RAF Training Flying Control Centre

Royal Air Force Training Flying Control Centre
Ramsey, Isle of Man in Isle of Man
RAF Training Flying Control Centre Location in Isle of Man
Coordinates	54°19′12″N 4°23′44″W / 54.3199°N 4.3956°W / 54.3199; -4.3956
Type	Non-flying Air Traffic Advisory Centre
Site information
Owner	Isle of Man Government
Operator	Royal Air Force
Condition	Closed
Site history
Built	1933 (1933)
In use	1941–1945 (1945)
Fate	Reverted to educational use.
Battles/wars	European Theatre of World War II (1941–1945)
Garrison information
Past commanders	Wing Commander Bullimore
Garrison	RAF Training Command No. 9 Group RAF

The RAF Training Flying Control Centre was an early form of Aircraft Area Control Centre, the first of its kind in the world.^[1] It was situated at Ramsey Grammar School, Isle of Man.^[2]

Operational Role

1941 - 1943

Requisitioned by the Air Ministry, Ramsey Grammar School became the Operations Room for the fighter station at RAF Andreas when the station became operational in 1941.^[3] During that time information concerning all enemy aircraft flying in the area of the Irish Sea was processed by the Operations Room with aircraft being plotted on a large map, it then being the duty of the Operations Controller to task such fighters as was necessary to intercept; the Operations Room being particularly busy during raids on Liverpool, Glasgow and Belfast. With the resulting strategic shift of the Luftwaffe following the German Invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa) RAF Andreas became a training station and the Operations Room in turn became redundant.^[3][2]

However, with the multitude of RAF Stations situated around the Irish Sea area, considerable difficulty began to be experienced concerning the controlling of the various aircraft which were undertaking the training of numerous

1943 - 1945

In March 1943 a unit known as the Training Flying Control Centre (TFCC) was formed for this purpose being headed by

During the peak period of operations, the Station was responsible for the safety of training aircraft from ten separate stations, and it was not uncommon for the Controller and his duty watch of Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAFs) and airmen to be responsible for the safety of over 200 aircraft flying at the same time, each carrying an average crew of five.^[3]

The system of control was highly technical; the Operations Room being divided into three parts:^[3]

• Signals Interception Room. This was staffed by WAAFs who would listen out for all signals passed between aircraft for which the Station was responsible.
• Navigation Room. This is where the positions of the aircraft were mapped out using the bearing which had been intercepted by the
  wireless operators
  .
• Operations Room. This is where the information gathered would be plotted on the large plotting table.

The Operations Room could therefore be described as the main source of information regarding any form of aircraft distress in any part of the Western and Northwestern seaboards of the British Isles.^[3] The Controller was responsible for informing the various air sea and mountain rescue services and for generally collecting and passing on all information to the different parties concerned.^[3]

Due to the mountainous character of the

One such example of the efficiency of the operation was demonstrated during an incident in the winter of 1944. On that occasion a

Another instance was when an aircraft crash landed on the top of Snaefell. The wireless operator was able to work his set and a message was intercepted at Ramsey, the bearing of which was received by the controller who was able to work out the position of the aircraft. A message was sent to the crew asking them to fire flares and every coastguard was briefed to take a bearing of any such signals visible. In a short time the aircraft was located and within 30 minutes of the crash the crew had been rescued.^[3]

Royal Visit

The centre was visited by

With the ending of hostilities the Royal Air Force Training Flying Control Centre's operations were wound down. The facility was derequisitioned and closed in the Autumn of 1945.^[1]

Following a period of approximately 18 months the buildings in which the centre was housed re-opened as part of Ramsey Grammar School.^[1]

References