James,

I would indeed agree that the reason the Wellington AWACS is never mention is that almost no-one knows about it, due almost certainly to the secrecy of the work of the wartime radar team.

As regards publication, watch this space. I’m currently in negotiations with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland who MIGHT publish my history of the ground radar stations in Scotland. And before you dismiss this subject as irrelevant and that stations in Scotland didn’t really plot anything, you might be surprised just how much hostile activity there was and just how much important research was carried out in Scotland. Did you know that a few months before the start of the Battle of Britain, the German Air Force launched several attacks on the Home Fleet in Scapa Flow in an attempt to wipe it out, Pearl Harbour style?

Thanks for that, Nick. I’ve had a quick nose round and it seems to be an interesting forum, although I’d have to say there’s not enough images posted for my liking. 😉

I also heard a rumour that the RN invented the microwave oven back in the mid 1940s, radar tecs noticed you could boil water (for tea obviously) if you left it near a ASV set that was radiating -Might be an urban legend though!

This is one than CAN be credited to the US. Percy Spencer came up with the idea of the microwave oven after a chocolate bar in his pocket melted when he was standing in front of a centimetric radar. I’ve also heard tales that the odd dead seabird used to be found lying in front of centimetric radars, having been cooked in flight. Now that’s what you call fast food!

The ACI system worked on 1.5 metres, so the definition wasn’t as good as 10 cm (the beam was wider, so the blip was bigger, whereas the smaller blip on 10cm meant you could locate it much more accurately). With 10cm ASV (used in Bomber Command as H2S) a more effective equipment was available. By that time, there was also little need for an ACI system – lack of suitable targets. Does this make sense?

Just because it wasn’t used to any great extent doesn’t make it the first AWACS. It was the first such system, and was used, if only briefly. So yes, it was used operationally.

Nick – you can assume a service radar background if you want, but you’d be wrong! :rolleyes: My knowledge comes from researching from a local history viewpoint, and then realising that Hendon, the IWM, and other such places knew almost nothing about it, despite the crucial role that radar played. It’s quite a revelation to discover as a 16 year old that you know more than a national museum! The research took off from there and has reached a level where I was interviewed today by the BBC for a programme on radar next year. That should be a laugh!

There was an article in Flypast in April 1987 entitled ‘The First AWACS’ which described a Wellington with a modified ASV equipment whch was used as an airborne control for Beaufighters trying to shoot down Heinkel He 111s which were air-launching V1s.

However, there was also a Wellington equipped with a specifically designed radar for controlling interceptions. This was known as ACI (Air Controlled Interception) as opposed to GCI (Ground Controlled Interception) which was the name for the ground radar stations which guided night fighters. This Wellington, R1629, was equipped with a rotating dorsal aerial array, the purpose being to try and counter the threat from Fw 200 Condors in the NW Approaches. TRE designed the radar with the design, manufacture and installation of the aerial blade with mouting and turning gear the responsibility of RAE Farnborough. Trials were carried out off The Lizard in April 1942.

A change of role came the following month, with plans to use the aircraft to control interceptions of E-boats by MGBs or aircraft. Trials were carried out from Bircham Newton. With the introduction of 10 cm ASV from January 1942, the project was considered obsolete and was dropped. A full account appeared in the Air-Britain magazine, Aviation World, in Spring 2004 and in ‘Air controlled interception’ by R Hodges in Radar Development to 1945 edited by R W Burns.

Or a couple of others, but I won’t give the complete lyrics …

Men of Hardwick never grumble
As their Whitley engines rumble
Through the hole the gladly tumble
Ready for the fray

Who’ll fly a Wimpey, who’ll fly a Wimpey
Who’ll fly a Wimpey over Germanee?
I, said the pilot, I, said the pilot
I’ll fly a Hercules Mark Three.

Twenty days later, his widow gave birth to his son. As a ever lasting memory she placed this bench here.

Not exactly a rare occurence, I know, but it just makes you want to cry. Having a son almost three weeks after you’ve been killed. That is the real tragedy of war and how it affects real lives.

Does anyone know anything about the P-38 shot down in 1943? That sounds like it might be an interesting tale …