The official orders to cease reporting radar plots came on 7 th March 1945, precipitated by the impending crossing of the Rhine by the British and American armies, signalling the inevitable defeat of Germany. North Cairn was put into ‘Care and Maintenance’ Stage 1, meaning that it could still return to operations with 14 days notice. In May 1945, North Cairn moved to Stage 2 ‘Care and Maintenance’, which would allow it to return to operations with 6 months notice.