Great video, an example of fine leader who had come up through the ranks certainly someone you can respect.Nice to see some video of a Marconi type 85 radar in use :-)
I was her PA at this time through; from her appt as CO for approx 18 mth before I was posted overseas.....via London! A great boss....pity she chain smoked. RIP Aunty Joan
Impressive, had me watching closely. Thanks for posting. Those sure appear to be the days. Now I believe there are no longer even any air defence dedicated squadrons. Madness. The Gp Capt. was impressive- she spoke plainly and struck me as a die hard professional. Enjoyed what appeared to be a Wattisham QRA scramble. Last I read the Army Air Corps has Wattisham now- time to tell them to move over the RAF is back and say station squadron of Tornado F.3's there. Of course with QRA.
@@bertiewooster3326 she was a extra special lady Bertie, she enjoyed her final yrs living in Carmarthenshire, had a small funeral with family & a few chaps from the RAF…
She was the best CO I had in my 22 years service. I believe that one Christmas she went to the Falklands Islands just to spend some time with her guys deployed down there. Good to see some pics of Neatishead ops room.
Died 24th May 2010, 'heart attack'. My guess is that she was born around 1939, and was thus around 71 when she died. I'm ex army so I would not have known about her but, from my subsequent professional training, I observed the professional, factual and logical nature of her behaviour and speech, yet she was clearly personable and related well to those she commanded.
They ar RAF fighter controllers in RAF Air Defence Centres neither UKWMO or ROC. NBC suits are standard RAF issue. Horrible things to wear as you have degraded senses of sight hearing touch and smell as when you go to NBC state 1 you wear a resirator and two layers of gloves as well. Everything becomes much more difficult to operate or communicate with in that environment @@SpeedbirdAircrew
Standard doctrine at the time, plus what they didn't show was what the RAF has always had which are unprotected facilities as well as a fall back. Then you need the suits to operate in a contaminated environment. Plus if you have an indirect hit which damages the bunker you have to escape into what could be a hostile environment @@SpeedbirdAircrew
She was one of my COs during my RAF career, and one of the best, she always use to say “don’t mess my engineers about” - very protective.
Great video, an example of fine leader who had come up through the ranks certainly someone you can respect.Nice to see some video of a Marconi type 85 radar in use :-)
That takes me back to 1984 when I arrived and Joan Hopkins was still there. She was great.
I was there during the filming, Great CO and this has brought a lot of good memories back of Neatishead and Coltishall
I was her PA at this time through; from her appt as CO for approx 18 mth before I was posted overseas.....via London! A great boss....pity she chain smoked. RIP Aunty Joan
I went to Coltishall, as a air cadet in the early 1970’s…the front line fighter of the time were so impressive.Happy memories
Impressive, had me watching closely. Thanks for posting. Those sure appear to be the days. Now I believe there are no longer even any air defence dedicated squadrons. Madness. The Gp Capt. was impressive- she spoke plainly and struck me as a die hard professional. Enjoyed what appeared to be a Wattisham QRA scramble. Last I read the Army Air Corps has Wattisham now- time to tell them to move over the RAF is back and say station squadron of Tornado F.3's there. Of course with QRA.
Joan Hopkins with Margaret Thatcher are the most formidable women I have ever met ! She must have been gagging for a smoke during the interview !
@@bertiewooster3326 Yes Joan was my auntie & I’ve never ever seen her without a cigarette in her hand 😂👍🏻
@@Fabulous439 She was a great gal Emma !
@@bertiewooster3326 she was a extra special lady Bertie, she enjoyed her final yrs living in Carmarthenshire, had a small funeral with family & a few chaps from the RAF…
Thanks for sharing. This added context to my prior understanding.
She was the best CO I had in my 22 years service. I believe that one Christmas she went to the Falklands Islands just to spend some time with her guys deployed down there. Good to see some pics of Neatishead ops room.
Thank you for your service oddball1711. 👍🏻
A very different and far more capable RAF back then.
God help the UK should something happen today.
Thank you for your service, Joan Hopkins.
I was at Boulmer from 78-83 before going to STC, great times!
I was at Boulmer till 83 commcen
I was so proud to be in the Royal Air Force , Wonderful lady....
Back when Britain was still great.
its still great you on the other hand are old and fat.
The UK certainly is not great….far too many snowflakes…….
@@edwarwick8790
Totally agree.
Yep.
Britain wasn't great by that point. But it did a good line in bluffing about capabilities.
RIP Joan Hopkins.
Died 24th May 2010, 'heart attack'. My guess is that she was born around 1939, and was thus around 71 when she died. I'm ex army so I would not have known about her but, from my subsequent professional training, I observed the professional, factual and logical nature of her behaviour and speech, yet she was clearly personable and related well to those she commanded.
Amazing CO.
I was stationed at Bawdsey 1982
the "Image" at 06.00
is exactly what was stopped from happening
Awesome.
Good on her!
What an amazing women . Great film
knew her at SHAPE 82/83
The only thing I remember of Joan was she had no Idea what to do with missiles she tried to stand us down on the first day of a 3 day exercise.
Wg Cdr Doggett took me for a backseat sortie at Wattisham.Mad Dog was his callsign
What are they wearing during the exercise?
Nuclear Biological Chemical warfare suits, standard exercise kit at the time
robert lockhart oh I see didn’t realise they did that, I don’t think the UKWMO and ROC did that did they ?
They ar RAF fighter controllers in RAF Air Defence Centres neither UKWMO or ROC. NBC suits are standard RAF issue. Horrible things to wear as you have degraded senses of sight hearing touch and smell as when you go to NBC state 1 you wear a resirator and two layers of gloves as well. Everything becomes much more difficult to operate or communicate with in that environment @@SpeedbirdAircrew
robert lockhart was the bunker not NBC protected ? I expect though it would have had a direct hit should a war have started
Standard doctrine at the time, plus what they didn't show was what the RAF has always had which are unprotected facilities as well as a fall back. Then you need the suits to operate in a contaminated environment. Plus if you have an indirect hit which damages the bunker you have to escape into what could be a hostile environment @@SpeedbirdAircrew
56 Sqn “ Chicken in a basket “🤣
Type 80 radar.
Type 80 was older that this video. The T84 and T85 are featured.
@@steveowst Yes Steve your right I then went onto type 20 mobiles and all the upgrades of the bunkers mobile locations etc 1989/90
Bloodhounds
I did a tour at West Raynham around 84 I think.
85 Sqn Bawdsey
FREDDIE MERCURY - RIP