Hi everyone.
Are there any WW2 radar experts out there? Our Merlin XX was fitted to Beau R2335 which was the FIU (Fighter Interception Unit) test aircraft for the AI MkV. Unfortunately, this radar set never seemed to make it into mass production. AI Mk IV sets were produced in large numbers, as was the VII. I would like to know if the MkV set was the first foray into cavity magnetron equipment, ie radar with a dish as we know it now as opposed to the MkIV which used dipole aerials.
There, that`s about the extent of my knowlege of WW2 radar. Any ideas?!
By: RadarArchive - 29th January 2006 at 21:06
No problem. If you have any diffciulties getting ahold of a copy, let me know. I hope I might see you at East Fortune on 29 July? If so, I could always bring my copy along and let you read it.
Have you had an opportunity to visit The National Archives (or Public Record Office as they used to be known)? They hold the Operations Record Book for the FIU in file AIR 29/27. If you’ve not yet had a chance to get down there, it may well be worth it. I’m sure it will contain useful information on R2335.
If I can be of help in any other way, do let me know.
By: MerlinPete - 29th January 2006 at 20:14
Many thanks Ian. I was not aware of that book. I read all the titles I could find when I first researched this about 15 years ago, and only found one, very brief, mention of the AI MkV.
Peter Grieve
By: RadarArchive - 28th January 2006 at 23:14
AI V was not a centimetric set with a paraboloid dish, but operated on the same 1.5 metre wavelength as AI IV. However, it had a radar display for the pilot – this was designed to avoid the inherent delays i nthe flight controls caused by the radar operator having to pass information to the pilot before he could carry out corrective action. Further details, plus a drawing of this display, can be found in the book Boffin by R Hanbury Brown.
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January 28, 2006 at 8:44 pm