D DAY Air Traffic Control

Thanks for the suggestions on this one

Some detail of the vessels involved;

https://www.combinedops.com/FDTs.htm

Somewhere I have seen diagrams depicting corridors for the out and return journey, the various elements then used different heights and timings for separation, I suspect it was no more controlled then that.
You will find this interesting from the Melvern Site https://mraths.org.uk/?page_id=84 the unbelievable determination and bravery described here that happened on OMAHA and GOLD beaches https://mraths.org.uk/?page_id=2838

Richard

In September of 1943, a number of mobile GroundControl Interception (GCI) radar teams began to be trained at RAF Chigwell in preparation for the Normandy landings and the campaign across Europe as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, they used target aircraft based at North Weald.

One of these, 15082 GCI of 21 Base Defence Sector along with its Mobile Signals Unit and an additional Light Warning Set radar, was attached to the US forces and landed on Omaha Beach, suffering 48 dead and wounded out of 180 airmen, NCOs and officers, with only 8 out of 27 vehicles getting off the beach. Their blue battledress uniforms attracted fire from both the Germans and Americans. The unit claimed its first kill on 10 June, along with a probable. There is an interesting website about this unit.

Thanks Graham – and for Rob try the Fighter Controllers link

Contact Christine Ballantine in Vancouver – [email]pekes70@shaw.ca[/email] Her father was an Air Trafficer on the beaches at D-day and was killed for his trouble. He was previously a Defiant and Beaufighter pilot, but due to injury was moved to Air Traffic. She’s very approachable.

Graham, aka Feroxeng

Interesting question. Obviously there was no ATC as we know it today. I am not sure when inland radar coverage of the UK started? I have spoken to plenty of veterans who served during the war and post war, and some ATC staff from post war and it was all very ad hoc. I met a vetran who delivered Mosquitos to Turkey in 1947 and there was no en-route ATC through Europe then. With regard to D-day there certainly was radar coverage but I don’t think there was control as we know it apart from vectoring fighters to targets. I have researched 264sqn, a Mosquito night fighter squadron who was active over the beach head from D-day for around two weeks and they shot down a good number of the Luftwaffe with the help of ground based radar in the UK, and within a few days mobile unites in France.