SAS Shadow Raiders: the ultra-secret mission that changed the course of WWII

The Special Air Service - SAS - in Britain was established in 1941 to go into enemy territory on special missions. SAS Shadow Rangers by Damien Lewis looks at the first operations of SAS. The first excursion into Italy was not a success but in 1942 when the British were sent a photograph of a radar unit on a beach in France it was decided to stage a raid to capture the radar equipment.

Groups of paratroopers landed near Bruneval and then proceeded to secure the beach from the Germans stationed there. One team of paratroopers dismantled the radar and packed it into carts to transport the equipment to the sea where boats were waiting to collect the soldiers and equipment to return to England. Unfortunately all did not go to plan but the English scientists and engineers did eventually receive the equipment enabling them to become aware of how the Germans were using radar. The expedition was declared a success.

Information learned about the construction of the German radar unit assisted the TRE staff in Malvern in their work on projects to improve radar surveillance of the coast warning of approaching enemy aircraft. They were also creating radar units for use in aircraft to alert them of approaching enemy planes and also to assist in navigation, especially when on bombing raids. The author also discusses the implementation of Windows, a system to confuse enemy radar.

SAS Shadow Raiders by Damien Lewis is an informative book about this important mission during the Second World War told from the viewpoint of the many men involved in this courageous and dangerous undertaking.

The Radar Army: winning the war of the airwaves

The Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) was one of the major secret research centres that contributed to the war effort of the Allies during the Second World War.The Radar Army by Reg Batt provides a detailed account of some of the work of TRE from when he joined as a young researcher in 1940 until the end of the Second World War. Despite the name, TRE, use of radar was the major focus of the research there.

In this book this author describes some of the projects undertaken including the development of centimetre technology and H2S to produce radar systems for aerial navigation, aid to locating bomb sites, plus warning of oncoming aircraft on planes and also on land during the day and at night. The author provides a detailed account of the progress of the research including what worked and what didn't work. He also discusses the other research centres that TRE worked with in order to solve the challenges presented. Although TRE was part of the airforce there was also contact with researchers in the army and navy.

TRE made a number of moves during the war including several years at two locations at Swanage in Dorset. In May 1942 TRE was relocated to Malvern College at Malvern. The author describes the challenges in moving the equipment and staff of a major research establishment in three weeks.

The Radar War provides a detailed insight into the challenges faced by scientists and engineers as they raced against time to develop practical equipment to assist the military and protect the general population in Britain. 

Science Comes to Malvern: TRE a story of radar 1942-1953

Science comes to Malvern by Ernest Putley provides a brief introduction to the important work undertaken by the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) during the Second World War. TRE was transferred to Malvern in May 1942 where it operated from Malvern College during the war. At the end of the war TRE was transferred to another location in Malvern.

Like the code-breaking work undertaken at Bletchley Park, the research in use of radar undertaken by TRE staff at Malvern College was top secret and made an important contribution to the military in defeating Germany. 

The author worked at TRE and chapters in the book provide an introduction to different secret projects undertaken during the war including an overview about ground radar, centimetres, airborne radar and use of radio during the war. There is also a chapter about co-operation with the Americans also stationed in Malvern as well as a brief section on further research after the war.

There are a number of books available about the important secret work undertaken at TRE but Science Comes to Malvern provides a short introduction to the important work undertaken by that organisation in radar research and development.