She was the best CO I had in my 22 years service. I believe that one Christmas she went to the Falklands Islands just to spend some time with her guys deployed down there. Good to see some pics of Neatishead ops room.
Plan to visit Neatishead this year. The place looks fascinating to a child of the Cold War like myself. Find them on line for bunker guided tours April to October inclusive. Post code for Sat Nav is NR12 8YB Us over sixties like myself get two Pounds off admission so £10 for us and £12 for you ‘young ‘uns’ Tours available and Group bookings. Open Tuesdays Wednesdays and Bank Holidays
They ar RAF fighter controllers in RAF Air Defence Centres neither UKWMO or ROC. NBC suits are standard RAF issue. Horrible things to wear as you have degraded senses of sight hearing touch and smell as when you go to NBC state 1 you wear a resirator and two layers of gloves as well. Everything becomes much more difficult to operate or communicate with in that environment @@SpeedbirdAircrew
Standard doctrine at the time, plus what they didn't show was what the RAF has always had which are unprotected facilities as well as a fall back. Then you need the suits to operate in a contaminated environment. Plus if you have an indirect hit which damages the bunker you have to escape into what could be a hostile environment @@SpeedbirdAircrew
Impressive, had me watching closely. Thanks for posting. Those sure appear to be the days. Now I believe there are no longer even any air defence dedicated squadrons. Madness. The Gp Capt. was impressive- she spoke plainly and struck me as a die hard professional. Enjoyed what appeared to be a Wattisham QRA scramble. Last I read the Army Air Corps has Wattisham now- time to tell them to move over the RAF is back and say station squadron of Tornado F.3's there. Of course with QRA.
@@bertiewooster3326 she was a extra special lady Bertie, she enjoyed her final yrs living in Carmarthenshire, had a small funeral with family & a few chaps from the RAF…
Died 24th May 2010, 'heart attack'. My guess is that she was born around 1939, and was thus around 71 when she died. I'm ex army so I would not have known about her but, from my subsequent professional training, I observed the professional, factual and logical nature of her behaviour and speech, yet she was clearly personable and related well to those she commanded.
Great video, an example of fine leader who had come up through the ranks certainly someone you can respect.Nice to see some video of a Marconi type 85 radar in use :-)
I was her PA at this time through; from her appt as CO for approx 18 mth before I was posted overseas.....via London! A great boss....pity she chain smoked. RIP Aunty Joan
