SOP1
The three Pictures below were taken in the early 1960s by MIKE BLOODWORTH
SOP2
SOP3
The IWM has a lovely colour shot in its collection, of Sopley in 1966
Colour Photo RAF Sopley Ops Room 1966
SOP4
SOP5
Sopley area of responsibility as an upper air space ATC unit
SOP 6 the ops room
SOP7 the later version of the AMES Type 7 aerial as used in ATC days at Sopley plus several views in the void under the Aerial .
SOP7a AMES Type 11 Radar as used as a back up at Sopley
SOP 8 Type 14 radar
SOP 9 the FPS2 height finder radars
SOP10 Marconi 264 radar
SOP11 SSR used with the Sopley civilian Marconi 264 radar. On the right its mounted on the gantry used by the Type 14
SOP12
SOP13 five photos of the ops room in June 1960. This must be very early in the story of Sopley as an ATC unit as the former local and area fighter control plotting tables are still in place below the “tote” board – the wall mounted information display. Click on any photo to see an enlarged version
SOP14 Seven photos of the ops room dated between 1971 and 1973. Bottom right shows Brain Jones on the left and on the right W/Cdr Peter Wood, OC RAF Sopley.
SOP15 We are pretty sure that this is RAF Sopley. What is the screen showing top left – a radar coverage plot or a height finder display perhaps? We’re not sure if this is the ATC period at Sopley 1960-74 or the earlier fighter control period, or even if its Cabin 5, manned by fighter controllers providing a radar service to R&D and manufacturers airfields. Comments via the tab above please.
atchistory 
I escaped to Sopley from W D 50 years ago this Spring. Happy memories apart, from the practice fire alarms and traipsing through the long grass in Winter.
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Mike
good to hear from you
there is more on Sopley here http://www.winkton.net/RAFSopley.htm and https://atchistory.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/military-later-joint-air-traffic-control-area-radar-school-at-raf-sopley-1960-74/
I found a look alike for you too but in Germany. Its towards the end of this https://atchistory.wordpress.com/2022/01/01/controlling-the-berlin-airlift/
a photo taken at GATOW in the GCA.
cheers
John L
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SOP6 is the ops room . The dark consul on the left is the FPS6 height finder radar
Geoff Dobson
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Al – I was not selected!
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I still have nightmares about when as a cadet [12 course], my voice would not always activate those bakelite GPO type headsets, with, as a consequence, the busy D controller at West Drayton getting rather agitated!
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Message for John Douglas
Did not see you at Woking FC on Apr.19th when Grimsby were the visitors.
How is your broken leg?
AC.
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