(To view a higher resolution copy of this image, click here)
The Canadians on Radar
The Canadian Radar History Project is a non-profit organisation
dedicated to gather information, analyse, publish and disseminate data about
the WW II experiences of the seven thousand wartime RCAF radar technical
officers and radar technician airmen.
Chairman
Robert F. Linden, 2152 Calder Ave., Ottawa, ON, K2C 0X9
This dedicated group of Canadians have produced four books on this
subject, and have given permission for them to be shared with all via this
site.
These books are in PDF format; for ease of download, the larger files
have been split into sections.
Radar Officers of the Royal Canadian Air Force
1940 -1946
by J. R. Robinson and F. B. Grahame
Canadians on Radar Royal Canadian Air Force
1940 -1945
Honours and Awards
by Robert F. Linden
Canadians on Radar in South East Asia
1941 - 1945
by Angus Hamilton
Canadians on Radar
Royal Canadian Air Force
1940 - 1945
by George K. Grande, Sheila M. Linden, & Horace R. Macaulay
In addition, Larry Mullins
has kindly provided a brief account of his service on Radar, including his time
at Ponsa, an island off the coast of Italy
Larry Mullins' Story
The "Graduating Class", Radio Technicians Course, 1942
Bob Reid's father was LAC Hector Eugene Reid, RCAF, who served with the Radar Section 228 Squadron, Pembroke Dock, from 1942 to 1945.
He has kindly provided this photo graph which shows the graduates of the RCAF Radio Technicians Course, 1942.
(To view a higher resolution copy of this image, click here)
WWII RCAF Radar Personnel Information
There is no archival listing of Radar Veterans. Those recruits were the result of Great Britain asking for assistance in 1940 to manage their secret radio direction finding systems. The term “radar” was not used during the war. The DND RCAF Archives has microfilm of around 300,000 recruits that provides dates for training, service assignments, repatriation and discharge. However for Canadian radar recruits who were allocated to the RAF the data is blank from the date the recruit went overseas to serve with them in every theatre of war. However, the dates of repatriation and discharge are available.
Names and dates did not become important until 1995 when Radar Veterans began planning reunions and realized that the Official WWII RCAF History had no reference to the Veterans who served with the RAF. Also they were prevented from publicizing their knowledge of the secret radar systems. Through advertisements and other searches the names of some Veterans was established and allowed them to hold their first reunion in 1996.
After some effort and having reviewed microfilm, a publication bearing the National Library of Canada catalogue number ISBN 0-9687596-2-9 and titled “Radar Personnel of the Royal Canadian Air Force 1940-1945” containing 5890 names and service numbers was issued in 2006. Copies of this publication were filed with the National Library of Canada Ottawa, DND RCAF Archives Ottawa, the Military Communications and Electronic Museum Kingston and also the Secrets of Radar Museum in London, Ontario. Radar Veterans have produced a number of publications to inform the public about their wartime radar experiences. Although reunions have been discontinued due to their age, the Ottawa Radar Group still continues to respond and provide information for those desiring WWII radar information.
In addition to all the work this group has done in recording the history of Canadian Radar Technicians, the Canadian Radar History Group were also involved in the set up of a display at the Canadian War Museum. Unfortunately the display is no longer shown on the War Museum Web Site.
Last updated: September 27, 2011
