Recorded interview with Junior Technician John Dack, 11 October 2024

Interview with John Dack, who was a radar mechanic and fitter on Valiant aircraft from 1957 to 1961. He served with 543 Squadron at RAF Wyton and at RAF Marham.

John Dack trained as a radar mechanic at Yatesbury before working on Valiant photo-reconnaissance aircraft of 543 Squadron at RAF Wyton. He describes the Valiant’s equipment, including its reliability and access to the aircraft’s radar system. He continued to work on similar systems at RAF Marham before leaving the RAF. He comments on relations between groundcrew and aircrew, the wider Cold War situation and his experience as a glider pilot.