Radar Recollections - A Bournemouth University / CHiDE / HLF project

 
 
 

The Magnetron - Town detection

The direct detection of towns and individual buildings had been a specific nuisance to AI systems working at 1.5 m and was always referred to as 'ground clutter'. Little or no definition in the ground return was possible with such a system.

The issue of inaccurate bombing caused by poor target identification had been highlighted in the Butt report. The matter was discussed in July 1941 and again in late 1941. The direct results of these findings was the rapid development and subsequent introduction of the GEE radio beacon location system; ready for operational use by March 1942.

Furthermore, it was pointed out that the majority of industrial targets would be steel-framed buildings. The idea of modifying the newly introduced 10 cm AI equipment with a downward facing antenna array was investigated.
Both spiral and helical scanning dishes were evaluated but the first trials took place very quickly with P.I.Dee in charge.

By March 1942 a prototype unit was installed in a specially built Halifax with a Perspex dome under the belly of the aircraft) for trials to be undertaken.

   
The Handley Page Halifax Bomber
The Handley Page Halifax Bomber
   

By the end of 1942 some 50 sets, now known as H2S were ready for service and so day or night-time precision bombing would become a reality…

   
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