The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1945-08-23
Secret Radar
Continued from Page l0)


about so planes. Leading each wing
was Pathfinder" bomber equip
ped with radar When the Path
finder, guided to its target in the
Berlin area by radar, reached the
bomb release point as indicated
clearly on the radar screen, the
bombardier released both explosive
or incendiary bombs and also a flare
or smoke bomb. The latter marked
the bombing point for all the other
planes in that Pathfinder'S wing,
and they released their bombs &C
cordingly.
Other preliminary reconnaissance
is accomplished by a special fight
er plane, P-38 Lightning, for in
stance, carrying Mickey" radar
and special camera for photo
graphing the radar screen. Pictures
of the radar maps of a selected
targets area are snapped by the
fighter pilot. Later these radar
scope photographs are used by Air
Intelligence officers to brief the
crews of all Pathfinder bombers
assigned to bomb this target.
On the return flight from Berlin,
the 1900 American bombers again
would be guided by their Mickey
equipped Pathfinders. The navi-
gator in each Pathfinder studies
the radar screen and uses its chang
ing map of the German terrain to
guide his bomber and all others in
his wing back toward Britain. When
his Pathfinder has come within
range Of the nearest land radar
beacon station or "racon," the navi-
gator sees additional coded signals
on his radar scope which enables
him to get an accurate fix" of his
planes position Immediately. Then
he can continue to use these racon
signals to guide the entire bomber
wing back to its base on a direct
course.
Also, if the navigator, bombardier
or radar operator of any Pathfinder
observes the characteristic moving
target signals from unidentified air
craft, he can Immediately notify the
Pathfinder pilot. He, In turn, can
warn other bombers in his wing.
giving both the distance and direc-
ton of the suspicious planes. In
such circumstances, other Philco-
built radar equipment is usually used
to identify the unknown aircraft.
and thus enemy fighters are prompt
ly detected by radar.
Development of Mickey" radar
was what the Navy and Air Forces
call crash" assignment for Philco.
Tentative delivery schedules deman-
ded round-the clock work by re-
search scientists and engineers to
permit American bombers to smash
Hitler'S "Festung Europa" during the
winter of 1943-1944, when General
Arnold knew that the weather would
be almost invariably bad. No pre-
viouS radar could do the Job with
the detailed mapping and precision
required for pinpoint bombing.
PHILCO GIVEN RADAR
BOMBSIGHT ASSIGNMENT
BY THE NAVY
AS a result of it's excellent record
In manufacturing other airborne ra-
dar equipments for the Army and
Navy, Phfco was given the Mickey"
assignment by the Navy Department
in Mid-June, 1913. The Radiation
Laboratory Of the Massachusetts, In
stitute Of Technology had done pre-
liminary research work on this
equipment, and made 1t available
to Philco. With the cooperation of
Navy scientists, Philco and the Ra-
diation Laboratories completed the
development work. The production
design of all major units of the
equipment, tooling. and development
OF highly complex special test equip
ment was initiated and carried to
completion by Philco engineers in
remarkably short time The speed
with which the entire project was
conceived and carried out was the
result Of the close teamwork that
prevailed between the Navy, Radia-
ton Laboratory, and Philco Corpor-
alton.
To illustrate the completely of the
Mickey" this radar system weighs
about 325 pounds when installed in
Bit or B-24 bomber. 1t utilizes
over 80 tubes. many Of them far
more intricate and expensive than
ordinary radio tubes. There are II
separate units in this airborne radar
equipment, and each has to pass
rigid Army-Navy specifications for
hlgn-altlCuQe service.
Philco delivered the first Mickey"
radar sets by October 1913, that is,
in less than four months. A dozen
sets assembled at Radiation Labor
atory from Philco units with the
help of Philco engineers were used
to equip II special B-17G Flying
Fortresses. the pioneer Pathfinders
for the Eighth Air Force, with six
"Mickeys' provided as spares. Crews
of these first Pathfinders had been
hand : picked and were carefully
trained in radar bombing and nav-
sational techniques both in the
United States and over England.
An ~ hiefa~x l. ~