Civilian Buyer of RAF Neatishead Wants To Get Type 84 Radar Working

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

Originally Posted by MPN11

When did Eastern Radar finally expire, and move to LATCC and then Swanwick?

That would have been 1988, MPN11. I was Ops 3A at HQ MATO at the time and part of my remit was the (long-delayed) move of ERD from the stone age to the brave new world of digital radar displays, SIRS, BEGs, CERDs, plasma input devices and a telephone system that BT wouldn't give a 'green circle' to, so it couldn't be connected to the national system! Due to the inertia built up over the many postponed attempts to effect the move, I had the 'delight' of having a conversation with, the then, OC ERD that went along the lines of: "I don't care what the history of the project is, Sir, but you will be operating from West Drayton in 6 weeks time; and the AOC wants your Op and Admin Orders for the move on his desk for ratification by the end of the week. This IS happening this time - trust me!"

Up to that point the East North East Project had been under the 'Never gonna happen' banner and precisely nothing - but nothing - had been put in train to effect the move!! Oh My - did the effluent hit the rotating machinery at Watton thereafter; I understand much midnight oil was burned.......

[MPN11]

Thanks, DML ... having dragged out my P2 box-file that all fits. Nigel went to be OC ERD, and I took over from him as MR1 at NATS [despite being completely unqualified for the post!]. I was really pissed off, as I was the most experienced ERD wg cdr in the circuit ... over 7 years there, man and boy over 2 tours, from fg off to sqn ldr Senior Sup and OC Trg Sqn. But AOC MATO pulled the strings, as I noted up-thread, so that was that. The start of my deep disillisionment with the Branch! Still, at least as MR1 I gave you the CATCS VISSIM, even if I was never invited to the opening!