RAF 'Y' Stations etc. Discussion Thread

Carnaby;154358 wrote:

The Anstruther 'Y' Service establishment consisted of five separate D/F sites reporting to a sixth location, the control room. It was in Scottish Command and operated by the Royal Navy.
From TNA: HW41/101 (List of Y Stations):

Cassini______NGR
0059281 = 557 069
0063283 = 561 071
0082291 = 580 079
0088295 = 585 083
0099296 = 596 094
0074288 = 572 076

The Cassini grid references are incorrect in that the leading '0' should be a 'P' to conform to other references in the document.
(The sites are in Cassini square 'qP' = NGR 'NO')

The last reference was the Control Room where two Nissens are extant HERE

Carnaby wrote:

TNA Record HW41/101 lists three 'Y' stations at Wick. Two were Naval HF/DF stations, which had closed by Sept 1944

1) Wick (Lybster), Area: Hillhead, 58 18 10N, 03 16 15W qD784568 = NGR ND255351 Somewhere around HERE

2) Wick (Keiss), Area: Mount Pleasant, 58 31 12N, 03 08 34W qD889850 = NGR ND356634 HERE Street view of tower: goo.gl/maps/nw4PxrYBc1M2 (This site may have been covered elsewhere.)

3) There is also an RAF VHF Intercept Station qD909758 = NGR377543 HERE

www.caithness.org/wings/wingsadditions.htm reports:

Just some more information for your site "Wings Over Wick" My Uncle Mr Harry Varley now in his 90th year spent almost the entire duration of the war at Wick as a radio operator - he was not attached to the "flying boys" at the aerodrome, but in a little hut set away from the main RAF Depot - it was here he says he spent time eavesdropping on the enemy. The section was called "Y" section and I think I am right in saying this was a very secret affair that even today he feels that he should not be talking about it.
The radio shack was a wooden hut affair and there would be around 30 operators working on a three shift system. The whole setup was at FOSS HEAD FARM - he recalls several radio aerials there and has fond memories of the farmer that owned the land - he says he was a perfect gentleman

There doesn't appear to be a Foss Head Farm, but there is a Noss (Head) Farm and there is a very suspicious looking building here, with another structure in the field. Street View:goo.gl/maps/qUfFtxvK2rA2

In 1943 and 1944 many Americans received instruction at RAF schools and on-the-job training in conjunction with intelligence operations at Bletchley Park,RAF Kingsdown, RAF Cheadle, and Cheadle's American sub-station at Tean in Staffordshire.