Walter Verstraeten is a life-long aviation buff, but only came to write about his favorite subject after an early retirement. Often referred to as a man for all seasons, he started his career as artillery surveyor only to realize he was in the wrong place. He returned to civil life to start a successful career as a logistician and physical distribution expert. He still cherishes the years he worked for U.S. companies such as Levi Strauss, Vanity Fair, and Raychem and for Belgium-based GIB Holding, a major supermarket chain. After retirement, he became an aviation researcher and writer.
Verstraeten had no idea what four pages written in his first aviation book about U.S. P-47 pilot Bill Grosvenor would trigger. For reasons that will never be known, David, Bill's son, found out about the book and managed to get hold of the author through the mighty Internet. The rest is history. Verstraeten found himself catapulted into what would become the adventure of his life. Being a first rate filmmaking dummy and finding himself suddenly amongst top-notch filmmakers was thrilling, but also very challenging. His capacities in terms of logistics would become a major faculty in the making of "Last Best Hope." He managed to pry open doors that had been closed to the camera for as long as one could remember. He tenaciously investigated and found the people of the Comète and EVA lifelines and conducted the interviews in Flemish and French. Verstraeten proudly cherishes the description given by his colleagues as to his role in the picture: "The definition of 'a solution' is Walter with a cell phone at his ear."
"Last Best Hope" has given a new meaning and depth to Verstraeten's life. He found new challenges, but in the first place he found true friends bound for life. The film created ties between the filmmakers that are unique and have become indestructible. The film became his life. As he once stated: "'Last Best Hope' is what I would like to be remembered by."
