H.M.Davis - SigC Dev. of Army Radar Equipment

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THE SIGNAL CORPS DEVELOPMENT
of
U.S. ARMY RADAR EQUIPMENT

PART 1

Early Research and Development - 1918 - 1937

by H. M. DAVIS,
1st Lt., Signal Corps
March 1943

CONFIDENTIAL
DECLASSIFIED
DOD DIR5200.9
1972
Control Approval Symbol SPSEO-100
Project "A-1"

NOTICE: This document contains information affecting the
national defense of the United states within the meaning of the
Espionage Act, 50 17. S. C. , 31 and 32. as amended.
The transmission or the revelation of its contents
in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
evans logo

Copy No. 27of35copies made
xiv plus 69pages and
31 illustrations
Historical Section Field office
Special Activities Branch
Office Service Division
Office of the Chief Signal officer
Army Service Forces

This is the story of how the Signal Corps engineers created an aircraft detection system in the 1930's with the technology of the day and without the needed funds to support the research.
Photos/figures (ILLUSTRATIONS) icludede.
This copy is courtesy of Dr. Richard Bingham. Fort Monmouth Command Historian.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface
Abstract
Chronology

Chapter I. A New Means of Perception

A. Combat Around the Clock.
B. Names and Definitions.
C. The Original Purpose: Defense.
D. Three Essential Factors.
E. Inadequacy of Sound Locators.
F. The Electromagnetic Medium.

Chapter II. Early Experiments in Aircraft Detection

A. One-Way or Round-Trip Radiation
B. Radiation from Airplane Ignition.
C. Heat Radiated From Airplane Engines.
D. Heat Detection in 1918-1919.
E. Experiments in the 1920's.
F. Ordnance Department Project.
G. Transfer to the Signal Corps.

Chapter III. Research Begins at the Signal Corps Laboratories

A. The Laboratories at Fort Monmouth.
B. Project 88 Under Way.
C. Early "Radio-Optical" Research.

Chapter IV. Thermal Detectors and Fiscal obstacles

A. Test Targets in New York Bay.
B. Mariners and Newspapers.
C. Tracking Ocean Liners by Their Heat.
D. A Question of jurisdiction.

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E. A Comparative Test.
F. Shift to Radio.
G. The Official Assignment.
H. Budgetary Troubles.

Chapter V. Beat and pulse Radio Detectors

A. The First Military Characteristics.
B. Microwave Transmission Tests.
C. Microwave Detection of Ships.
D. Radio Interference or Beat Detection.
E. Pulse Equipment Constructed.
F. Service Research or Commercial Research.
G. First Pulse Pick-Ups.
H. Dipole Antenna Arrays.
I. 240 Megacycle Equipment.

Chapter VI. Aircraft Detectors Demonstrated

A. The Demonstration of May 1937.
B. Accomplishments and Shortcomings.
C. Praise from the Secretary of War.
D. Request for a Long Range Detector.
E. Completion of the Early Development Phase.
F. Appraisal and Conclusions.

Bibliographical Note

Appendix A Military Characteristics for Detector for Use in Seacoast Defense. (Heat.)
Appendix B Military Characteristics for Detector for Use Against Aircraft (Heat or Radio)
Appendix C Military Characteristics for Long Range Aircraft Detector and Tracker (Radio)
Appendix D Revised Military Characteristics for Detector for Use in Seacoast Defense (Heat or Radio)
Appendix E Revised Military Characteristics for Detector for Use Against Aircraft (Heat or Radio)
Appendix F Wavelengths and Frequencies

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TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Early Type of Airplane Sound Locator.
2. Modern Type of Sound Locator.
3. Radar Substitute for the Sound Locator.
4. Long Range Radio Detector.
5. Modern Searchlight Control.
6. Radio Set SCR-268 in operation.
7. Radar Outpost in New Guinea.
8. Portable Radar.
9. Enemy Radar.
10. Sound Lag Diagram.
11. Sound Locator with Corrector.
12. The Electromagnetic Spectrum.
13. Searchlight Beams.
14. Map of Region Used by Signal Corps Laboratories.
15. 1935-Model Sound Locator.
16. Heat Detector for Pointing Searchlight.
17. Squier Laboratory Building.
18. Diagram of Radio Pulse Emission.
19. Diagram of Pulse Reflection by Airplane.
20. Diagram of Pulse Echo Reception.
21. Oscilloscope Pattern.
22. Azimuth Array for 110 Megacycles.
23. 1937 Radio Pulse Transmitter.

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TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS (Continued)

24. 1937 Elevation Receiving Antenna.
25. Azimuth Receiver.
26. 1937 Searchlight and Sound Locator Section.
27. 240 Megacycle Radio Detector.
28. Installation Used in May 1937 Demonstration.
29. Manning Diagram for 1937 Demonstration.

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