When did the existence of radar become known to the general public?

Question

Was it a closely held secret until the end of WW2? Or did a lot of people infer that something like that existed from the type of engagements that took place?

Answer 1

After the **** up at pearl harbor

Answer 2

It wasn't until the early 20th (1900-1930's) century that a radar system was first built. One of the biggest advocators of radar technology was Robert Watson-Watt, a British scientist. Great Britain made a big effort to develop radar in the years leading up to World War Two. Some people credit them with being pioneers in the field. As it was, the early warning radar system (called "Chain Home") that they built around the British Isles warned them of all aerial invasions. This gave the outnumbered Royal Air Force the edge they needed to defeat the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. While radar development was pushed because of wartime concerns, the idea first came about as an anti-collision system. After the Titanic ran into an iceburg and sank in 1912, people were interested in ways to make such happenings avoidable.

Answer 3

Several inventors, scientists, and engineers contributed to the development of radar. The use of radio waves to detect "the presence of distant metallic objects via radio waves" was first implemented in 1904 by Christian Hülsmeyer[2][3], who demonstrated the feasibility of detecting the presence of a ship in dense fog, but not its distance. He received a Reichspatent patent Nr. 165546 for his pre-radar device in April and on November 11, 1904 the patent 169154 an amendment of his patent for ranging that is indirectly related to his device. He received a patent (GB13170) in England for his telemobiloscope on September 22 1904. [2][4].

The general public became best informed after the attack on pearl harbour in 1941 by japanese planes. Pryor to that time sit was considered insufficient. The radar operator who spoted the planes was not beleived resulting in much loss of life and ships and planes in that attack. Ther was jus tnot much common kn owledg eand they military had litle confidence in radar until after the attack.

Prior to the Second World War, developments by the Americans, the Germans, the French (French Patent n° 788795 in 1934 [5]). , and the British (British Patent GB593017 by Robert Watson-Watt in 1935 [5] [6]), led to the first real radars. Hungarian Zoltán Bay produced a working model by 1936 at the Tungsram laboratory in the same vein.

Answer 4

The British had invented it just at the start of WW2.. They could see the Germans coming in the Battle of Britain and is one of the main reasons that they were able to shoot down the Luftwaffe. Germany knew that they had it but vastly underestimated its value until it was too late..

Answer 5

I only found out about it after my 3rd speeding ticket.