WW2 aircrew in ATC
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Thanks to all of you for your contributions.
I am only interested in those that served in the UK Services but thanks for the offer for the US controller.
When I have exhausted one or two other avenues I will put together a list and post it here.
Keep 'em coming!!
I am only interested in those that served in the UK Services but thanks for the offer for the US controller.
When I have exhausted one or two other avenues I will put together a list and post it here.
Keep 'em coming!!
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WJQ McGrath
Training officer at Aldergrove in my time ( 1964/5 ) I understood that he was William James Querke McGrath, that he was indeed the aircrew member who walked over the mountains to freedom on a broken leg (the version I was given was that he walked over the Alps as an escaped prisoner into Switzerland, rather than as an evader into Spain, but heroic either way!)
He was known simply as "Q" or "the wee man"
He was known simply as "Q" or "the wee man"
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Permit me to add the name of Bob Seed - SATCO Pershore in the early '70s.
I was told he'd flown Spitfires, but I know not when. No doubt someone can find that info.
I was told he'd flown Spitfires, but I know not when. No doubt someone can find that info.
I've dragged a few more names out of my grey cells:-
T R Newton - the boss at Birmingham in 1974, he had been an ATCO1 since 1949, I guess must have been in WW2.
On C Watch at LATCC in the '70s,
Archie 'Jock' Moffatt
Stewart McIvor
Bernard McDonnell
Reg Prior
Jimmy Cox
Norman Whitelock
Graham Stevens
Bob Rowland-Rouse - he may possibly have been just too young
John Woodbridge - who may also have flown Lancasters
Dick ( R K L ) Yeo
There must have been a similar number on the other 4 watches, 'Talkdown Man' may be able to recall some.
T R Newton - the boss at Birmingham in 1974, he had been an ATCO1 since 1949, I guess must have been in WW2.
On C Watch at LATCC in the '70s,
Archie 'Jock' Moffatt
Stewart McIvor
Bernard McDonnell
Reg Prior
Jimmy Cox
Norman Whitelock
Graham Stevens
Bob Rowland-Rouse - he may possibly have been just too young
John Woodbridge - who may also have flown Lancasters
Dick ( R K L ) Yeo
There must have been a similar number on the other 4 watches, 'Talkdown Man' may be able to recall some.
aceatco, retired
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John (Jack) Costello was an ATCO at Luton when I started. Didn't say much about the war but I gather he was in the Royal Artillery and evacuated off the beaches at Dunkirk. Back in Blighty 'was bored' and transferred to RAF.
Only remember two stories.
As an instructor on Wellingtons, student opened up too quickly on take off and aircraft shot off the side heading towards the control tower.
"What did you do, Jack?"
Sucks on pipe . . .
"Do? Do? What do you think I did? I retracted the undercarriage of course."
He flew an Anson during the Berlin Airlift, checking the Eureka beacons at the Berlin airfields. They wouldn't give him a gap in the landing stream so fitted in visually in between.
I am sure I must have known others.
Great idea this thread.
Only remember two stories.
As an instructor on Wellingtons, student opened up too quickly on take off and aircraft shot off the side heading towards the control tower.
"What did you do, Jack?"
Sucks on pipe . . .
"Do? Do? What do you think I did? I retracted the undercarriage of course."
He flew an Anson during the Berlin Airlift, checking the Eureka beacons at the Berlin airfields. They wouldn't give him a gap in the landing stream so fitted in visually in between.
I am sure I must have known others.
Great idea this thread.
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More than just a stroll to Spain it seems: 
THE ROLE OF THE IRISH IN WW2 from Ireland?s Own 2013. by CON McGRATH | Erne Heritage Tours
THE ROLE OF THE IRISH IN WW2 from Ireland?s Own 2013. by CON McGRATH | Erne Heritage Tours
ATC RAF Brize Norton in the late 1970s was where I had the pleasure of working with Master Pilot Lapka. A Polish pilot who flew in the RAF during WW2; I'm afraid I don't know what he flew, though.
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Then there was the field examiner...Jimmy Stewart? Mosquito pilot I believe. I was in the bar in the officer's mess one lunchtime at Boulmer, towards the end of my cadetship when he sidled up to me and asked me what my reaction would be if I were to be posted to Glasgow. I said I'd be quite pleased, so he asked me to put that down on my preference chit that we all had to complete. A week later with some months to run at Border radar I was posted to Glasgow.
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Bernard McDonnell was my Dad. Trained up in the early 50's at Blackbushe. Used to cycle to HR from Woking, couldn't afford his own car 'till 1958! Approach Control at HR then West Drayton. I remember being taken up into the old tower a couple of times in late 50's, the dark radar room and the observation room at the top. Retd from West Drayton 1979. Passed away in 2009, and Mum in Sept this year. Had a ATCO colleague called Pat Carroll, also deceased, although I think Mrs Carroll is still around.
Entered active service WW2 early 1945, (delayed/transferred training) 55 squadron (navigator) but missed Alamein (1942) Kept in touch with his crew at least up to the '90's.
Had a brother, Jo, killed in a Hurricane off I o W, 1942. I have service records.
Entered active service WW2 early 1945, (delayed/transferred training) 55 squadron (navigator) but missed Alamein (1942) Kept in touch with his crew at least up to the '90's.
Had a brother, Jo, killed in a Hurricane off I o W, 1942. I have service records.
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For those interested in ATC history and indeed some pictures of a few of those mentioned here take a look at the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers' (GATCO) ATC history website at https://atchistory.wordpress.com/ Anyone is welcome to contribute to naming people or adding information on units, radar, buildings etc
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Gietta
Many thanks for the newspaper article concerning Q McGrath's escape. What a fantastic story! Previously I only had the briefest outline from one of the other controllers at Aldergrove. Q himself never spoke of it nor, like many of his contemporaries, of any of his other wartime experiences.
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Alan Pring. ex PATCRU flew Hurricanes [I think] we also had a Lanc tail gunner as an ATCA in the tower at Manch Bob ???? I made a model of his a/c with a Rose/Rice twin.50cal rear turret. Bert Spalton I think flew Hudsons, Phil Miles was ex Meteor but probably served in the war as did John Brown Manch tower watch manager
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John "Duff" Cooper was on B watch LATCC in the 80s , Wellington &/or Lancs.
. Still see him around Sandhurst.
I was always lead to believe Woo married Willy Messerschmidt's daughter!!
40612
Loving retirement.
. Still see him around Sandhurst.
I was always lead to believe Woo married Willy Messerschmidt's daughter!!
40612
Loving retirement.
More than just an ATCO
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A number of familiar names there. I think when I started in 1967 most of the controllers were ex aircrew.
Jock Ellis at Scottish.He told of flying his Typhoon into a sanddune during a sandstorm
Asso at Scottish, Bunny Crane, ex Mosquito IIRC and had done some flying for films
There's an incomplete list of RAF Officers here,World War II unit histories & officers. Although I suspect many were FS and not mentioned there
Jock Ellis at Scottish.He told of flying his Typhoon into a sanddune during a sandstorm
Asso at Scottish, Bunny Crane, ex Mosquito IIRC and had done some flying for films
There's an incomplete list of RAF Officers here,World War II unit histories & officers. Although I suspect many were FS and not mentioned there