RAF 'Y' Stations etc.

[ted angus]

Yes Hawklaw it was handed from the PO to the FO

[NJR]

Should Branston Mere in Lincs be on?

[canberra]

I wonder if the Thurso site was what became the US Navy facility there?

[norwichpaul]

Chicksands was in the early days all three services (see the Chicksands history that will shortly be posted on the CMS)

[Carnaby]

Should Branston Mere in Lincs be on?

It's under 'Waddington' in the RAF list as 'Mere Branston'. Proving the official name for these sites could be difficult.

Graham

[canberra]

How was the Post Office or as it would have been called in those days The GPO involved?

[Carnaby]

How was the Post Office involved?

I wondered about that too, then found:

The story begins with a Post Office radio station at St Albans that was secretly reporting German wireless traffic to the Foreign Office in 1932. By the end of 1938, the military authorities asked the Post Office to set up a network of eavesdropping stations – the first of which was built at Sandridge near St Albans.
The three Armed services each built their own networks but more secret still were those operated by the Foreign Office and MI5 and MI6 who successfully tapped directly into the highest levels of German Secret Service communications.

I guess that the info passed to Bletchley was unknown until decoded - it could then transpire that the Navy had unknowingly forwarded a message originated by the Luftwaffe etc.

Graham

[canberra]

That answers that then, but Im from mthe fair city of St Albans and knew nothing about a GPO station at Sandridge, I wonder if it was an experimantal station? And was it involved with telegrams?

[Carnaby]

Updates in Archive for:

1) Several units in War Office section
2) Knockholt (Foreign Office section)

Source: England Needs You - The Story of Beaumanor, Joan Nicholls, 2000

Graham

[alistaire]

would you please tell me what a Y station is.
Thanks.