EGPD Aberdeen (Dyce) ATC Control Tower

Graham Innes has sent me two early photos. The first is the very early flight office that would have contained a Watch office, the second the tower that pre-dated the Ziggurat.

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PD0c dated 1953 an early marking style BEA Rapide G-AFEZ

Now I was one of five  ATCO Cadets from 9 Course at Aberdeen in 1967, first at the Field Training Unit run by the impressive Harry McGrath and then as an aerodrome control U/T.  Neither of the above ATC facilities are familiar but three photos below do ring a bell. I remember a two story tower,  no wrap round VCR, tower and approach control on adjacent desks and the 180 degree-ish view of the airfield out of a wide multi section bay windowed room.  Ken Wood, a cadet on 16 course was there in about 1969 and also remembers the restricted view through an office like window.

Controllers I remember include  Eric Melvin, Doug Matthews  and George Curran. This was at the very beginning  of North Sea Oil exploitation and when we arrived there was just one rig, relatively close to the coast, and serviced by a single amphibious  Westland Whirlwind helicopter operated by Bristows. There was great excitement when a second rig came on station and the first BEA S-61 arrived and was based behind the tower.  Anyone else remember any of this?

Might this be that second tower matching the interior photo below

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One of the Vampires (Vampire FB5  serial WA402) served with 612 R Aux A F (Aberdeen) squadron.  No 612 Squadron were at Dyce with Vampires in the period 1951-1957.

We think the tower behind the Vampires is the rear of the white bay windowed tower. They have the same aerial configuration and covered porch or walkway.  The photo two below reminds me of the 1967 tower and it matches some features of the white tower above.

Aberdeen Field Training Unit  photo from Merrill Elliott. Run by the impressive Harry McGrath (far right) and his assistant “Fergie” who is sat in the door. The students are members of No 10 course.

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Early Days at Aberdeen civil ATC (in the second Watchroom?)

PD0g Is that an Ekco radar that Bill Bain is operating?

ATC staff were housed at Kirkhill Dyce in old army huts on the edge of the runway. Bill Bain, Bill Walton and Vic Oldcorn were all housed here in early 1950s. All eventually moved to Redbrae.

PD0h HRH Princess Elizabeth arriving at Dyce 1951 with Bill Bain (photos above from Heather Bain, Bill’s daughter.

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From Doug MacLean “Attached are 2 pictures from Aberdeen estimated to be taken in late 1982. I am the Tower trainee in the foreground and Ken Wood is my mentor. (Ken thinks it may be a little later 1984 early 85). Ken retired from ATC and established Insch airfield which is about 20 miles north west of Dyce. Ken is fully engaged in running Insch as an excellent grass airfield. We think the Tower ATSA behind Ken was Brian Imrie

 

The other picture (below) was the Aberdeen Tower DFTI. The pictures were almost certainly Polaroid instant print taken by ATCO Cyril Lofthus

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The new Tower the “Ziggurat”

“Built in receding tiers upon a rectangular, oval, or square platform, the ziggurat was a pyramidal structure with a flat top”     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat

PD0kThe Ziggurat with Puma G-PUMO

the 1984 Aberdeen ATC Brochure gives a snapshot of their task in the mid 80s

ATC at Aberdeen brochure 1984

A “flight” around the tower

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The chap in the waistcoat at dusk is John Reynolds, who later moved to EGCC and later EGPX. – Steve Balfour

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The next four photos were dated from 1981

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above and below, 264 radar at Perwinnes Hill.

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three pictures of Perwinnies Hill radar site by Alan Dodson

PD16a  Bertil Ohlson possibly at Perwinnies Hill

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A walk through the Approach Room

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PD25 – A Dyce Christmas Card candidate

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pictures above and below taken by Chris Stock in 1982

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