The Air Defence System in Scotland 1938-46 (Paperback)

Scotland’s Second World War air defence system comes alive through radar stations, Observer Corps posts, and operations rooms working together.

This is the first comprehensive history of Scotland’s air defence system during the Second World War. It explores how radar stations, Royal Observer Corps posts, and operations rooms worked together to detect and respond to incoming enemy aircraft.

Moving beyond the well-known events of the Battle of Britain, the book traces the evolution of Scotland’s air defence network throughout the war, highlighting advances in technology and tactics. For the first time, it also incorporates the role of Gun Operations Rooms under Anti-Aircraft Command into the broader narrative.

Detailed accounts of each operations centre and a full listing of Royal Observer Corps posts across Scotland allow for local-level research into the contributions of individual communities. Drawing on first-hand testimonies and rare wartime photographs – many never published before – this book offers valuable insights for aviation, military, and local historians, and for anyone interested in Scotland’s wartime experience.

Table of Contents

Illustrations
Glossary
Note about measurements

Foreword
Acknowledgements

PART I

Introduction
Chapter 1 The Air Defence System in Scotland 1938-46
Chapter 2 Filtering and plotting aircraft
Chapter 3 Movement Liaison Organisation and tracking friendly aircraft
Chapter 4 Communications networks

PART II

Histories of the air defence centres covering Scotland 1938-46

PART III

Tracking shipping
Histories of the Naval Plotting Rooms in Scotland

Archival sources
Bibliography
Index

Ian Brown’s police career started as a beat constable in Cumberland before transferring to the Metropolitan Police and completing his service as a Detective Superintendent in The British Virgin Islands where he headed a very successful drug squad.

His involvement in high profile and regulation cases led to some thirty commendations from courts and law enforcement agencies around the world and earned him a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

Now an ‘enrichment speaker’ for Cunard, P&O and other cruise lines, he regularly presents to packed houses. He is also an accomplished after dinner speaker.

Ian has been engaged as a police advisor on several television crime programmes. He lives in Kent with his wife and his main interests are criminal research and sport as he is also a professional Lawn Tennis Association coach.