Interesting comments, in the Army at least it was only the senior station that used "Out".

No one is talking about few the shot down Blenny pilots. who managed to "Go the other way" i.e. Instead of 12 + months struggling down to Gib., They used local French and Belgian help, to Struggled East, to Luxemburg, and then got picked up by a sea plane (Catalina), and were quickly flown back to England .. (to fly and bomb again....etc). I was 11, and in Liverpool and talked to one of them back in 1942 etc. Later Germany took over "Luxy" to close this top secret escape route...

Was there in the late 80s, Royal Observer Corp annual camp. We stay in the families accommodations. Fond memories of that place.

My Uncle Mick (ex-RAF) lived in Watton and when we visited him we would go for walks by the base and he would point out to me the radar scanner and describe how it worked.

All gone now

I was luckyenough to have 2 glider flights here in May 2005. Most of the buildings had gone by then but the airfield was still in use by the VGS. All gone now to housing.

No subtitles 😢😢😢

Nice Windows in 66 and hangar 3. I put some of those in Christmas 84/85. Actually working New Years day 85. Bloody hell it was cold up the top of them hangars, hell of a view mind. What a waste if it was all closed in 88😢 Had a young lad with us, had a mishap and went off the lower part of the roof, when scaffolding fell over. John Thomas was his name, from local area. After accident, we got moved to a job in . Scotland . First face i saw, was a lad i was at school with. Dicky Birkenhead, he was at reception area where we had to book in as Contractors. What a small world . Did like that job. 👍

4.55 i put some of those top windows in, back in 1984. Was bloody cold too. ❤

Wow a pleasant blast from the past this video . My father was stationed at RAF Honington , I was 8-10 years old 1974-1976 living on Tedder close in Watton . I used to play around and climb just about every building in this video , endless sunny days and happy memories . I remember cutting camouflage netting to take home to cover my air fix models , the netting was draped over field artillery guns which just seemed appear one day . I had yards of Camouflage netting , I even remember trying with absolutely no hope to fire one of the guns if thats the right terminology. I don’t remember anyone around really to stop us playing !! Remember remote place on airfield , found no end of bullet casings to further enhance our war games play . Many a happy adventure playing in Eastern Radar as well . Great video .

You would never know anything of eastern radar was ever there now. It's all gone, buildings, the lot, houses now accommodate the area eastern stood on. No monument is there to say there was a radar base there. Even RAF Watton has completely gone too, all now houses.

I was there as a civilian controller when it was Eastern Radar

1977 - 1983 Happy Days

Visited as an Air Cadet when a member of Air Training Corps (1019 D/F Alloa) circa 1978 while on summer camp at RAF Swanton Morley. Flew Chipmunks on air experience at RAF West Raynham when Bloodhound missiles (training squadron) were based there - they used us for tracking practise,, although range a bit short, interesting watching the missiles follow you around in the circuit .......

What a great man! My grandmother lived in Enniskillen in County Fermanagh where Bill came from. I wonder if he knew her or her brothers? Thanks for the reminder of how blesses we are to be free thanks to men like Bill and Oliver. God bless them.

Chapeau Sir

If Bill is watching this You Tube of his story. Could he watch the series " Secret Army" - BBC series aired from 07th September 1977 and 15th December 1979 ,it tells of an escape line from Brussels - Belgium.He will see many things ,he experienced..

What a fantastic piece of personal endeavor and a friendship like no other. Respect

typical isnt it that the countrys occupied in ww2 show so much more respect to our fallen forfathers than the people of the UK

As a young SAC MT Mech, stationed at RAF Stanmore Park, a colleague and I were sent to RAF Watton in the early 70's to dismantle several PSI(?) concrete modular garages to bring back and reassemble. I recall we travelled in a dropside Bedford RL, without the canvas tilt on the back, and the journey took ages. Thanks for posting, this station could be any one of dozens dotted all over the country, but sadly no more.

50:10 volunteer ...Ulster no conscription

36:30 SLIGO priest Monahan

what a brilliant story. 😪

How brave these two men were, to have survived imprisonment, escaped, then to want to get back into the war, to serve their country! So many dedicated people assisted their escape at great risk to themselves they themselves are hero's too. We will remember you! Lest we forget!

What I love about Bill MacGrath testimony is he has spoken very humbly

What an amazing story

It's almost like angels helped spirit them away. The coolness and bravery of all those who helped them cannot be commended enough. The priests were often keen to help because the rewards were in heaven (if they truly believed).

The English know how to make a story boring.

Fantastic footage of the Radar Office and Ops Room, never seen photos of those places in Colour before. Two of the Radar Consoles are displayed at the Radar Museum at Neatishead. It wasn't just the Bloodhounds on the other side of the Airfield that Control Centre was in charge of, they also controlled the Missile Squadrons at Marham and Rattlesden in Suffolk.

How exrraordinary that the enemy pilots would show respect to prisoners of war - yet how noble! innocent soldiers fighting their countries" wars. brilliant documentary by our excellent old fashioned BBC!

Fantastic documentary..........when will the film be made of these 2 brilliant men

I couldn't see myself in the Army or Navy. I definitely would of tried to join the Airforce as Bomber Crew. Either a Gunner, Bomb 💣 Aimer, or Navigator. I realise your at more risk in a bomber, but to me it would give me a false impression of having more security, than facing thousands of Men with machine guns trying to kill you. Navy too wouldn't suit me but I could do Airforce as Crew.

It was very encouraging to see the young men listening to him speak.This account of bravery must be retold...for we are losing our history.

Such a wonderful story. To very courageous men, very special human beings. Has this ever reached the the motion pictures, it really should. Thank you for shearing it with me, and so many others.

Such a magnificent story of people who did so much for their country and culture. The woke idiots today who would condemn such bravery, Honour and self sacrifice aren’t worth anything by comparison.

These veterans were brave. They do not complain like modern woke people do over minor obstacles they or others face.

I could listen to Bill for hours.

This was a heart warmer

Respect to todays Danish children who remember our fallen heros by lighting candles in there memory

Respect

Absolutely brilliant documentary, I'm crying. Thank you to all those who lived, and died, during this time.

Really enjoyed that story. The end made me cry 😢 god bless then and there family ❤

What a fantastic story this is to everyone young and old shows the spirit and bravery of people since passed well done thankyou 🇬🇧

An excellent read, albeit very sad, is ‘Avenue of Spies’ by Alex Kershaw. What happened in some of these people’s lives is a very sober and eye opening chain of events for one such family, an American physician, his dual citizenship holder French wife and their young teenage son. The French resistance was huge in numbers and they were and still are very patriotic, having seen the end result of one devastating war only to find themselves a generation later being thrust into a loss of everything again in yet another horrific war. If you’ve never seen photographs of the foreign military graves in European countries, France in particular, then do so. The graves are all beautifully laid out, meticulously maintained, and always kept exactly so (down to the colors of the flowers) out of thanks, through the decades, to the men and women who helped them get back their freedom once again so that they could live without fear of oppression and tyranny. Every major battle site, even smaller historical battles and events are marked with exact details, even those in off the beaten path woodlands where there are no roads, no trails. The locals are always welcoming and eager to befriend and assist travelers looking for particular sites because their fathers and grandfathers fought in those places. They have never forgotten; their children are taught to remember the history, sometimes down to the names of the soldiers who died there. It’s no wonder they were willing to risk their lives and even those of their own children in order to achieve the goal of freedom. Many people throw around the phrase: ‘Freedom isn’t free’ but those people actually lived and died for them. Those are the kind of people who gave shelter, food and aid to escaped prisoners. Really makes you think, doesn’t it.

If ever their was a Hollywood blockbuster of a film ,this is the one.Remarkable true story .my grandad, brother and son have all served in the military and gone to war to defend us and keep us safe.god bless all who have died in all wars,and may they all RIP

Truely remarkable story ....so sad Olly lost his life after surviving such terrible hardships during his escape - Both these men are hero's to whom we owe our freedom ....

I have read many pow escapes, what brave men they all were, it takes bravery to escape and I thank Bill for sharing and very touching when he met Oliver wife and daughter. I SALUTE YOU.

A true delight. Thank you very much. It is particularly gratifying to hear of the many wonderful French people who helped in extraordinary ways and so selflessly. One of my uncles was in the French navy during the war and badly wounded, taking many months to recover in England where he met and married my aunt. I've yet to meet a dearer and lovelier man as he - he had no equal.

What an incredible story,i am somewhat amazed that a film has not been made of it as this is amazing. To have escaped and travelled so far to return home is almost unbelievable but they did it. It is a real shame that his mate did not make it throught the war, and i am surprised that he ended up flying again only to be killed doing so. This really was an eye opening event and one i am surprised did not get him a higher award when it came to medals, but then again its not the medals its the men who earned them we should give thought to. A really good video.

How wonderful, I found this by accident, so fortunate.