Canadians in Radar

Throughout the Second World War a select group of Canadians were specially trained in a new technology: Radio Direction And Ranging, commonly called radar. These individuals swore an oath of secrecy regarding their activities during the war, preventing them from sharing their expeirnces with loved ones or historians. In 1991, after fifty years, the Official Secrets Act was lifted and these veterans, who had until then been excluded from the history books, were finally able to tell their story. In an ongoing oral history project, veterans of the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Women's Auxiliary Air Force recount their experiences serving in radar units throughout the Second World War and offer a unique and personal perspective on what it was like to be working with top secret technologies during a dangerous time.

 

Radio detection technology was a major focus of military defensive research and development in the 1920s and 1930s. Researchers realized that radio waves directed at aircraft would be reflected back at the source radio transmitter. These reflected radio waves could then be detected by a receiver. This signal could be interpretted by radar operators who would determine the height, distance, and trajectory of the aircraft. Throughout the course of the Second World War, radar technology was expanded and improved. It was used in the detection and tracking of enemy aircraft, the navigation of allied aircraft, marine defence, weapon aiming, and meteorology.

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This virtual exhibition, created and maintained by the Secrets of Radar Museum, is the result of the many oral histories that have been collected by the museum since it was founded in 2001. This project was undertaken to increase accessibility in an effort to fulfill the Secrets of Radar Museum’s mandate:

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- To preserve and collect the history and artifacts of the men and women who have served in the radar

  division of the Canadian Forces

- To educate the public on the history of radar in Canada

- To provide a therapeutic environment for veterans

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                    to explore our oral history project!

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