SECRET DEVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 June 1941, Page 5

SECRET DEVICE

DETECTION OF PLANES USE BY BRITAIN REVEALED NEW ZEALAND MAKING EQUIPMENT London. June 17. Air Marshal Sir Philip Joubert, rommander-in-chief of the Coastal Command, told the Australian Associated Press that it was virtually impossible for a raider to approach Britain without its presence being: known. This was because of the war’s best-kept secret, one of the most important developments of Britain’s war organisation, namely, radio location. Australia and New Zealand were already manufacturing: its equipment and training personnel for maintenance and repair.

“It is no new science, but the application to war of known scientific facts,” Sir Philip said. “The man first applying these facts to the detection of planes is Mr R. A. W. Watt, scientific adviser ,on telecommunications to the Air Ministry. He developed the system from meteorological methods.

“Radio location was born in March, 1935, and a team of brilliant scientists worked on it most secretly till the middle of 1939. Radio location emerged as a system sending out electric or

ether waves far beyond our shores. Any solid object in the path of the waves, whether ship or plane, sends back a reflection to us. The system is unaffected by fog, cloud or darkness and keeps up a watch 24 hours every day. “Radio location eliminates the necessity for continuous patrols of fighters, thus saving petrol and wear and tear of engines and obviating strain on personnel. T t is also used by the Navy and Army, but science and manufacture have outstripped personnel.

“Scientists are constantly evolving improvements. The cleverest radio manufacturers have brought in all their resources in producing radio locators by mass production. V/e have mobilised every available qualified radio mechanic and extensively used women, but we need immediatel- for these services 10.000 men and 4600 women. Ultimately we shall need about twice that number.” DEFEATING NIGHT BOMBER Answering a question, Sir Philip said the scientific facts which were the origin of radio location weie known throughout the world and therefore it was supposable th~. the Germans had not lagged behind in its application, but there was no positive evidence of this. There was proportionately no increase in the British losses over Germany, the losses being mainly caused by the antiaircraft defences. There was no evid°nce that they could be ascribed to radio location.

The Australian Associated Press learns that millions have been spent on the radio locator, but the entire cost has already been saved Its future potentialities are almost unlimited. When radio location is fully applied there need never be another shipwreck and air travel will be manifoldly safer