Stephenson while serving as an assistant air attaché at the British Embassy in Washington D.C. He supplied information to Prime Minister Winston Churchill and helped neutralize American isolationism during the Second World War.
What medical device did Roald Dahl help develop after his son Theo was injured?
Roald Dahl collaborated with engineers and neurosurgeons to develop the Wade-Dahl-Till valve after his four-month-old son Theo suffered from hydrocephalus. This device has since helped thousands of children worldwide.
When did Roald Dahl die and what was the cause of his death?
Roald Dahl died on the 23rd of November 1990 from a rare cancer of the blood known as myelodysplastic syndrome. He was 74 years old when he passed away.
How many languages have Roald Dahl's books been published in?
Roald Dahl's books have been published in 63 languages and have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide. The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre opened in 2005 to preserve his legacy.