The Royal Observer Corps, its network of underground bunkers, and the valuable work of its thousands of trained Observers, are the subject of a programme completed in Summer 2002.
Formed in 1925 as the Observer Corps, the role of the Corps was to give an early warning of the airborne attack of London. This network of aircraft observation posts was gradually expanded, and in World War II aided with aircraft tracking in the Battle of Britain, and saved many lives through their early warnings of attack. This work earned the Corps its Royal title from 1941.
Stood down at the end of the war, the Corps was reformed in 1947 when the risk of attack seemed to have increased again, this time from Russia. In some parts of the country their aircraft spotting and tracking role continued from then well into the 60s, but in 1955 the foremost task of the Royal Observer Corps was changed.
From 1955 until 1991, had the UK come under nuclear attack, the small 3-man "ROC Posts" were designed to monitor nuclear bursts and subsequent fall-out.
Reporting the data to the United Kingdom Warning & Monitoring Organisation, their valuable information would have helped construct a picture of the effects on the country and been used to assist the survivors.
In this programme we tell the story of the Corps through the eyes of the Observers:
What was involved with being a member of the Corps?
How did it feel to be part of a crew?
Did we ever come close to being involved in a nuclear attack?
PRICE £19.99 including UK delivery
For more information about the programme visit: CyclopsTV - Tocsin Bang
Also available - Sentinels of Britain - The Wartime Story of the Royal Observer Corps
