EAGLE-EYED veterans who helped spot enemy aircraft over Britain were presented with long service medals at Cowley Barracks in March 1965.

The three city stalwarts were members of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC), with nearly 50 years of service between them.

The ROC was a civil defence organisation for the detection, identification, tracking and reporting of aircraft over Great Britain, which operated from 1925 to 1995.

Remember When: Underground plotters charted impact of nuclear bombs

Observer Cdr. D.D. James (right) pinned a bar on to the 12-year medal gained by Leading Observer F.T Williams, who had completed 24 years' service.

Medals for 12 years were also awarded to Chief Observer Dennis Chivers, an assistant supervisor and Woman Observer L. Gough.

The presentations were made in the new protected operations black which were due to be officially opened in May by the Chief of the Air Staff.