I was one of the R.N. observers posted to 8 Squadron to help train the RAF in airborne Fighter Control and Airborne Early Warning techniques.

As the aircraft’s TACO I was responsible for the aircraft but only once we were on station. When doing Continuation Training, transit to/from station or (as on one occasion) 10 plus hours of low level survivor search I and my fellow AEW operators were mere talking ballast.

Pilot 1 and Nav 1 were in charge.

The AN-APS 20 radar was more than capable of detecting coast lines. Over land it was pretty useless. An accurate way to remove aircraft motion from the radar picture (i.e. GPS) was a long way in the future.

I was in California from 1973 to 1976 and in April 1977 resigned to pursue a career as a pilot. At some stage prior to 1973 as noted above I was on 8 squadron but I left after a little over a year. I also trained a number of RAF navigators who were posted to 849 Squadron to learn AEW techniques in anticipation of the formation of an AEW squadron in RAF colours. The majority were great! A tiny minority less so and at least one of these individuals ended up in a management role in 8 squadron.

I think it relevant to note that on 14 February 1979 the last aircraft carrier (HMS Ark Royal) was decommissioned and all fixed wing RN AEW was given over to the rotary fleet.

Thus those fixed wing R.N. observers who helped 8 squadron transition to the AEW role were long gone by the time this dreadful accident occurred.