W/T Transcript.... Remote Contactor, Pip Squeak etc

[Killratio]

Just to get you interested..this is something I dug up a while back. YES, they really DID talk like this..:

The code of the man calling and the code of the "target of the transmission were always stated..on every line. This was not over formality..it was because the mics of the day needed time to "wake up" and this gave the time without missing any desperately important info. Early on "Hullo" etc was used to further space the important info:


BEAUTY LEADERS R/T LOG
One hour's patrol on Maidstone Line 18.3.41

0916 Beauty Leader to Anteater: Are you receiving me?
Anteater to Beauty Leader: Receiving you loud and clear. Are you receiving me?
B.L. to A. Receiving you loud and clear also. Understand patrol MICA Angels 9.
A. to B.L. Angels 11.
B.L. to A. Understand patrol MICA Angels 11. Is this correct?
A. to B.L. Correct.
0919 A. to B.L. Zero in 10 seconds (given). Pipsqueaker in.
A. to Beauty Pipsqueaker: Zero received. Pip in.
Beauty Pipsqueaker: O.K.
0920 Voice: Put your wheels up.
B.L. to K. How many behind me?
K. to B.L. 3 more coming up.
B.L. to K. Come on Q, get up there!
K. to B.L. Q is weaver.
B.L. to K. What the Hell is he doing on my left then?
0926 B.L. Turning right, go!
B.L. to A. Have you any information for me?
A. to B.L. No, nothing at all. Just cruise around.
B.L. to K. O.K.
0944 A. to B.L. Do not forget to saunter.
B.L. to A. O.K.
0958 B.L. to A. Have you any further information for me?
A. to B.L. No, nothing for you.
B.L. to A. O.K. This is rather boring.
A. to B.L. Your message received rather sympathetically.
1006 Voice: 2 aircraft leaving the formation.
B.L. Who are they?
Voice. One has rejoined, the other is going down; G. I think.
B.L. to G. Why have you left the formation?
G. to B.L. I lost you in the sun.
B.L. to G. You are very stupid. Come up again.
B.L. to Y2. Stop b..g…g about and join formation.
Y2 to B.L. Coming up now; I see you.
1007 B.L. to A. Are you getting the pips O.K.?
A. to B.L. Yes, thank you.
Y2 to B.L. I am now back in formation.
B.L. to Y2. O.K.
B.L. to A. Are you getting a squeak with the pip?
A. to B.L. No, everything O.K.
B.L. to A. Am getting a lot of interference with the pip.
B.L. to Pipsqueaker: Pip out and let someone else pip in.
B.L. to A. Give B2 fresh zero.
1011 A. to B.L. Zero in 50 seconds. (Given). Pip in.
A. to B2. Was my zero received?
A. to B.L. Was that O.K.?
B.L. to A. Say again please.
A. to B.L. I say again: Did B2 receive my zero and P/S?
B2 to A. No, did not receive your zero P/S. Please give another.
1012 A. to B2 O.K., zero in 50 seconds.
1013 A. to B2 Zero in 9 seconds. (Given). P/S in.
B2 to A. Zero received. Pip in.
A. to B2 O.K.
1019 B.L. to A. Have you any information for me?
A. to B.L. Yes, you will be relieved very shortly now.
B.L. to A. Thank Heavens for that!



Beauty Leader would have been S/Ldr Michael Robinson, DSO DFC. Anteater would have been the Sector Controller and "G" would have been a Twat!!!


Also notice that, just like Mitchell said in the manual, some clown (probably "G" too!!) left his wheels down after takeoff....

[Bleddyn]

Interesting read, thank you.

[CPDST]

I loved reading that

And despite the clumsy method of communication, they still managed to managed to have fun.

Though I imagined by the time Beauty Leader was relieved, he was feeling a little exasperated.

[Killratio]

Yep, "received rather sympathetically" .. priceless!!!


W/T discipline was relatively lax at times but at others stern words ensued. A little like modern ATC really!



Darryl

[VulcanB2]

That was good!

What was the zero in reference to - switching off IFF?

Why a 50 second call?

Best regards,
Robin.

[Killratio]

The "zero" was a signal to set the Remote Contactor at the start of the minute. Sort of like syncronising watches before parachuting into the German Nunnery to capture the painting of the "Fallen Madonna with the Big B^^bies"

The Remote Contactor was a clockwork device, so the zero was the equivalent of the starting gun.
So when a new aircraft took over the "Pipsqueak" duties, he needed to time in witn the ground controller.

The 50 seconds was, I suspect to give a single seater, overworked pilot, time to get everything set correctly.


Darryl

[VulcanB2]

I see. Thanks!

Best regards,
Robin.