Listening In - RAF Electronic Intelligence Gathering since 1945

[Kelly Bushings]

Listening In - RAF Electronic Intelligence Gathering since 1945 by Dave Forster, published by Crecy.



Dave Forster has been researching the RAF's electronic intelligence gathering activities for almost 20 years. He has put this together in a new book on the subject. It is lavishly illustrated with photos, many never before published, maps, drawings of the aircraft and kit plus specially commissioned artwork by Adrian Mann.

Here is a summary of the content.

Listening In examines RAF Elint in the post war era. Its 192 pages introduce us to the need for Elint, the Elint types and how the equipment was developed. Listening In also describes many of the operations and gives, for the first time, an insight to this secretive and, frankly mysterious, aspect of the RAF's Cold War.  With over 200 illustrations including maps, equipment diagrams, bespoke artwork and many photographs (with many of these not previously published), Listening In presents the intriguing story of RAF Elint for the first time.

Chapter Summary

Foreword – The origins of RAF Elint in World War Two

Chapter 1 - Noise Listening -This covers the immediate post-war period and operations by Y-Lancasters and Y-Mosquitos.  Examines the Radio Warfare Establishment, Y-Wing and the Noise Listening programme, the targets of the Noise programme and the equipment used on these missions. The H2S problems and the debate about the need for H2S.

Chapter 2 The Cold War Begins - covers the onset of the Cold War and the introduction of the Lincoln and development of Elint equipment including the first attempt at Automatic Elint and the 'Watton Box'. Also looks at the Ferret flights by the Central Signals Establishment's Monitoring squadron. The dual role Elint/RCM Lancasters, arrival on operations of the Lincoln and investigating Soviet air defences. Co-operation with the US and the influence of LSIC/GCHQ, how the importance of and need for Elint was realised, leading to new kit and aircraft.

Chapter 3 – Upping the Stakes - describes the political fallout from shootdowns of US reconnaissance aircraft and its effect on RAF operations by Lincolns in the early 1950s. The arrival of new navigation equipment and its R&D. The Border sorties and the Radio Proving Flights (RPFs) and the need for an improved direction finding system and Flange. The formation of 192 Squadron, the increasing influence of GCHQ and how Bomber Command tried to wrest control of the Elint role for itself.

Chapter 4 – Washingtons - looks at the procurement of the Boeing RB-29 Washingtons and conversion of the type to RAF Needs.  How the improved capability led to an expanded Elint programme including Operations in the Black Sea area from Iraq.

Chapter 5 – Jet Elint and the Canberra - examines the beginnings of jet Elint, the need for a high performance Elint type and the examination of the Vickers  V1000 and the Canberra.  How the Canberras were acquired and converted by CSE and 192 Squadron. New navigation kit in the shape of Blue Shadow and how the new type would be utilised. Doubts are raised about the Washington and its vulnerability to Soviet air defences.  The impact of Churchill and the Queen on Elint operations against the Soviet Navy.

Chapter 6 – Probing the PVO Strany - describes Elint operations by Canberra and Washington in the first half of the 1950s against Soviet air defences in Eastern Europe.  Border Flights and RPF operations in the Baltic, Black and how the PVO Strany's order of battle was assessed.  The quest to find and evaluate Soviet AI radars. The development and application of the Blue Shadow and Green Satin navigation systems. The continuing struggle for political approval of RPFs

Chapter 7 – Transfer of Control - looks at Suez, operations in the second half of the 1950s, and the evolution of the Canberra and Washington Elint fit.  The fitting out of the new Canberras Continuing RPFs. Operations from the Arctic Circle to the Middle East: operations from Bodø against Soviet air defences around the Barents Sea and on Novaya Zemlya and RPFs against Egypt in the run up the Suez Ops. The arrival of more Canberras and the retirement of the Washingtons. The development of the Breton system in the Fifties

Chapter 8 – The Comet - examines the procurement of the Comet, the brief dalliance with the Elint  Shackleton, the Vickers V1000 as a potential Elint platform and the introduction of the Comet into service.  The Impact of the disaster that befell the civil Comet airliners and how 192 Squadron addressed the problem. The acquisition of more Comets and their fitting out with Breton. How the increased capacity and workload prompted a new training regime and aircraft. Comet operations and a new scope of work for the Comets including RPFs and Border flights. The impact of the hangar fire on 192 Squadron. The establishment of 51 Squadron.

Chapter 9 – Elint in the 1960s and 1970s - provides an overview of operations in the 1960s-70s, the impact of the U-2 and RB-47 incidents and covers the period up until the retirement  of the Comets and Canberras. Also examines the political problems of Elint operations in the fallout from the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Gary Powers incident. Also looks at improvements to the aircraft including the replacement for Breton, upgrading the Canberras and the structural changes within the RAF's reconnaissance organisation.

Chapter 10 – World-wide Operations - examines Elint programmes by operational area in detail in the 1960-70 period. RPFs into the Barents Sea from Andøya and the continuing co-operation with the USAF Elint units. Operations into the Baltic to keep the knowledge of Soviet air defences order of battle current. Operations from Turkey and the political concerns of the Turkish Government. Operations in the Persian Gulf and 'Nasser's Corner'. Mixing it with the Fiddlers. Walking the political tight-rope with the Shah of Iran and supporting operations in Oman. To the Far East to listen in to the Indonesians and assess their burgeoning Soviet-supplied air defence system. Operations against China. The effect of the Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973 and keeping an eye on the Egyptians (and the Israelis). More ops against the improving Soviet Navy.

Chapter 11 – New Directions - describes new developments in automatic Elint, direction finding and IR measurements. The RAE's SLIS and Kalki kit for 51 Squadron, operations Lock and Burglary using Harpoon and Zabra to acquire information for UK IR-guided AAM development.

Chapter 12 – Replacing the Comet - gives a detailed history of the Nimrod procurement, examining the various alternative proposals (Britannia, VC.10, Andover, Vulcan etc) and killing two birds with one stone and how the Nimrod came to be the preferred type to replace the Comet and Canberra. The Hampshire Report and its recommendations, the MoD/GCHQ studies and results. The need for tactical Elint and a suitable platform. Financial and political threats to the Nimrod R.1. Fitting out the Nimrod airframes for Elint and Comint.

Chapter 13 - Nimrod in Service - covers the career of the Nimrod R.1 up until retirement. Operations in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Asia, West Africa and the Falklands.  Nimrod upgrades such as Astral Box, Starwindow, Extract, Tigershark and Helix.  The Elint VC10 proposals and the search for a replacement. Retirement and dispersal of the Nimrod R.1s

Postscript and Conclusion – Airseeker – Adoption of the RC-135, training the crews and the future.

[Thorvic]

http://www.crecy.co.uk/listening-in

Due out 31st July 2014 ( or there abouts !)

certainly another one to add to the collection 

[Gondor]

http://www.crecy.co.uk/listening-in

Due out 31st July 2014 ( or there abouts !)

certainly another one to add to the collection 

Great, I will add that to my collection too.   

Gondor

[Mossie]

And due out on payday too, would be rude not to!

[McColm]

Interesting, RAF crews did fly RB-47s and U-2s.

[pyro-manic]

Sounds good. That's a very odd-looking Canberra on the cover!

[Freightdog862]

Just got my copy yesterday, interest book for factual and projects.

Colin