First Airborne Radar
A bit of a shot in the dark here, but I'm trying to find information for some elderly friends regarding their father, a William Wilkinson.
He worked for Shorts Aircraft in the 30s and 40s and served in the Army during the war. By their accounts, he was involved in the installation of the first radar set in an aircraft.
Initial internet search doesn't come up with anything concrete, so if anyone has any knowledge or links, that would be much appreciated.
He worked for Shorts Aircraft in the 30s and 40s and served in the Army during the war. By their accounts, he was involved in the installation of the first radar set in an aircraft.
Initial internet search doesn't come up with anything concrete, so if anyone has any knowledge or links, that would be much appreciated.
Jack
Thread Starter
Thread Starter
I have no personal knowledge to offer, but I wonder if the attached link to the MALVERN RADAR AND TECHNOLOGY HISTORY SOCIETY may be helpful, vide https://mraths.org.uk
Jack
Jack
Probably worth remembering that information didn't flow as a freely in those days and there may even have been classified projects they were not privy to. One group of people working on what they perceived to be the first airborne radar set were probably quite unaware of another group doing the same around that time, or possibly even years earlier. Still, a good tale to tell the grand kids I suppose.
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Hanbury Brown was plucked out of Imperial College to work with radar and went onto work on airborne sets. He was involved in the early Blenheim flights. I would post a link but I haven't posted enough.
He had been awarded a first at 19 and was a founder member of the University of London Air Squadron in 1935.
He had been awarded a first at 19 and was a founder member of the University of London Air Squadron in 1935.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Not everyone, of course, had to be a theorist. Many would have been those already experienced in matters such as radio valves, cathode ray tubes for B-scopes and the PPIs, aerial design etc and could well have been moved from team to team and project to project as their particular abilities lay.
Not every artisans name ends up in th history books. None of those who actually built the first steam engine or parts for the first radar are remembered.
https://www.dos4ever.com/EF50/EF50.html
Not every artisans name ends up in th history books. None of those who actually built the first steam engine or parts for the first radar are remembered.
https://www.dos4ever.com/EF50/EF50.html
Pegase Driver
German radar was more technically advanced than Britain's. however, as most military historians will tell you, the outcome is rarely about who has the best kit. The Chain Home High and Low systems were basic, but as a component of an integrated air defence system, they became very useful tools, and this system was instrumental in the Luftwaffe's defeat. In comparison, the Germans never really organized their air defence to the same capability. They had reached a point where they were close with the Kammhuber line, but they were still relying on single control units controlling just one fighter. The concept of a plan position indicator never occurred to them and no-one in command ever really had an overall picture of the air battle.
On your last sentence, this is not entirely true, they had a few large control centers in bunkers very similar to the UK system but using different technique, light guns i projected on a glass wall instead of moving wooden mock ups on a table, but they had a central albeit regional command. .
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Interested in your comment about the cavity magnetron and the French, who do you think provided it? Not in accordance with the facts as I know them.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document...28?reload=true
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document...28?reload=true
Interested in your comment about the cavity magnetron and the French, who do you think provided it? Not in accordance with the facts as I know them.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document...28?reload=true
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document...28?reload=true
Pegase Driver
Heads up reading early AI radar
Wing Commander Bob Braham's 'Scramble' succinct on Early Blenheim/Beaufighter NF ops
Dr Alfred Price's 'Instruments of Darkness' develops the theme
Professor R.V jones as usual nails the trail in his 'Most Secret War'
Our admirals never did apologise to the RAF as thy knew all about German gun laying frequencies after the battle of the River Plate in 1939
Dr Alfred Price's 'Instruments of Darkness' develops the theme
Professor R.V jones as usual nails the trail in his 'Most Secret War'
Our admirals never did apologise to the RAF as thy knew all about German gun laying frequencies after the battle of the River Plate in 1939