The Official Secrets Act- Jan Bates

Interviewer: So when did you find out about radar? Did people know that radar existed before you became an operator?

Janet Bates: No.

I: So when they said, “We need RDF operators.” you didn’t know what that meant?

JB: No, it was such a sad world. “What is it?” “Well, you’ll be sent on a course …”

I: “… and you’ll find out later.”

JB: Yeah. See we had to swear the National Security Act that we wouldn’t talk about it.

I: And was that a 50-year oath as well? The same as the men?

JB: Yep, yeah. So, well I mean, if it got blabbed, I suppose the Germans had radar. We can’t kid ourselves. But especially when you were on offensive, it was very, very … you had to be very, very careful because they all often used to say that maybe you go into a pub and have one too many and start blabbing. “Oh, I’ve got to go on duty because there’s an operation tonight!” Well, you never knew who was sitting around. There could be a spy or what have you. So, they warned you that you’ve just got to watch what you’re saying.

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