Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 2, 2017 21:14:35 GMT 12
This comes from the ALEXANDRA HERALD AND CENTRAL OTAGO GAZETTE, 13 MARCH 1946
N.Z. RADAR ACHIEVEMENT
Early in 1940 a few scientists began working in the Radio Section of the Post and Telegraph Department on closely guarded secret equipment then known as R.D.F. (Radio Distance Finding) and later known by the American term Radar (Radio Aid to Direction and Ranging). The work in those days involved design and construction of equipment for coast watching stations and coast defence batteries, as well as for aircraft and ships.
The work expanded rapidly. The Radio Development Laboratory was formed in September, 1941, as a branch of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department.
In June 1942 what was known as the micro-wave programme was pushed ahead, and sets of this type, designed for the detection of ships and low-flying aircraft, were used to replace earlier types of equipment in coast watching stations. In March, 1943, one of the first of these sets was made up in mobile form and sent to the South Pacific area under the control of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Is was so successful that orders for a further four sets were received from the Navy, and one for the New Zealand Army, which was then taking part in the South Pacific.
An interesting job carried out about September, 1943, was the fitting of G.C.I. (Ground Control Interception) equipment into mobile form for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Each set consisted of about six trucks, and equipment was used for the guiding, of night fighters in the interception of Japanese bombers.
Long Range Sets
Long Range Air Warning sets went into production at the end of 1943, after a year's development work. These sets were designed to give warning of the approach of aircraft. They were supplied to United States Naval Radar Units, and a scientist from the laboratory was sent with each set. These units took part successfully in the operations at Green Island, Emirau, Palau and Ulithi and were the subject of much favourable comment by the American Naval authorities.
The Radio Laboratory by the end of 1943 had reached the peak of its development. It had a staff of about 100, recruited from University colleges, Government departments, and the radio industry. The first job in 1941 was the building of additional equipment for bringing up-to-date Admiralty sets for ships of the R.N.Z.N. Four of these sets were supplied for corvettes which took part in naval operations in the South Pacific. Later in the same year, due to the arrival in the South Pacific of large quantities of manufactured Radar equipment from America, the Laboratory concentrated on the design of a large number of small jobs rather than the big programmes which had characterised its activities in the past.
The Laboratory produced in 1944 a micro-wave height finder which was originally designed for the accurate determination of the position and height of enemy aircraft. With the arrival in the South Pacific of similar equipment from America, operational requirements for this particular equipment from New Zealand had disappeared, but the potentialities were realised by the Meteorological Branch of the R.N.Z.A.F. and it was installed at Whenuapai towards the end of 1944 where it has since been used for following meteorological balloons. The information so gained is used for weather forecasting and for aerial navigation.
The major job during 1945 was the supply to the British Pacific Fleet of mobile Radar units which were favourably commented on by officers of the Fleet. Experimental work on navigational aids for the R.N.Z.A.F. and Marine Department is still being carried out. The special Radio Laboratory will be closing down shortly and its functions will be transferred to the Radar Section of the Dominion Physical Laboratory where work of keeping up-to-date with latest developments of Radar, navigational aids for shipping and aircraft will be continued, as well as electronic development for industry and Government departments.
N.Z. RADAR ACHIEVEMENT
Early in 1940 a few scientists began working in the Radio Section of the Post and Telegraph Department on closely guarded secret equipment then known as R.D.F. (Radio Distance Finding) and later known by the American term Radar (Radio Aid to Direction and Ranging). The work in those days involved design and construction of equipment for coast watching stations and coast defence batteries, as well as for aircraft and ships.
The work expanded rapidly. The Radio Development Laboratory was formed in September, 1941, as a branch of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department.
In June 1942 what was known as the micro-wave programme was pushed ahead, and sets of this type, designed for the detection of ships and low-flying aircraft, were used to replace earlier types of equipment in coast watching stations. In March, 1943, one of the first of these sets was made up in mobile form and sent to the South Pacific area under the control of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Is was so successful that orders for a further four sets were received from the Navy, and one for the New Zealand Army, which was then taking part in the South Pacific.
An interesting job carried out about September, 1943, was the fitting of G.C.I. (Ground Control Interception) equipment into mobile form for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Each set consisted of about six trucks, and equipment was used for the guiding, of night fighters in the interception of Japanese bombers.
Long Range Sets
Long Range Air Warning sets went into production at the end of 1943, after a year's development work. These sets were designed to give warning of the approach of aircraft. They were supplied to United States Naval Radar Units, and a scientist from the laboratory was sent with each set. These units took part successfully in the operations at Green Island, Emirau, Palau and Ulithi and were the subject of much favourable comment by the American Naval authorities.
The Radio Laboratory by the end of 1943 had reached the peak of its development. It had a staff of about 100, recruited from University colleges, Government departments, and the radio industry. The first job in 1941 was the building of additional equipment for bringing up-to-date Admiralty sets for ships of the R.N.Z.N. Four of these sets were supplied for corvettes which took part in naval operations in the South Pacific. Later in the same year, due to the arrival in the South Pacific of large quantities of manufactured Radar equipment from America, the Laboratory concentrated on the design of a large number of small jobs rather than the big programmes which had characterised its activities in the past.
The Laboratory produced in 1944 a micro-wave height finder which was originally designed for the accurate determination of the position and height of enemy aircraft. With the arrival in the South Pacific of similar equipment from America, operational requirements for this particular equipment from New Zealand had disappeared, but the potentialities were realised by the Meteorological Branch of the R.N.Z.A.F. and it was installed at Whenuapai towards the end of 1944 where it has since been used for following meteorological balloons. The information so gained is used for weather forecasting and for aerial navigation.
The major job during 1945 was the supply to the British Pacific Fleet of mobile Radar units which were favourably commented on by officers of the Fleet. Experimental work on navigational aids for the R.N.Z.A.F. and Marine Department is still being carried out. The special Radio Laboratory will be closing down shortly and its functions will be transferred to the Radar Section of the Dominion Physical Laboratory where work of keeping up-to-date with latest developments of Radar, navigational aids for shipping and aircraft will be continued, as well as electronic development for industry and Government departments.
