Penley, William Henry (Oral history)

description

Object description

British civilian radar expert worked with Air Ministry Research Establishment at Dundee and with Telecommunications Research Establishment at Worth Matravers, Dorset and Malvern, 1940-1945

Content description

REEL 1: Aspects of period at Air Ministry Research Establishment, Dundee, 1939-1940: story of interview and recruitment to work with radar, 7/1939; move from Bawdsey Research Station to Dundee; description of training with RDF and role as T (Transmitter) Man; accommodation; problem of bad weather. Recollections of period at Telecommunications Research Establishment, Worth Matravers, 5/1940- 1945: pay and conditions; amusing story of Bernard Lovell; problem of radar detecting low-flying aircraft and increasing signal strength; opinion of early sound detection devices including sound mirrors; story of development of radar and role of Robert Watson-Watt; comparison of German and British radar; description of radar experiments at Daventry, 1935; story of Zeppelin; reason for movement of research to Worth Matravers; description of pre-war radar developments and building of Chain Home stations; development of magnetron; mobile radar systems. REEL 2 Continues: memory of Professor Cockcroft; question of secrecy; co-operation with Americans; story of invention of magnetron; amusing story of death ray and sheep; reason for move to Malvern, 1942; opinion of facilities; description of centimetric frequencies; question of signal strength and detecting low-flying aircraft; height of aerials; importance of radar in winning Battle of Britain; improvements in bombing accuracy including Gee, Oboe and H2S; description of methods to avoid radar detection; use of Window; civilian applications of radar; opinion of Watson's Watt's role in development of radar; description of post-war employment at Royal Radar Establishment in GB; memories of early days of radar development; importance of ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) radar in Atlantic; further comments on Daventry experiments; question of funding and resources for radar development.

Object details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content)
Creator: BBC (Production company)
BBC (recorder)
Penley, William Henry (interviewee/speaker)
Production date: 2003
Dimensions: whole: Number Of Items 2, 60
Catalogue number: 26824

Object associations

Associated people and organisations
Associated events
Associated places
Associated subjects
Associated keywords
Associated themes

Related objects

Sound

Penley, William Henry (Oral history)

Sound

Penley, William Henry (Oral history)

Sound

Penley, William Henry (Oral history)

Related content

a portrait of the cartoon character the Squander Bug, set within a design of a 'Wanted' poster pinned to a wall. text: WANTED FOR SABOTAGE THE SQUANDERBUG ALIAS HITLER'S PAL KNOWN TO BE AT LARGE IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE KINGDOM USUALLY FOUND IN THE COMPANY OF USELESS ARTICLES, HAS A TEMPTING LEER AND A FLATTERING MANNER WANTED ALSO FOR THE CRIME OF 'SHOPPERS DISEASE' INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PEST SHOULD BE REPORTED TO W.F.P.299.

Second World War

Meet The Squander Bug

This unpleasant-looking character is called the Squander Bug, and it was created during the Second World War by artist Phillip Boydell, an employee of the National Savings Committee. The cartoon bug appeared in press adverts and poster campaigns as a menace who encouraged shoppers to waste money rather than buy war savings certificates.

Pzkpfw 38(t) Ausf E or F of the 7th Panzer Division in Russia, 1941.

Second World War

What Was Operation 'Barbarossa'?

Off Duty: Locals and United States troops meet at the Dove Inn, Burton Bradstock, Dorset, 1944.

American troops and locals at the Dove Inn, Burton Bradstock, in Dorset, 1944.

Second World War

Tips For American Servicemen In Britain During The Second World War

In 1942, the first of over 1.5 million American servicemen arrived on British shores in preparation for the Allied offensives against Germany during the Second World War. That year, the United States' War Department published Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain to help soldiers, sailors and airmen – many of whom had never travelled abroad before – adjust to life in a new country.