A typical modern day civil (sic) servants (sic) response. Government right up to the top seems to run along the same lines.

I agree

It stems from the decision forced on us during the war, that we concentrate on fighting aircraft while the USA built all the transports. All part of the principle war aim of the USA, which was that the British Empire was to be dismantled and that they would rule the world. Along the way destroying the Japs and allowing the Germans and Russians to destroy each other.

Yes Ian White covers the subject pretty fully. AI Mk10 was a version of SCR720 modded for the RAF developed from the initial radar put together by the American industry using the cavity magneto which Bowen had taken to USA with the Tizard commission, and with Bowens input on screen design. It was a very practical set with a very practical display, because of Bowens previous experience on AI. Our boffins produced AI Mk 9 concurrently but made such a lash up that it took years to develop, eventually morphing into AI Mk17 which was the abortion foisted on the Javelin. When the 3 centimetre magnetron was developed the RAF adopted an American set designated here as AI Mk21 and used in the Meteor 12/14 and the Venom. Better range and discrimination but a poorer display. If only we had had the common sense to graft the newer magnetron onto AI Mk 10 we would have had a much more practical set.

All in my humble opinion of course, but I only spent over 5 years bungling interceptions with these things.

Wikipedia has provided me with the correct name, Société Commerciale Aérienne du Littoral.

I should have put “t*its”, very fussy people about here

Ah, those steps cum handholds. A little boasting but we had to go to Habbaniya in Iraq on a weekend nav exercise, returning on Sunday pm with takeoff at 1400 local. The aircraft was parked in the open on the Plateau airfield as the main runway at Habb was under repair. The temperature was 120F so we only wore underpants and lightweight flying suit. I put on my capeskin flying gloves as getting in to the rear cockpit involved pulling up on the hand holds and kneeling the right knee onto the wing.

By the time I had got in I had burnt my hands and right knee.

What a man.