INFRA-RED RAYS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 271, 29 August 1935, Page 5

INFRA-RED RAYS

DETECTION OF AIRCRAFT. FOUR MILES THROUGH FOG. LONDON, August 15. Commander Paul MacNeil' has invented an apparatus for detecting aircraft and other moving objects by long infra-retl rays as a substitute lor searchlights when visibility is poor, savs the aeronautical correspondent et “The Times.” The apparatus may be synchronised with an anti-aircraft gun, enabling a shell to be fired immediately an aeroplane crosses the infra-red beam, thus eliminating the'time lag due to the use of a sound-locator. Moreover, it will be possible to fire at invisible targets, offering a, prospect of accurate fire against aircraft hidden by clouds. The invention may be used to differentiate between height and distance, ignoring the passage of slower objects than those it is intended to detect. It also possesses an amplification factor of 3,000,000 with which ships can be located 23,000 yards away and aircraft located through fog at a distance o> four miles.

Commander Mac Neil offered the device to the Mar Office in February and later carried out a successful demonstration, but it is stated that the officials ilid not evince the slightest interest.

Meanwhile another great Power offered Commander Mac Neil a laboratory in which to develop the invention. This offer has not so far been accepted, as the inventor says he hopes either the War Office or the Air Ministry will offer him some encouragement.