them off as some sort of electrical interference, but on this occasion there were a lot of them. Each of these paints was separated by about a mile in azimuth, and they varied in altitude between 3,000 and 7,000 feet. We could also easily pick them up on our Type 13 height finders, so that ruled out electrical interference on the Type 80 or the PPIs. Fascinatingly, these paints were travelling east-west into the prevailing breeze. Suspicions aroused, our Chief Controller checked with Brockzetel, and Üdem, our other main RAF GCIs. Both had seen migrating cranes at times, but nothing like we were describing. The Chief then checked with the USAF at Rothwesten - nothing there either. Concerned at the persistence of these paints, and their apparent origin in the Russian Zone, after discussions with Group, a formation of three Venoms was allocated and I was given the job of using them for investigation. They saw nothing. They were fed up with orbiting around in a comparatively small airspace at slow speed and differing heights, and straining their eyes for the invisible. In the meantime, the Chief sent other controllers to stare at the sky to see if they could see anything with their Mark One eyeballs. Nothing. I gave the Venoms Pigeons to Base and thanked them for their trouble. This phenomenon recurred from time to time, and we just passed it off as more Angels. As far as we were concerned it was harmless and posed no threat. I was told not to put any entry in my Log Book about that specific sortie, but I remember the circumstances well.
This was a time when new controllers were on probation under training. I had several sessions with them in the Training Room, and supervised and advised them while they were doing synthetic interceptions. This training continued for some months and was a feature of my watchkeeping activities, to the point that I was not actually controlling aircraft myself.
The first week of April was spent on nights, thereafter I was actively involved with fighter control on only three days, the 9th, 11th, and 12th. Then I was on nights again from the 13th, but this was the week of nights interrupted by my being called away on compassionate leave as already described.
I only controlled Hunters this month, three sessions of which were occupied with another Exercise Guest. Aircraft intercepted were, a Canberra (the fighters got close enough to report that its number was WE169), 4 more Canberras, several other Hunters, 4 Belgian Air Force Meteors, and a Meteor 7. In spite of the problems of jamming as a result of the Exercise, the interceptions went ahead without difficulty except in areas where there were cloud responses as well. In these, I had to resort to the use of the chinagraph pencil and do a bit of dead-reckoning. I lost one Canberra target as a result and couldn't conclude the interception. All sorties were between 3,000 and 35,000 feet, an unusually wide height range.
In May I was only 'on the scope' during the period 9th to 17th, from after my return from compassionate leave until the start of another week of nights. During those nine days doing my 'proper' job I did 12 sessions controlling NF11s, Hunters, and Venoms. The only targets of note were a formation of 6 Sabres during Exercise Argus, and then a formation of two Canadian T33 Shooting Stars some days later. One session, during another Exercise Guest, with a pair of Hunters at 45,000 feet was totally without any targets within their area. A most unusual circumstance.
Then came a period of concentrated work on training and attending to pressing work in the Armoury, organising live-firing practices at Sennelager, Station Defence matters, and a stint as Orderly Officer. While attending to defence matters I took a Gamma Ray detector to Auenhausen at the behest of Sqn.Ldr. Monk, the Chief Technical Officer, as he wasn't sure what sort of radiation emanated from his high power transmission equipment. On touring the equipment racks the Geiger counter started clicking, even before we got close. The levels were not high, but high enough to give us some concern. When
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