Many WAAFs volunteered to accept the extra work in the T-block and Gretta became one of them. Helping to maintain an unbroken transmission of high voltages, pulses and frequencies, changing transmitters when necessary, and keeping station records. Among them was the setting up of calibration tests on top of its towers when desirable. This became a challenge for any fit and adventurous mechanic, but when an energetic and willing WAAF found herself with the job, male personnel perked up a bit. They had done their stint in the readings required - now it was her turn.

As Gretta explained to me, her ignorance of the exposed wild conditions to be expected at 360 feet above ground level spurred her willingness to satisfy the demands of the job above her. But someone's descriptions of the lonely surroundings while sitting on the top platform inspired her to pack layers of newspaper round her body beneath her uniform and trousers. Nobody seems to have thought of providing her with flying suits, as happened in later years.

Colin Latham's description of his adventures and fears climbing the wooden CH towers could equally be applied to Gretta's exploit climbing a steel CH tower. The R/T connection was checked; and a theodolite issued, which was held to her by straps.

Gretta (bottom left) and some of the other WAAFs at Bawdsey

Evidently the first climb section was achieved without mishap, and the second, and the third, and on up to the 200 ft platform. Only a short rest was needed before realising the climb was an enjoyable experience and she was keen to complete the last three sections to the top, all within the confines of the now narrowing steel ribs leading to the top platform area.

Gretta recalled that her brief theodolite training had been enough to manage the radius vectoring needed, all the time trained on a circling autogiro at a predetermined height and distance. Readings were passed by R/T down to the Ops Room where map references were completed and calculations determined.

The return down to the ground from her lofty vantage point seems to have been without incident. But it was an exciting memory of her time at Bawdsey that she never forgot. Recalling at the same time the wonderful views of the surrounding countryside; across to Felixstowe, west to Woodbridge and observing aircraft landing at the special base there, and across the North Sea seeing, she remembered, many ships in the coastal waters. And she was rather saddened to learn that three of the four steel towers had been dismantled and taken away in the 60s - in common with many similar towers from the coastal radar stations round Britain.

One day she climbed up towards the 200 ft platform to help down a male colleague who had 'frozen' on the ladder, and evidently couldn't find the nerve to make his way down unaided.

Whether her 1942 calibration climb was a pioneering achievement we didn't discover. But Colin has since published the experiences of other WAAF personnel who, in the years that followed, carried out calibration tests from the tops of the steel towers quite frequently.

Now, in this year 2000, the last remaining nostalgic tower was demolished in one piece - the BRRG members agreeing to it falling to one side.