THE UNSUNG HEROES AND HEROINES OF WW2

Most people know the story of the code breakers of Bletchley Park, credited with helping to win WW2. Far less well known is the vital contribution of our secret weapon: radar. Invented by a small group of brilliant physicists and operated by an army of intrepid woman technicians, the early warning system gave the RAF precious time to scramble fighters and intercept the German Luftwaffe, robbing them of the element of surprise.

So effective – and so top secret – was the technology that the government felt obliged to divert attention by circulating ‘false news’ that the RAF’s success was due to feeding their pilots plenty of raw carrots, which promoted superior eyesight, especially at night. The myth became widely accepted among British and Germans alike, and perpetuated long after the war.

Radar is widely credited with helping to win WW2 and changing the course of history. Yet apart from a small museum housed in a former transmitter block at Bawdsey Manor, the work of the scientists who invented radar and the dedication of thousands of mainly women operators is far less widely recognised than the code-breakers of Bletchley Park. I hope this book helps to redress the balance.

Radar later developed into microwave technology which has multiple applications today such as speed cameras and air traffic control, as well as in space.

For more information: www.bawdseyradar.org.uk