A Radar History of World War II: Technical and Military Imperatives

Book Description

Technical and Military Imperatives: A Radar History of World War II is a coherent account of the history of radar in the second World War. Although many books have been written on the early days of radar and its role in the war, this book is by far the most comprehensive, covering ground, air, and sea operations in all theatres of World War II. The author manages to synthesize a vast amount of material in a highly readable, informative, and enjoyable way. Of special interest is extensive new material about the development and use of radar by Germany, Japan, Russia, and Great British. The story is told without undue technical complexity, so that the book is accessible to specialists and nonspecialists alike.

Customer Reviews:

Improvement is necessary for future editions.......2006-08-29

The book is an extremely valuable, comprehensive and trusted source of information about all principal aspects and many details of the radar before and in time of the WWII, except one minor aspect. This is the pre-war history of radar R&D in the USSR. The author cites only one reference - a book by a Soviet general M. Lobanov, who supervised the gun laying radar developments in the 1930s, written in 1975. Still it is clear that the author could not read Russian and so had the book translated by someone. It looks like not all the book was translated or read, because too many facts, names and organizations are twisted, mixed up and simply omitted. This old Sovet book gives much better vision and proper names and facts than those reproduced by L. Brown. Still today exist other sources on this topic. In some sad way, the mentioned deficiency continues long tradition in the English-centered literature of neglecting and not accurate using the information available about the radar in the USSR even if it is scarce. The tradition started when someone in America in 1944 made a capital error in the name of one of two Russians who measured a real cavity magnetron in 1937 and published it in 1940 (in Russian) - correct name Malyarov or Maliarov was twisted and printed as "Malairov". And so, forever in English/USA publications the poor guy is "Malairov". L. Brown, in similar way, twisted the history of the research radar Zenit and presented it in a most sardonic way as an example of the worst radar development existed at that moment. I am not going to discuss this in details. I'd like only to note that, first, in the mentioned boook of Gen. Lobanov the story of Zenit is given with great sympathy and his evaluation of that achievement is clearly highly positive, at least at the time of 1938-39 testing. Second, the subsequent failure of the project was not a result of bad engineering, as it is presented by L. Brown, but rather of the Orwellian circumstances of the Soviet life in the late 1930s. The story of Zenit can be read in A.A. Kostenko, et al., "Development of the first Soviet three-coordinate L-band pulsed radar in Kharkov before WWII", IEEE Antennas Propagat. Magazine, 2001, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 28-49. I hope that this story and proper names of people and organizations, and also principal facts, will be presented in better way when, if ever, this book is published as a next edition.

Comprehensive Analysis of Technology that Transformed Modern Warfare.......2006-04-13

In A Radar History of World War II, physicist Louis Brown recounts the little-known history of a technology that may very well have been the difference between a free world and a Nazi-dominated one. The book provides very painstaking details and is unique in that it describes the technology that existed within the societies of all major combatants: Americans, British, Germans, Russians, and Japanese. It is also a good primer on the basics of radar that can be understood by the layman.

However, the book is long and tedious. Although the science can be understood by a layman, I can personally attest that it is rough going. Although Brown recounts some interesting anecdotes, it is clear that he is a scientist first and a writer second. As a result, this book is unlikely to appeal to a mass audience. That being said, A Radar History of World War II is a rewarding read for those with the necessary stamina. If you're a scientist or an engineer, feel free to add a star or two to my rating.

Essential Reading for the History of WWII Radar.......2001-10-10

The story of the development atomic bomb finally had its complete chronicle in 1995 with the Richard Rhodes book "The Making of the Atomic Bomb." Rhodes is unmatched as an explainer of difficult concepts; he is even better at describing the personalities who made the discoveries that led to the Bomb. More importantly his skill made the book as good a read as any Tom Clancy novel.

Louis Brown attempts to do the same for Radar during World War II. The good news is that this book has the sweep and depth of anything Rhodes has done. If anything it's even more complete. As a fan of the history of technology I've finally found the single source book on WWII radar. As of now this book has become the definitive work on the subject. If you are interested in the topic you have to read this book.

Authors of the history technology need a rare combination of divergent skills to write a good technical history; an understanding and passion for the subject, dogged research skills for those subjects that were once classified, and the ability to tell a captivating story.

Brown is as good as they get for understanding and passion. His description of German and Japanese radar boggle the mind. The sad part is that as a writer Brown is simply no match for Rhodes. What could have been a sweeping epic that popularized the subject ends up being a tedious list of facts of interest only to the few passionate about the subject. The book veers between a mind-numbing list of radar types (with an awesome bibliography, stunning index yet it has no timelines, radar order of battle, or any coherent summary of the mass of data presented), it is interspersed with personal rambling asides, punctuated by bursts of interesting exposition and great insight. This book could have used a very good editor and some night classes on writing. Instead it looks like it got a spell-checking program.

This book is such a valuable resource that I urge the author to find a co-author and put out a revised second edition.

Monument to a fascinating technology.......2001-01-26

Brown began his studies on World War II radar development "because the book he would have liked to read did not exist". The outcome is a book almost any reader would love to have written! Although radar became an esoteric subject almost from the beginning, the necessary technical background is presented clearly and the reader does not have to be an electronics specialist to enjoy the superb panoramic view Brown presents of the development of a technology that changed the face of war - and that of peace as well! Even if one is familiar with the subject, surprises start popping up in the first dozen pages or so. This is not an updated version of the books that have gone before but something new. In the first place, it is based on massive, critical and thoroughly documented research. Secondly, it does not focus on the efforts of just one or two participants in the radar epos - be it the Germans, British, American, the naval or air forces. Instead it describes the almost simultaneous and often comparable developments that took place before and during the war worldwide. Critical, and thus well-known, subjects like the role of radar in the Battle of Britain are dealt with, of course, but even here fresh insights are offered. And besides, many epic events that have unjustly been "forgotten" - such as the Japanese forces that were NOT to be found on Attu Island - are described. Even the selection of the photographs (of excellent quality) bears testimony to a fresh approach. Almost invariably, mention of the German Seetakt radar has been accompanied by pictures of the burning wreck of the Admiral Graf Spee. Here we see an intelligence officer's nightmare (or delight!): a German Torpedo School ship with Seetakt antenna in full view - in a freely available 1939 pocketbook! What makes the story so coherent is that radar is firmly placed in the context of the military operations: it shows how the brighter warriors exploited the new technology and how the dumber authorities goofed. And finally, there is a wealth of anecdotes, from the horrific to the hilarious. I find Brown's Radar History just as good as R.V. Jones' "Most Secret War": serious but light-footed, and very well written.

A Summer Bright and Terrible: Winston Churchill, Lord Dowding, Radar, and the Impossible Triumph of the Battle of Britain

Average customer rating:

Marvellous
Excellent Book About A Little Known Hero
Bright book, would be terrible to miss
Bright, Terrible and Brilliant
Nice addition to every WWII library

A Summer Bright and Terrible: Winston Churchill, Lord Dowding, Radar, and the Impossible Triumph of the Battle of Britain
David E. Fisher
Manufacturer: Shoemaker & Hoard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1593761163

Book Description

Lord Hugh Dowding, Air Chief Marshall of the Royal Air Force, Head of Fighter Command, First Baron of Bentley Priory, lived in the grip of unseen spirits. In thrall of the supernatural, he talked to the ghosts of his dead pilots, proclaimed that Hitler was defeated only by the personal intervention of God, and believed in the existence of faeries. How could it be that such a man should be put in charge of evaluating technical developments for the British air ministry? Yet it was he who brought the modern multi-gunned fighter into existence. And he insisted that his scientists investigate the mysterious invisible rays that would prove to be the salvation of Britain: radar.

Dowding, who provided the organization and training that led to victory, has been all but ignored by U. S. biographers of Churchill and historians of the Battle of Britain. Yet his story is vital to tell, for its importance to the defense of Britain and the free world, and for the intriguing character study that emerges from his ongoing conflict with Churchill and the British government during the crisis years of the empire. Part military history, part science narrative, part biography; this an incredible story.

Customer Reviews:

Marvellous.......2007-02-04

I discovered Lord Dowding as the author did through Dowdings book "Lynchgate". The Battle of Britain, whilst not the saviour as most believe put a serious dent in Hitlers War Machine. Britain was to remain free and a "stepping stone" back into Europe.

Without Lord Dowding none of this would have been achieved. Bombing had been shown to be the way of modern warfare and fighters stuck in a time warp could not catch them. Dowding's obstinacy and prescience established a data-linked system of radar, operation rooms and fighters. Without him the World may have been a much different place.

Since owning and reading the book, I have lent it out to various people, some who admit to only occassionally reading! Everyone has been awe stuck by the story. Our debt of gratitude to those who fought the Second World War is aptly enhanced.

Excellent Book About A Little Known Hero.......2007-01-10

Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding has long been known to me as one of the most important men in the defeat of Hitler and Nazi Germany, yet few Americans know who he is.

David E. Fisher writes is an engaging style. There are several fine books that detail Hugh Dowding's contributions to the RAF's defeat of the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and his immediate dismissal afterwards.

Fisher writes a lot about Dowding's belief in the supernatural, but it is done in a sensitive and fair manner.

Fisher has done his research. This book is a great way to learn about one of the most decisive battles of WWII, and about one of its greatest heroes.

Bright book, would be terrible to miss.......2006-07-25

How can a summer be bright and terrible? Fisher writes convincingly that the long, dry, summer of 1940 over England offered the world a turning point, the Battle of Britain. The star was Hugh "Stuffy" Dowding, the aging officer responsible for the fighter defense of England. Faced with the assumption that fighters were too slow, too under armed, and too late - "the bomber will always get through" - and faced with an overwhelming enemy, Dowding had to Marshall has scarce "chicks", lull Hermann Goring into believing that England had no resistance left, and postpone Operation Sea Lion. This bright, terrible summer provided the backdrop for this well-documented battle. Fisher offers four parts - winter, spring, summer and fall - to create a complete context for this fascinating historical story.

The strategy was to fight strategically, with a few well-positioned squadrons taking on waves of German bombers and fighters. The "secret" to the success was the intricate defense communications system, based on nascent radar, a system that provided enough time for fighters to rise up to meet the Huns. Even at the time, Dowding's plan was not universally accepted. Even his success in turning the tide and postponing the inevitable invasion did not save him his job. Other people clamored for more credit, including Winston Churchill, rankled peers, a disgruntled scientist, and the legless fighter pilot, Douglas Bader. "Bomber" Harris and the "big wing" theory may have earned more press, but Fisher makes his point clearly, if personally and even conversationally, that Dowding saved the day, on stubborn spunk and science. Dowding leveraged his experience in the first Great War to manage a career based on science more than diplomacy or tact. He was loved by the men he led, and reviled by many of the peers he challenged.

Fisher even forgives Neville Chamberlain's aligned "appeasement" as a method for England to buy time in the run up to full-scale war. Clearly England was not yet equipped to defend itself at the time of Munich, but it is hard to know if Hitler would have been ready to go. Fisher is a scientist, a professor of cosmochemistry, who teaches about war and science, and he has a skill at putting together the scientific and technological advances that saved England as well as those half-baked ideas that fortunately did not stop radar and Dowding's communication system from stopping the onslaught. Fisher has a light, pleasant, non-technical writing style. The reader feels as if Fisher is telling a story, perhaps to a classroom of students. He details Dowding's life, including Dowding's fascination with spirit life, séances, and mediums. Fisher takes on some of the conventional wisdom as to heroes and chumps and leaves the reader satisfied with a thorough, personal story, even with Fisher's self-admitted bias about some incidents and people.

The final flare of the Battle of Britain, the second week in September 1940, when Hitler finally had to acknowledge that the invasion was off, provides a fitting climax to a climactic story. This is interesting history, enjoyable, educational and informative, vivid yet not graphic, personal, candid, and willing to look at both sides of the numerous accounts of this period. Having read many of them myself, I recommend this one as a satisfying experience.

Bright, Terrible and Brilliant.......2006-03-20

This is a brilliant account of the Battle of Britain. As Hitler unleashed the Luftwaffe against Britain, the Summer of 1940, writes David Fisher, was too long and too short; too bright and too terrible: "Too long," because it seemed like an eternity before the onset of the high Fall winds that would roil the North Atlantic and make a cross-channel invasion impossible. "Too short," because there was insufficient time to mass-produce Spitfires and Hurricanes, train pilots, and build and staff radar stations. "Too bright," because an unusually dry and clear Summer ("where the bleep are the clouds, the fog, the rain") created perfect conditions for the Luftwaffe assault, and "too terrible," because of the all the planes that were falling from the sky.

"Brilliant" is a good word to describe the man who was most responsible for England's defense: Hugh Dowding. And he was prescient, too. Dowding saw early that fighter squadrons, not bombers, were the key to the island nation's defense, bucking conventional wisdom in the Air Ministry. He out-argued Winston Churchill (Churchill!) to prevent the senseless transfer of precious British fighter planes during the Battle of France: "if the present rate of wastage continues for another fortnight, we shall not have a single Hurricane left in France or in this country." He envisioned the essential role of radar - at a time when others, including Churchill, were promoting fanciful schemes like the death ray - and overcame inane resistance (`make sure they don't interfere with the grouse hunting") to construct a chain of radar towers on the eve of war. His strategy of sending small numbers of Spits and Hurris ("penny packets") to contest the Luftwaffe proved to be masterful. Hermann Goring became deluded into believing England's fighter squadrons had been decimated. When Goring went for the kill, Dowding summoned the reserves he had been holding back, and -- aided by the early warning of radar - trounced the Luftwaffe and ended the Battle of Britain.

Surprisingly, Dowding was cashiered (or more politely, "retired on schedule") shortly thereafter. Hitler's failure in the Battle of Britain engendered The Blitz. Churchill demanded an immediate defense. Dowding said there was no effective defense against the nighttime bombing until better fighter planes were produced, equipped with individual radar sets and better armaments. Events would prove Dowding right. But he had made many enemies in the top echelons of the Air Ministry, and had little support in resisting Churchill. Indeed, his antagonists in the Air Ministry even conspired to revise the history of the Battle of Britain to make his successful strategy seem a failure.

Dowding was an eccentric guy. He claimed to communicate regularly with his dead wife as well as the pilots (his "chicks") who perished over England. Shortly after retirement, he married a young widow at the recommendation of her recently killed fighter-pilot husband. At the end, many of his contemporaries thought he'd gone off the deep end. But at the time of its greatest peril, he was the guy who, in Fisher's words, "made the life-and-death decisions that saved England." And altered the course of the Second World War.

Nice addition to every WWII library.......2005-12-27

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in WWII, especially the ETO. There are a couple of nice pluses in this book.

First, the story is broader than usual. There are certainly other good histories of the Battle of Britain, but this is the best treatment I have seen of the lead-up to the battle on the British side. Specifically, the development of RADAR and the Spitfire.

The other nice facet of this book is that the author definitely makes his opinion known, keeping the book from being too dry, but at the same time, he is clear in distinguishng between his opinions and the facts.

Once I started this book, I just ripped right through it.

The Invention That Changed the World: How a Small Group of Radar Pioneers Won the Second World War and Launched a Technological Revolution (Sloan Technology Series)

Average customer rating:

radar
Excellent history, a bit light on the technology
Great story but, a little bit too complex
Really Two Books - The First Great, The Second Lacking
Required reading for prospective engineers

The Invention That Changed the World: How a Small Group of Radar Pioneers Won the Second World War and Launched a Technological Revolution (Sloan Technology Series)
Robert Buderi
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684810212

Amazon.com

Without the invention of radar, Europe--and possibly even the world--might today be under Fascist rule. This well-written, technically accurate, and even exciting account captures the urgency of the race to win World War II, the people behind the magnetrons, screens and antennae, and the use of radar in the cold war. Another extraordinary volume from the Sloan Foundation Technology Series, and Highly Recommended.

Customer Reviews:

radar.......2007-07-24

The first half of this book concentrates on the initial idea and realization of radar as a concept and it's a fascinating one.

In the 1930's, Britain, sensing a threat from Hitler's Germany, began researching ways to bolster its defenses. It was found that when ships or planes passed by radio towers, the signals were diffused and broken. Individuals associated with the government and military began investigating this odd phenomenon.

And so, the development of radar began, with the biggest help from William "Taffy" Bowen, a Welsh engineer who developed the cavity magnetron which was the principal component of the radar package. In the early phase of the war, Bowen, took the magnetron to America under the greatest secrecy.

Reading the first half of this story, I found a familiar and contemporary ring to the elements: namely, that when a technological breakthrough is made, the easy part is tweaking it until it becomes more useful in more ways - thus the magnetron went from lab component to RAF planes in just a few years.

Buderi doesn't give us the thriller treatment; that's for guys like Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler. But, the story of radar's role in WWII is riveting enough. The rest of the book is devoted to the peacetime uses of radar - weather forecasting, plane guidance, even astronomy.

Excellent history, a bit light on the technology.......2006-12-14

In spite of its shortcomings as a technical book, which it is not, this is an excellent read, for the engineer as well as the historian. I enjoyed it and have reread it a couple of times. Towards the end it is a bit weak as the maser and microwave excitement pales alongside the war accomplishements, on both sides of the pond. I was dissapointed to visit MIT and find the Rad Lab building gone, but alas, time marches on. Read it and enjoy!

Great story but, a little bit too complex.......2004-02-03

This kind of books is the one that is capable of make you stop and think of the world history and what happens behind our backs. It is a splendid book, with a great story and very good technical details. However, the author losts itself among complex scientific data (especially about quantum theory) that is not available to everyone, including myself (so I merelly skip those parts). It was very interesting.

Really Two Books - The First Great, The Second Lacking.......2000-12-04

This book is really two books in one, the first being an outline of the development of radar immediately prior to and during World War II. This part takes up the first 245 pages of the book, is extremely well organized and plays out the complete development and deployment of radar during World War II. This early part takes you through the people and organizations that were behind radar's development, as well as a very top level view of the technology used to create the device. The author walks you through a very good description of radar's development on a global scale, outlining how the US and UK led the development, why Germany was only slightly further behind, and why Japan was so lagging. Mr. Buderi takes several major battles, including the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Midway, and outlines the significance of radar in those battles and how it truly was the winning weapon of the war. This part of the book clearly rates 5 stars, and makes the whole text worth purchasing.

The second part of the book, which takes up the final 233 pages, is less organized and much less linear in its thought development. While this lack of organization does reflect the decentralization of radar development following WWII, it does not make this section any easier to read. While the development or radar as an astronomical tool, its deployment and adoption at civilian airports and the use of its underlying technologies in the development of integrated circuit are all significant, their depiction as essential parts of the story is lacking. The second part ranks 2 stars, and is good reference material, but should be read on a chapter by chapter basis, as that appears to be how they were written.

In summary, the first part is great - 5 stars, the second part was less a book, but more a stringing together of engineering stories and earned only 2 stars. I gave it a weighted average of 4.

Favorite Excerpts:

"I never read books - they interfere with thinking." - Paul Dirac to Robert Oppenheimer (page 48)

"It didn't make me more enemies than I cared about, because the enemies that you have to worry about are smart enemies, and smart people didn't get mad at me unless they had a good reason to." - George Valley Jr. (page 183)

"Some of my friends seemed to know every year model of every car, that seemed to me so temporary and uninteresting. Nature is such a permanent aspect of our universe, and so obviously God-made." -Charles Townes (page 336)

"We had the authority and influence that came from being indispensable." - Jay Forrester (page 397)

Required reading for prospective engineers.......1998-12-01

A superb piece of work. Anyone contemplating a career in physics or engineering should read this book. If Buderi's descriptions of the technical chase don't thrill and inspire you, strongly consider directing your efforts elsewhere.

A Race on the Edge of Time: Radar--The Decisive Weapon of World War II

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A Race on the Edge of Time: Radar--The Decisive Weapon of World War II
David E. Fisher
Manufacturer: Paragon House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1557781397

Instruments of Darkness: The History of Electronic Warfare, 1939-1945

Average customer rating:

Summarizes the Topic Quite Well

Instruments of Darkness: The History of Electronic Warfare, 1939-1945
Alfred Price
Manufacturer: Greenhill Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1853676160

Book Description

The rapid evolution of radio and radar systems for military use during World War II, and devices to counter them, led to a technological battle that neither the Axis nor the Allied powers could afford to lose. The result was a continual series of thrusts, parries and counter-thrusts, as first one side then the other sought to wrest the initiative in the struggle to control the other. This was a battle fought with strange-sounding weapons: 'Freya', 'Mandrel', 'Boozer' and 'Window'. It was a battle characterised by the bravery, self-sacrifice and skill of those who took part in it. During the war, however, and for many years after, electronic-warfare systems and their employment during the conflict remained closely guarded military secrets. When that veil of secrecy was finally lifted, the technicalities of the subject helped ensure that it remained beyond the reach of lay researchers and readers. Alfred Price, an aircrew officer with the RAF where he flew with V-Force and specialized in electronic warfare and air fighting tactics, was both inspired by the subject and in the unique position to lift the lid on this largely unexplored aspect of World War II. When it was first published in 1967, Instruments of Darkness came to be regarded as a standard reference work on this intriguing subject. Since its initial appearance, it has been expanded as important additional material has become available. This completely revised edition ends with the Japanese surrender in August 1945 and brings the analysis fully up to date in the light of what we now know.

Customer Reviews:

Summarizes the Topic Quite Well.......2006-10-06

Alfred Price offers another well researched,easy to follow, history of airborne electronic warfare, during World War II in the European theater. The strength of the book is that he threads the many personalities and issues associated with conducting electronic warfare into a engaging narrative. The focus is on the Royal Air Force's Bomber Commands efforts agains the Luftwaffe's air defense of the Third Reich. The US Army Air Force's daylight bombing campaign has some brief mentions, but not in any significant depth. I can easily recommend this book for anyone interested in the topic for they will enjoy a well written and presented study of the topic.

Average customer rating:

Echoes of War: The Story of H2S Radar
Lovell Sir Ber
Manufacturer: Taylor & Francis
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0852743173

Book Description

August 1939 was a time of great flux. The fear of impending war fueled by the aggression of Nazi Germany forced many changes. Young people pursuing academic research were plunged into an entirely different kind of research and development. For Bernard Lovell, the war meant involvement in one of the most vital research projects of the war-radar. Echoes of War: The Story of H2S Radar presents a passionate first-hand account of the development of the Home Sweet Home (H2S) radar systems during World War II. The book provides numerous personal insights into the scientific culture of wartime Britain and details the many personal sacrifices, setbacks, and eventual triumphs made by those actively involved. Bernard Lovell began his work on airborne interception radar in Taffy Bowen's airborne radar group. He was involved in the initial development of the application of the 10 centimeter cavity magnetron to airborne radar that revolutionized radar systems. In the autumn of 1941, the failure of Bomber Command to locate its target over the cloudy skies of Europe prompted the formation of a new group to develop a blind bombing system. Led by Lovell, this group developed the H2S radar system to identify towns and other targets at night or during heavy cloud cover. H2S first saw operational use with the Pathfinder Squadrons in the attack on Hamburg during the night of January 30-31, 1943. Two months later, modified H2S units installed in Coastal Command aircraft operating over the Bay of Biscay had a dramatic tactical effect on the air war against U-boats. The tide had begun to turn. In this fascinating chronicle of the H2S radar project, Sir Bernard Lovell recreates the feel and mood of the wartime years.

Small Town, Big Secrets: Inside the Boca Raton Army Air Field During World War II

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Small Town, Big Secrets: Inside the Boca Raton Army Air Field During World War II
Sally J. Ling
Manufacturer: History Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Aviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Product Description

In 1940 the city of Boca Raton, Floridaa quiet, sleepy town with a small populationwas unaware that it would become the focus of an important and secret operation that would prove critical in the impending world war. However, like the rest of the country, December 7, 1941, thrust Boca Raton into a war effort that would consume its resources and citizens for the next four years. As America mobilized, Boca Raton became the location of a new army airfield on which a select portion of the countrys new military recruits would be trained in the use of airborne radarat the time a top secret and still developing experimental technology. Small Town, Big Secrets, by local author and columnist Sally J. Ling, retraces for the first time the development of the base, its impact on Boca Raton, the life of base soldiers and the development and impact of airborne radar in the war. Engrossing and thoroughly researched, this history is poignant and has gone untold until now. The story of the Boca Raton Army Air Field is at once a story of sacrifice and service by Americas young servicemen, and a testament to the effort of a small community during World War II.

Radar commandos,: A story of World War II; (Winston adventure books)

Average customer rating:

Great!

Radar commandos,: A story of World War II; (Winston adventure books)
Bernard Glemser
Manufacturer: Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Customer Reviews:

Great!.......2005-10-28

Great book for adolescents interested in history. This is a suspenseful and fast-moving story of a young French boy who discovers a German radar installation during the WWII occupation, and then assists the Resistance in its plan to destroy it. I read this as a boy, and then re-read it aloud to my son. I enjoyed it even more the second time. Well done. Great adventure story for young adults with a good dose of historical insight. Read it if you can get a copy.

Average customer rating:

Raid! What Raid?
Lots of tech, not much action
Excessive history and unrelated clutter.

Bruneval Raid: Stealing Hitler's Radar
George Millar
Manufacturer: Cassell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Maquis: The French Resistance at War (Cassell Military Paperbacks)

ASIN: 0304362212

Book Description

One of the reasons the British won the 'radar war' with Nazi Germany was that we knew precisely how the enemy system worked. This was thanks to a daring commando raid on a German Wurzburg radar site at Bruneval in northern France. Ostensibly, the British raiders had attacked and destroyed the station, but in reality key components had been stolen and the whole set analysed by British scientists. (What the 'boffins' did not know was that the British paratroops had orders to kill them, rather than let them fall into German hands if the operation went wrong.) Plucked to safety by Royal Navy landing craft, with Germans in hot pursuit, the raiders achieved complete success.

Customer Reviews:

Raid! What Raid?.......2005-04-08

I couldn't agree more with the review written by Doug Hutchinson. This book is certainly mistitled for it is not about the raid at Bruneval but a technical history of radar and its applications in war, period. As that it is good; as a story of a raid it is quite poor.

Lots of tech, not much action.......2003-12-01

The title of this book ought to be "The Technical Development of Radar and the Men who Were Responsible.". The first 2/3 of the book are dedicated to a plethora of names and the background of radar development in both England and Germany. It is interesting in its own right, for sure, but at times is tedious. The raid itself, as daring and romantic as it was, is given only superficial coverage, with no depth or suspense. This is due I'm sure to the no-nonsense English writing style of the author, who was an English soldier himself. Not a bad read, but more for the technical-minded than the war/history/action buff.

Excessive history and unrelated clutter........2003-05-15

I had heard of the raid when I attended radar school in Virginia in 1943. The details of the raid described in the book are interesting. The book is padded with history unrelated to the raid and about photography also unrelated. However, if the "padding" hadn't been included the book would have only been a phamplet. I wish the author had described in technical detail the unit captured.

Britain's Shield: Radar and the Defeat of the Luftwaffe

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Britain's Shield: Radar and the Defeat of the Luftwaffe
David Zimmerman
Manufacturer: Sutton Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

This is the first comprehensive study of how a small group of scientists, engineers, airmen and politicians sought to integreate radar into the British Air Defenses.

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