WW2 aircrew in ATC
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From: London
WW2 aircrew in ATC
Just for historical interest I am trying to put together a list of ww2 aircrew who went on to become a civil ATCO/ATCA or other job within ATC. IF anyone can help please add to the list - name - aircraft flown - ATC unit (and any other information if possible i.e. squadron ATC role etc)
thanks a lot
thanks a lot
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From: jersey
MANY ex WWII aircrew served as ATCOS. It was my privilege to have worked with the following (that I can remember).
Fred Mann Hurricanes (during the BoB). ATCO at LATCC.
Ron Holton Lancasters (force landed in the Sahara at night whilst ferrying the Lanc out to India; took part in the 1000 bomber raids on Germany). Chief Officer ATC at Edinburgh.
Harry Dalton, ex SATCO at Jersey (flew Wellingtons).
There were many more, but my memory for names is bad. I'm sure many of my ex colleagues will expand the list !
Fred Mann Hurricanes (during the BoB). ATCO at LATCC.
Ron Holton Lancasters (force landed in the Sahara at night whilst ferrying the Lanc out to India; took part in the 1000 bomber raids on Germany). Chief Officer ATC at Edinburgh.
Harry Dalton, ex SATCO at Jersey (flew Wellingtons).
There were many more, but my memory for names is bad. I'm sure many of my ex colleagues will expand the list !
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From: Wildest Surrey
Byron Jones - flew Mustangs from D-Day, de-mobbed at the end, recalled during Korean war and converted to Vampires, became ATCO at Southampton and Farnborough.
Bob Hutchinson - flew Spitfires during the war, had a few 'kills'. Told me he was doing an airtest one day in 1944 with no ammo; saw a dark shape go past with what looked like a flame from the rear (V1), turned and gave chase but couldn't catch it and had no ammo anyway. Became an ATC assistant at SATCC/LATCC serving at Uxbridge, Heathrow and West Drayton.
One of the senior controllers at LATCC during my period there (1969 -1971) was Des O'Connell who had a badly burned face picked up while flying in the war but I don't know what he flew.
Bob Hutchinson - flew Spitfires during the war, had a few 'kills'. Told me he was doing an airtest one day in 1944 with no ammo; saw a dark shape go past with what looked like a flame from the rear (V1), turned and gave chase but couldn't catch it and had no ammo anyway. Became an ATC assistant at SATCC/LATCC serving at Uxbridge, Heathrow and West Drayton.
One of the senior controllers at LATCC during my period there (1969 -1971) was Des O'Connell who had a badly burned face picked up while flying in the war but I don't know what he flew.
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From: An ATC centre this side of the moon.
Norman Alty, Lancaster Capt and won the DFC. Ended up as an ATCO at The Preston Area Control Centre Barton Hall. He was my next door neighbour and one of the reasons I ended up working the last 43 years in ATC
http://www.49squadron.co.uk/personne.../detail/Alty_N
http://www.49squadron.co.uk/personne.../detail/Alty_N
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From: Berkshire, UK
AC "Lucky" Craven ATCO on London Airways at SATCC. Last surviving member of his bomber crew, hence his nickname.
Jimmy Birchall Deputy SATCO at Heathrow. One of the office ladies was German. Jimmy - a very polite gentleman - asked what she did in the war "I was in the Hitler Youth, what did you do? Jimmy: "I flew Lancasters". I don't think they spoke again!
Larry Curry, Ex SATCO Leavesden. He was badly burned but I don't know what he flew.
Dennis Cooper ATCO at various airfields. Flew with 617 squadron.
Jimmy Birchall Deputy SATCO at Heathrow. One of the office ladies was German. Jimmy - a very polite gentleman - asked what she did in the war "I was in the Hitler Youth, what did you do? Jimmy: "I flew Lancasters". I don't think they spoke again!
Larry Curry, Ex SATCO Leavesden. He was badly burned but I don't know what he flew.
Dennis Cooper ATCO at various airfields. Flew with 617 squadron.
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From: Herefordshire
When I joined CAA in late '73 the vast majority of ATCOs aged c32+ were ex-military aircrew, those who were post-WW2 had in the main been either navs or signallers, but there was a fair sprinkling of ex-pilots.
Virtually all those who were 50 plus were ex-WW2 aircrew. For instance, on my watch at London Centre we had Dick Yeo a Fleet Air Arm pilot who had been on Arctic Convoys, Reg Prior and Jimmy Cox had been school buddies who met up again in a POW camp both having bailed out of burning bombers, Norman Whitelock had been a QFI at Bibury, Graham Stevens was one of several who had been trained at Pensacola in the USA etc etc.
There must have been hundreds of ATCOs who had seen wartime service as aircrew. Just mentioning those names above has made me think how much more respect those guys ( all were ATCO 1s ) were due compared with the plastic MBA type managers that NATS is full of these days.
A former member of Loki's cadet course was writing a history of ATC and he may well have information re WW2 personnel. He used to post here but I'm having a senior moment and can't recall his nom de plume.
Virtually all those who were 50 plus were ex-WW2 aircrew. For instance, on my watch at London Centre we had Dick Yeo a Fleet Air Arm pilot who had been on Arctic Convoys, Reg Prior and Jimmy Cox had been school buddies who met up again in a POW camp both having bailed out of burning bombers, Norman Whitelock had been a QFI at Bibury, Graham Stevens was one of several who had been trained at Pensacola in the USA etc etc.
There must have been hundreds of ATCOs who had seen wartime service as aircrew. Just mentioning those names above has made me think how much more respect those guys ( all were ATCO 1s ) were due compared with the plastic MBA type managers that NATS is full of these days.
A former member of Loki's cadet course was writing a history of ATC and he may well have information re WW2 personnel. He used to post here but I'm having a senior moment and can't recall his nom de plume.
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From: N Yorkshire, UK
My late father Ken Crossley was RAF(VR) Air Gunner attached 34 then 31 SAAF, commissioned in Egypt then briefly 221 Sqd, then MT Officer Steamer Point Aden, took Demob mid '46 joined Vauxhalls at Luton, had a serious fall out with a Shop Steward, 
rejoined Oct '46 (without advising Air Ministry of his problem at Vauxhall)
Then on rejoining became an ATCO following training at Watchfield Dec '46 - Feb '47, various UK postings finishing at Acklington Dec '50; left RAF and joined Airwork at Usworth as an ATCO meanwhile joining RAuxAF as ATCO later SATCO with 608 Sqd at Thornaby
Following closure of Usworth joined Crown Gents as an ATCO with the DCA in East Africa various postings Nairobi (Easleigh & West/Wilson), Dar Es Salaam, Tabora, Entebbe, Tabora again - his successor had fiddled the imprest account!!!, Zanzibar, Mombasa and finally Entebbe again where for a very short period he had the dubious pleasure of being the local (unpaid) Deputy Director
Following a run in with the local Tax man, returned to the UK in March '66 to take up the 'Colonial Gentlemans' dream of running a Pub!!!
PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)
rejoined Oct '46 (without advising Air Ministry of his problem at Vauxhall) Then on rejoining became an ATCO following training at Watchfield Dec '46 - Feb '47, various UK postings finishing at Acklington Dec '50; left RAF and joined Airwork at Usworth as an ATCO meanwhile joining RAuxAF as ATCO later SATCO with 608 Sqd at Thornaby
Following closure of Usworth joined Crown Gents as an ATCO with the DCA in East Africa various postings Nairobi (Easleigh & West/Wilson), Dar Es Salaam, Tabora, Entebbe, Tabora again - his successor had fiddled the imprest account!!!, Zanzibar, Mombasa and finally Entebbe again where for a very short period he had the dubious pleasure of being the local (unpaid) Deputy Director
Following a run in with the local Tax man, returned to the UK in March '66 to take up the 'Colonial Gentlemans' dream of running a Pub!!!
PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)
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From: The foot of Mt. Belzoni.
W.R.P. Perry.
Pete was the chairman of my final NATS selection board in 1979, and the ATCO i/c at EGCC. Another ex-Lancaster man and along with Norman Alty, a DFC. I was on the same watch as Norman who trained me in the tower.
We also had a gentleman called Ron Tuck, who, I believe flew Spitfires.
Mega respect to these guys.
Pete was the chairman of my final NATS selection board in 1979, and the ATCO i/c at EGCC. Another ex-Lancaster man and along with Norman Alty, a DFC. I was on the same watch as Norman who trained me in the tower.
We also had a gentleman called Ron Tuck, who, I believe flew Spitfires.
Mega respect to these guys.
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From: Berkshire, UK
Ahh Paddy - great bloke indeed. One rainy, windy evening he was on AIR and he suddenly said: "Who's that avoiding flack over Richmond tonight?" A scared voice replied: "Is it heavy tonight London?"
Also Geoff Large, my first Sup at Heathrow. He flew Bomber a/c back from Canada but my brain is too shot to remember the salient details.
Dick Stokes was running the training office when I arrived at Heathrow in '72. I had no idea he was ex-Lancs.
Also Geoff Large, my first Sup at Heathrow. He flew Bomber a/c back from Canada but my brain is too shot to remember the salient details.
Dick Stokes was running the training office when I arrived at Heathrow in '72. I had no idea he was ex-Lancs.
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Berkshire, UK
OK Loki.. I recall Geoff telling us a story one night about flying said aeroplanes to the UK without some important paperwork - maps? Had us rolling around.
They were a great bunch, completely mad of course.
They were a great bunch, completely mad of course.
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From: Farnham Surrey UK
Sgt Jan Masat, 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF.
Jan worked at LATCC as an ATCA in the Training Section, and latterly the Information Section.
It is thought that Jan served in France before joining 310 Squadron. Their records list him as "pilot/link trainer instructor".
This is interesting, as he was the only person on the squadron's "ground staff" to be listed as a pilot.
Jan, as so many of his generation were, was tight-lipped about his wartime service.
Jan worked at LATCC as an ATCA in the Training Section, and latterly the Information Section.
It is thought that Jan served in France before joining 310 Squadron. Their records list him as "pilot/link trainer instructor".
This is interesting, as he was the only person on the squadron's "ground staff" to be listed as a pilot.
Jan, as so many of his generation were, was tight-lipped about his wartime service.
Last edited by folkyphil; 1st October 2015 at 22:51.
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From: East Anglia
folkyphil
Jan was on FIR during my time on D&D, he kept us entertained during many of the long night watches! A remarkable gentleman who was a pleasure to work with. ISTR he had great difficulties occasioned by the soviet bloc.
Sgt Jan Masat, 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF.
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From: Australia
Don Charlwood, Flight lieutenant RAAF.
A product of the Empire Air Training Scheme, he served a complete tour as a navigator on 103 squadron RAF, flying wellingtons, halifax's and finally Lancasters.
After the war he wrote his memoirs of his war service https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Moon_Tonight
Don then worked for 30 years for the department of civil aviation in Austalia (now Airservices Australia) as an Air Traffic Controller, as well as a training and recruitment specialist.
Don passed away in 2012, and is remembered by an award named after him given to the outstanding graduate of each trainee ATC course.
A product of the Empire Air Training Scheme, he served a complete tour as a navigator on 103 squadron RAF, flying wellingtons, halifax's and finally Lancasters.
After the war he wrote his memoirs of his war service https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Moon_Tonight
Don then worked for 30 years for the department of civil aviation in Austalia (now Airservices Australia) as an Air Traffic Controller, as well as a training and recruitment specialist.
Don passed away in 2012, and is remembered by an award named after him given to the outstanding graduate of each trainee ATC course.