EARS OF ENGLAND ON NONSTOP VIGIL
The ability of listening-posts . in England to identify purely by sound unseen aircraft flying a great distance away lias become one of the achievements of the war. Their vital work in the defence of England is described by Cnarles Gardiner, a BBC commentator, who visited one of the posts. It was one of hundreds, probably thousands, along the South Coast. On top of an apartment house, it commanded what the proprietress in peace-time would describe a>s a "glorious vista of the Channel.'" The actual post is only C>ft by -Ift. and is in operation 21 hours of the day. Gardiner said he was amazed by; the keenness of the men's cars and eyes. They seemed able to sight a 'plane long before it became visible. One of the men was crouched be-i hind a chimney pot. He signalled and all became quiet. Others watched a map marked oil' in squares. "There's something out there on Square Q, ,; said the listener. 'It has twin engines and I think it's ;j Blenheim." "He was right," says Gardiner. "A Blenheim broke the clouds to get its landfall." A few hours earlier the post had detected a 'plane out. at sea and identified it as a Dornier. The news was sent to the nearest aerodrome, and -half a minute later Hurricanes were roaring overhead. A note in the log-book records ■ that the Dornier was shot down. "Some of the official recognition should go to these men who keep up this non-stop vigil and perform such vital - work," Gardiner suggests.
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 192, 29 July 1940, Page 3
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261EARS OF ENGLAND ON NONSTOP VIGIL Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 192, 29 July 1940, Page 3
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