One important name missing from the list of the Project Board – John Romain.

Ian – I think we are getting somewhere.

I read that a Group Control Centre (GCC) comprised one AMES Type 70; one Forward (or Fighter) Director Post (FDP); and one Mobile Radar Control Post (MRCP). The FDP and the MRCP were positioned at dispersed locations and not co-located with the AMES Type 70. Each GCC was based on a convoy of some 30 specialist vehicles, ranging from aerial carriers, control cabins, a mobile telephone exchange and domestic accommodation.

I further understand that a FDP was based on an AMES Type 25 mobile radar convoy, each comprising a Type 11 (50 cm), a Type 13 (10 cm), a Type 14 (10 cm) and a Type 15 (1.5 m) radar. These radars were used to direct fighters and to assist offensive support aircraft to reach ground targets. Each FDP could control up to three simultaneous interceptions and was resistant to jamming because of the range of wavelengths available.

Based on your comments at #13, are we looking at the FDP section of a GCC rather than the core Type 70 itself?

There is a lot of gen and photos on the Airfield Research Group’s forum Airfield Information Exchange. However, that site is down over Christmas whilst it is totally revamped. Watch out for the new website any time soon.

Extract from the CAA’s press release yesterday:

“In relation to the validity of the alternative means of compliance (AMOC) for ongoing maintenance of the aircraft, we have already informed the AAIB that this was in place and was valid at the time of the accident.

Work under the alternative means of compliance was carried out in January 2014 with the next inspection due in January 2016 making the organisation and the aircraft compliant with the Mandatory Permit Directive.”

My use of bold.

Or a Chipmunk?

AEC Mandator Mk III, with 1959 Nottingham registration mark.

I see from the firm’s website that the photo is captioned ‘Late 1950s’ and that they moved from East Markham to Tuxford in 1960.

Its Halton. The Censor has blotted out New Workshops to the extreme right of the shot.

Probably a normal working parade with the massed Apprentices preparing to march back to Wings behind the Pipe Band for lunch (marching is far easier than walking).

Don’t be too impatient!