United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation
Encyclopedia
The United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation (UKWMO) was a British
civilian organisation operating between 1957 and 1992 to provide the authorities with data about nuclear explosion
s and forecasts of likely fallout profiles across the country in the event of war.
The UKWMO was established and funded by the Home Office
but in the main utilised Royal Observer Corps
(ROC) premises and its uniformed personnel as the fieldforce. The only time the combined organisations were on high alert in the Cold War
was during Cuban Missile Crisis
in October and November 1962. The organisation was wound up and disbanded in November 1992 following a review prompted by the government's Options for Change
report.
Its emblem-of-arms was a pair of classic hunting horns crossing each other, pointed upwards, with the enscrolled motto "Sound An Alarm", a title also used for two contemporary public information films. Sparetime members of the UKWMO warning teams were awarded the Civil Defence Medal
for fifteen years continuous years service, with a bar for each subsequent twelve years.
The members of the warning team were recruited from mainly local secondary school science teachers, or commercial engineers and technicians with a scientific education and background. They trained weekly from printed materials provided by the Home Office scientific branch and through lectures or practical training organised by the Assistant Sector Controller who was the area UKWMO training officer.
to instigate the four minute warning
. The Deputy Director would be located at a standby UK RAOC, described at the time as being "elsewhere in the UK". It's since been revealed as being at Goosnargh
, Lancashire
, within the UKWMO Western Sector nuclear bunker. Warnings were instantly distributed around the country by the Warning Broadcast System via 250 Carrier Control Points located at major police headquarters and 17,000 WB400 (later WB1400) carrier receivers in armed forces headquarters, hospitals, post offices, ROC posts and private homes in remote rural areas where hand operated sirens replaced the power sirens in the urban towns.
Sparetime warning team members were activated, through a rehearsed Transition To War
telephone calling card procedure, by wholetime Royal Observer Corps officers located at the twenty five group headquarters. All ROC telephone lines and the warning broadcast system were protected by the Post Office's Telephone Preference Scheme that kept the lines active when the general public's system would be suspended under wartime regulations.
, The Hawkhills, Easingwold, Yorkshire. Several major war simulation exercises were held each year 2 x WARMON (Warning and Monitoring) one day UK exercises and the two day INTEX (International exercise) along with other NATO countries.
Four times a year minor and limited exercises called POSTEX were held on a stop - start basis across three evenings of a week, Monday to Wednesday. Realistic simulation material was provided for realtime simulations of a nuclear attack.
Approximately every four or five years each group was subjected to a "no notice" and in depth assessment similar to an RAF "TACEVAL" or Tactical Evaluation, where a mixed team of UKWMO and ROC full time staff would appear and evaluate all aspects of the group's planning and operations under realistic wartime conditions over a period of 48 hours.
(AWDREY) equipment. Updated warning equipment was installed in most government buildings, nuclear bunkers, armed forces HQs, police and fire stations and private houses in remote areas. Major police stations were used as the area control points for power operated sirens, so these were equipped with new WB1400 carrier control warning equipment. If a warning was received then the police could operate the sirens via remote control, the carrier warning signal did not automatically operate the warning sirens (many of which were those used in the Second World War). Many of the sirens are still in operation in coastal areas and are now used for emergency flood warning. Between 1985 and 1990 all communications links used by the warning system, the UKWMO and the ROC were upgraded and hardened against the effects of electromagnetic pulse
damage. Point to point SX2000
automated telephone exchanges were installed in ROC headquarters and old fashioned telegraph equipment was replaced with modern computerised message switching
equipment.
in England, (the site is now upgraded and still operational at RAF Fylingdales
, on the North York Moors
) and disseminated through UKRAOC to the carrier warning system. This was commonly, and slightly erroneously, known as the Four minute warning
.
For the detection of nuclear bursts
For the measurement of ionising radiation
was instituted March 1961 and awarded for 15 years sparetime service in a variety of different organizations including; Auxiliary Fire Service
, National Hospital Service Reserve, Civil Defence Corps
and the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation.
but the four minute warning air raid alert system no longer operates.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
civilian organisation operating between 1957 and 1992 to provide the authorities with data about nuclear explosion
Nuclear explosion
A nuclear explosion occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy from an intentionally high-speed nuclear reaction. The driving reaction may be nuclear fission, nuclear fusion or a multistage cascading combination of the two, though to date all fusion based weapons have used a fission device...
s and forecasts of likely fallout profiles across the country in the event of war.
The UKWMO was established and funded by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
but in the main utilised Royal Observer Corps
Royal Observer Corps
The Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
(ROC) premises and its uniformed personnel as the fieldforce. The only time the combined organisations were on high alert in the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
was during Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
in October and November 1962. The organisation was wound up and disbanded in November 1992 following a review prompted by the government's Options for Change
Options for Change
Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in 1990, aimed at cutting defence spending following the end of the Cold War....
report.
Its emblem-of-arms was a pair of classic hunting horns crossing each other, pointed upwards, with the enscrolled motto "Sound An Alarm", a title also used for two contemporary public information films. Sparetime members of the UKWMO warning teams were awarded the Civil Defence Medal
Civil Defence Medal
The Civil Defence Medal was a long service award in the United Kingdom and associated territories, instituted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in March 1961 and awarded for 15 years continuous sparetime voluntary service in a variety of different organizations including the Auxiliary Fire...
for fifteen years continuous years service, with a bar for each subsequent twelve years.
The task
The United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation had five main functions in the event of nuclear war. These were:- Warning the public of any air attack.
- Providing confirmation of nuclear strike.
- Warning the public of the approach of radioactive fall-out.
- Supplying the civilian and military authorities in the United Kingdom and neighbouring countries in NATO with details of nuclear bursts and with a scientific assessment of the path and intensity of fall-out
- Provision of a post-attack meteorologicalMeteorologyMeteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
service
Professional full time staff
Headquarters UKWMO was located in a converted barracks building in Cowley, Oxfordshire and was headed by a Director and Deputy Director supported by a small administrative staff. Five professional Sector Controllers and five Assistant Sector controllers were co-located at the five Royal Observer Corps area headquarters.Sparetime volunteers
At each of the twenty five ROC group controls the UKWMO was represented by volunteer and specially trained members. In the event of war the senior UKWMO volunteer present would command the group as Group Controller. Assessing the nuclear burst and fallout information and data provided by the ROC was a team of ten or more Warning Officers led by a Chief Warning Officer.The members of the warning team were recruited from mainly local secondary school science teachers, or commercial engineers and technicians with a scientific education and background. They trained weekly from printed materials provided by the Home Office scientific branch and through lectures or practical training organised by the Assistant Sector Controller who was the area UKWMO training officer.
During operations
The Director UKWMO would be located at the United Kingdom Regional Air Operations Command (UK RAOC) within Strike Command's Operations Centre nuclear bunker at RAF High WycombeRAF High Wycombe
RAF High Wycombe is a Royal Air Force station, situated in the village of Walters Ash, near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England. Its purpose is to serve the needs of the RAF Air Command, situated on the site. It is also the headquarters of the European Air Group...
to instigate the four minute warning
Four minute warning
The four minute warning was a public alert system conceived by the British Government during the Cold War and operated between 1953 and 1992 when the system was dismantled after the cold war ended...
. The Deputy Director would be located at a standby UK RAOC, described at the time as being "elsewhere in the UK". It's since been revealed as being at Goosnargh
Goosnargh
Goosnargh is a village and civil parish on the north side of Preston, Lancashire, England. The village lies between Broughton and Longridge, and mostly lies in the civil parish of Whittingham, although the ancient centre lies in the civil parish of Goosnargh...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, within the UKWMO Western Sector nuclear bunker. Warnings were instantly distributed around the country by the Warning Broadcast System via 250 Carrier Control Points located at major police headquarters and 17,000 WB400 (later WB1400) carrier receivers in armed forces headquarters, hospitals, post offices, ROC posts and private homes in remote rural areas where hand operated sirens replaced the power sirens in the urban towns.
Sparetime warning team members were activated, through a rehearsed Transition To War
Transition To War
Transition to war is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization military term referring to a period of international tension during which government and society move to an open war footing...
telephone calling card procedure, by wholetime Royal Observer Corps officers located at the twenty five group headquarters. All ROC telephone lines and the warning broadcast system were protected by the Post Office's Telephone Preference Scheme that kept the lines active when the general public's system would be suspended under wartime regulations.
Specialist training
Both wholetime and sparetime UKWMO personnel undertook specialist residential training at the Emergency Planning CollegeEmergency Planning College
The Emergency Planning College is situated at the heart of Government, within the Civil Contingencies Secretariat of the Cabinet Office....
, The Hawkhills, Easingwold, Yorkshire. Several major war simulation exercises were held each year 2 x WARMON (Warning and Monitoring) one day UK exercises and the two day INTEX (International exercise) along with other NATO countries.
Four times a year minor and limited exercises called POSTEX were held on a stop - start basis across three evenings of a week, Monday to Wednesday. Realistic simulation material was provided for realtime simulations of a nuclear attack.
Approximately every four or five years each group was subjected to a "no notice" and in depth assessment similar to an RAF "TACEVAL" or Tactical Evaluation, where a mixed team of UKWMO and ROC full time staff would appear and evaluate all aspects of the group's planning and operations under realistic wartime conditions over a period of 48 hours.
Modernisation
A large amount of work was completed from the mid 1980s to bring the UKWMO up to date. Modern detection instruments were provided to the ROC together with back up detectors at the group HQs known as Atomic Weapons Detection Recognition and Estimation of YieldAtomic Weapons Detection Recognition and Estimation of Yield
Atomic Weapons Detection Recognition and Estimation of Yield known by the acronym AWDREY was a desk-mounted automatic detection instrument, located at most, but not all, of the 25 Royal Observer Corps controls, across the United Kingdom, during the Cold War...
(AWDREY) equipment. Updated warning equipment was installed in most government buildings, nuclear bunkers, armed forces HQs, police and fire stations and private houses in remote areas. Major police stations were used as the area control points for power operated sirens, so these were equipped with new WB1400 carrier control warning equipment. If a warning was received then the police could operate the sirens via remote control, the carrier warning signal did not automatically operate the warning sirens (many of which were those used in the Second World War). Many of the sirens are still in operation in coastal areas and are now used for emergency flood warning. Between 1985 and 1990 all communications links used by the warning system, the UKWMO and the ROC were upgraded and hardened against the effects of electromagnetic pulse
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
damage. Point to point SX2000
Mitel
Mitel Networks, is a high-tech company providing unified communications solutions for business. The company previously produced TDM PBX systems and applications but after a change in ownership in 2001 now focuses almost entirely on Voice-over-IP products.Mitel is headquartered in Ottawa,...
automated telephone exchanges were installed in ROC headquarters and old fashioned telegraph equipment was replaced with modern computerised message switching
Message switching
In telecommunications, message switching was the precursor of packet switching, where messages were routed in their entirety, one hop at a time. It was first introduced by Leonard Kleinrock in 1961. Message switching systems are nowadays mostly implemented over packet-switched or circuit-switched...
equipment.
Air raid warnings
Ballistic missile air raid warnings for the UK would have originated from the shared UK/USA Ballistic Missile Early Warning SystemBallistic Missile Early Warning System
The United States Air Force Ballistic Missile Early Warning System was the first operational ballistic missile detection radar. The original system was built in 1959 and could provide long-range warning of a ballistic missile attack over the polar region of the Northern Hemisphere. They also...
in England, (the site is now upgraded and still operational at RAF Fylingdales
RAF Fylingdales
RAF Fylingdales is a Royal Air Force station on Snod Hill in the North York Moors, England. Its motto is "Vigilamus" . It is a radar base and part of the United States-controlled Ballistic Missile Early Warning System...
, on the North York Moors
North York Moors
The North York Moors is a national park in North Yorkshire, England. The moors are one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. It covers an area of , and it has a population of about 25,000...
) and disseminated through UKRAOC to the carrier warning system. This was commonly, and slightly erroneously, known as the Four minute warning
Four minute warning
The four minute warning was a public alert system conceived by the British Government during the Cold War and operated between 1953 and 1992 when the system was dismantled after the cold war ended...
.
Instrumentation
- Atomic Weapons Detection Recognition and Estimation of YieldAtomic Weapons Detection Recognition and Estimation of YieldAtomic Weapons Detection Recognition and Estimation of Yield known by the acronym AWDREY was a desk-mounted automatic detection instrument, located at most, but not all, of the 25 Royal Observer Corps controls, across the United Kingdom, during the Cold War...
known as AWDREY was a desk mounted automatic instrument, located at UKWMO controls, that detected nuclear explosions and indicated the estimated size in megatons. Operating by measuring the level of electro magnetic pulse (EMP) the instruments were tested daily by wholetime ROC officers and regularly reacted to the EMP from lightning strikes during thunderstorms. AWDREY was designed and built by the Atomic Weapons EstablishmentAtomic Weapons EstablishmentThe Atomic Weapons Establishment is responsible for the design, manufacture and support of warheads for the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. AWE plc is responsible for the day-to-day operations of AWE...
at AldermastonAldermastonAldermaston is a rural village, civil parish and electoral ward in Berkshire, South-East England. In the 2001 United Kingdom Census, the parish had a population of 927. The village is on the southern edge of the River Kennet flood plain, near the Hampshire county boundary...
and tested for performance and accuracy on a real nuclear explosion at the 1957 Kiritimati (or Christmas Island)KiritimatiKiritimati or Christmas Island is a Pacific Ocean raised coral atoll in the northern Line Islands, and part of the Republic of Kiribati....
nuclear bomb test (after being mounted onboard a ship). Reports following a reading on AWDREY were prefixed with the codeword "Tocsin Bang".
- The Bomb Power IndicatorBomb Power IndicatorBomb Power Indicator known by the acronym BPI was a detection instrument, located at the twenty five British Royal Observer Corps controls and nearly 1,000 ROC underground monitoring posts, across the United Kingdom, during the Cold War that would have detected any nuclear explosions and measured...
or BPI consisted of a peak overpressure gaugePressure measurementMany techniques have been developed for the measurement of pressure and vacuum. Instruments used to measure pressure are called pressure gauges or vacuum gauges....
with a dial that would register when the pressure wave from a nuclear explosion passed over the post. When related to the distance of the explosion from the post this pressure would indicate the power of the explosion. Reports following a reading on the BPI were preceded by the codeword "Tocsin".
- The Ground Zero IndicatorGround Zero IndicatorThe Ground Zero Indicator, known by the acronym GZI was a specially designed shadowgraph instrument used by the British Royal Observer Corps during the Cold War to locate the Ground Zero of any nuclear explosion.-Overview:...
, or GZI or shadowgraphShadowgraphShadowgraph is an optical method that reveals non-uniformities in transparent media like air, water, or glass. It is related to, but simpler than, the schlieren and schlieren photography methods that perform a similar function...
, consisted of four horizontally mounted cardinal compass point pinhole cameraPinhole cameraA pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens and with a single small aperture – effectively a light-proof box with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through this single point and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box...
s within a metal drum, each 'camera' contained a sheet of photosensitivePhotosensitivityPhotosensitivity is the amount to which an object reacts upon receiving photons, especially visible light.- Human medicine :Sensitivity of the skin to a light source can take various forms. People with particular skin types are more sensitive to sunburn...
paper on which were printed horizontal and vertical calibration lines. The flash from a nuclear explosionNuclear explosionA nuclear explosion occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy from an intentionally high-speed nuclear reaction. The driving reaction may be nuclear fission, nuclear fusion or a multistage cascading combination of the two, though to date all fusion based weapons have used a fission device...
would produce a mark on one or two of the papers within the drum. The position of the mark enabled the bearing and height of the burst to be estimated. With triangulation between neighbouring posts these readings would give an accurate height and position. The altitude of the explosion was important because a ground or near ground burst would produce radioactive fallout, whereas an air burst would produce only short distance and short lived initial radiations (but no fallout). Reports following a reading on the GZI were preceded by the codeword "Nuclear Burst".
For the measurement of ionising radiation
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
- The Radiac Survey Meter No 2 or RSM was a 1955 meter which counted the particles produced by radioactive decayRadioactive decayRadioactive decay is the process by which an atomic nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting ionizing particles . The emission is spontaneous, in that the atom decays without any physical interaction with another particle from outside the atom...
. This meter suffered from a number of disadvantages: it required three different types of obsolete batteries, it also contained delicate valves that were prone to failure and it had to be operated from outside the protection of the post. These were favored as they had been tested on fallout in Australia after the Operation Buffalo nuclear testsBritish nuclear tests at MaralingaBritish nuclear tests at Maralinga occurred between 1955 and 1963 at the Maralinga site, part of the Woomera Prohibited Area, in South Australia. A total of seven major nuclear tests were performed, with approximate yields ranging from 1 to 27 kilotons of TNT equivalent...
, and remained in use until 1982 by commissioning a manufacturer to regularly produce special production runs of the obsolete batteries. Within the ROC the RSM was superseded in 1958 by the FSM and the RSM retained only for post attack mobile monitoring missions.
- The Fixed Survey Meter or FSM introduced in 1958, could be operated from within the post with a cable leading to the detector mounted externally and protected by a polycarbinate dome. The FSM used the same obsolete high voltage batteries as the RSM. In 1985 this instrument was replaced by the PDRM 82(F).
- The PDRM82 or Portable Dose Rate MeterCivil Defense Geiger CountersMost Civil Defense Geiger Counters and ion-chamber survey meters were issued by the governmental Civil Defense organizations in several countries from the 1950s in the midst of the Cold War in an effort to help prepare citizens for a nuclear attack...
and the desktop fixed PDRM 82(F) version of the same meter, that were manufactured by PlesseyPlesseyThe Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
and introduced during the 1980s, gave more accurate readings and used standard 'D' cell torch batteries that lasted many times longer, up to 400 hours of operation. The compact and robust instruments were housed in sturdy orange coloured polycarbonate cases and had clear liquid crystal displays.
- The DosimeterDosimeterDosimeters measure an individual's or an object'sexposure to something in the environment — particularly to a hazard inflicting cumulative impact over long periods of time, or over a lifetime...
pocket meters were issued to individual observers for measuring their personal levels of radiation absorption during operations. Three different grades of dosimeter were used, depending on ambient radiation levels. The original hand wound and temperamental dosimeter charging units were replaced during the 1980s by battery operated automatic charging units.
Civil Defence Medal
The Civil Defence MedalCivil Defence Medal
The Civil Defence Medal was a long service award in the United Kingdom and associated territories, instituted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in March 1961 and awarded for 15 years continuous sparetime voluntary service in a variety of different organizations including the Auxiliary Fire...
was instituted March 1961 and awarded for 15 years sparetime service in a variety of different organizations including; Auxiliary Fire Service
Auxiliary Fire Service
The Auxiliary Fire Service was first formed in 1938 in Great Britain as part of Civil Defence Air raid precautions. Its role was to supplement the work of brigades at local level. In this job it was hampered severely by the incompatibility of equipment used by these different brigades - most...
, National Hospital Service Reserve, Civil Defence Corps
Civil Defence Corps
The Civil Defence Corps was a civilian volunteer organisation established in Great Britain in 1949 to take control in the aftermath of a nuclear attack. It was stood down in Great Britain in 1968...
and the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation.
Description
Oval medallion 38mm high by 32mm wide in cupro-nickel. Obverse; the crowned head of Queen Elizabeth II and the legend ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID. DEF. The reverse depicts three shields bearing the initials of the three main services "CD", "AFS" and "NHSR" with an oak branch in the background. A separate Northern Ireland version existed with the lower shields bearing "AFRS" and "HRS". A bar clasp bearing "LONG SERVICE" was issued for each further period of 12 years service. The ribbon was dark blue with three stripes of yellow red and green. (the yellow worn furthest from the left shoulder.)Disestablished
With the disbandment of the Auxiliary Fire Service,[National Hospital Service Reserve, United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation and the Civil Defence Corps the Civil Defence Medal is no longer awarded on the UK mainland although it is retained and is still awarded on the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.Disbanded
When the UKWMO was disbanded, and the ROC stood-down, the government referred to "possible future developments and improvements in automated nuclear explosion and fallout detection from remote sensors", but it is unlikely that any such system has yet to be developed or installed. Civil nuclear defence since 1992 has been devolved to UK local authories as an addition to their routine emergency planning responsibilities and under direction of the government's Civil Contingencies SecretariatCivil Contingencies Secretariat
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat, created in July 2001, is the department of the British Cabinet Office responsible for emergency planning in the UK. The role of the secretariat is to ensure the United Kingdom’s resilience against disruptive challenge, and to do this by working with others to...
but the four minute warning air raid alert system no longer operates.
See also
- Commandant Royal Observer CorpsCommandant Royal Observer CorpsThe Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps was the Royal Air Force commander of the Royal Observer Corps. All the holders of the post were RAF officers in the rank of Air Commodore, initially retired reserve officers then Auxiliary officers and, since the end of World War II, serving officers...
- Aircraft recognitionAircraft recognitionAircraft recognition is a visual skill taught to military personal and civilian auxiliaries since the introduction of military aircraft in World War I. It is important for air defense and military intelligence gathering....
- Royal Observer Corps Monitoring PostRoyal Observer Corps Monitoring PostRoyal Observer Corps Monitoring Posts are underground structures all over the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, constructed as a result of the Corps' nuclear reporting role and operated by volunteers during the Cold War between 1955 and 1991....
- Operational instruments of the Royal Observer CorpsOperational instruments of the Royal Observer CorpsThe Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
- AWDREY
- Bomb Power IndicatorBomb Power IndicatorBomb Power Indicator known by the acronym BPI was a detection instrument, located at the twenty five British Royal Observer Corps controls and nearly 1,000 ROC underground monitoring posts, across the United Kingdom, during the Cold War that would have detected any nuclear explosions and measured...
- Ground Zero IndicatorGround Zero IndicatorThe Ground Zero Indicator, known by the acronym GZI was a specially designed shadowgraph instrument used by the British Royal Observer Corps during the Cold War to locate the Ground Zero of any nuclear explosion.-Overview:...
- Fixed Survey MeterFixed Survey MeterThe Fixed Survey Meter was a specialist detection instrument used by the Royal Observer Corps during the Cold War between 1958 and 1982 to detect ionising radiation from nuclear fallout generated by a ground burst...
- Four-minute warning
- Royal Observer Corps MedalRoyal Observer Corps MedalThe Royal Observer Corps Medal is a long service medal awarded in the United Kingdom to members of the Royal Observer Corps relating to service between 1941 and December 1995, when the ROC was stood down. The medal was initiated in 1950 by HM King George Vl...
- Skywatch marchSkywatch marchSkywatch is the official regimental march of the Royal Observer Corps. The march was composed and scored in 1972 by Wing Commander Roy R C Davies RAF , at the time leader and conductor of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force...
- RAF Bentley PrioryRAF Bentley PrioryRAF Bentley Priory was a non-flying Royal Air Force station near Stanmore in the London Borough of Harrow. It was famous as the headquarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and the Second World War. The RAF Bentley Priory site includes a Grade II* listed Officers' Mess and Italian...
- Aircraft Identity Corps (Canada)Aircraft Identity CorpsThe Aircraft identity Corps was a Canadian civil defence organisation operating between 1940 and 1945. It was formed in 1940 by Air Vice-Marshal George Croil. By war's end it had over 30,000 members....
- Volunteer Air Observers Corps (Australia)Volunteer Air Observers Corps (Australia)The Volunteer Air Observers Corps was an Australian air defence organisation of World War II. The VAOC was formed on 31 December 1941 to support the Royal Australian Air Force by sighting and observing aircraft over Australia. The VAOC swiftly established observation posts across Australia and...
- Ground Observer Corps (USA)Ground Observer CorpsThe Ground Observer Corps was a series of Civil Defense programs in the United States to protect against air attack. First begun in World War II by the Army Air Forces, the 1.5 million civilian observers at 14,000 coastal observation posts used naked eye and binocular searches to find invading...
- Civil Air Patrol (USA)Civil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
- List of ROC Group Headquarters and UKWMO Sector controls
- List of Royal Observer Corps / United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation Posts (A-E)
- List of Royal Observer Corps / United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation Posts (F-K)
- List of Royal Observer Corps / United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation Posts (L-P)
- List of Royal Observer Corps / United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation Posts (Q-Z)