Canadian radar tracking - Fort Bliss 1947 set 1/2

[Jon McGrath]

Originally Posted by alamotex

Jon Your father most likely had a role to play in those first V-2 rocket launching trials carried out at the White Sands Proving Grounds in April 1946. The fact that the Canadian MZPI (Radar AA No 4 Mk 6) was on the site at the time of these trials raises some very interesting questions for researchers.

Check out the item National Historic Landmarks on this link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Sands_Missile_Range

Any role would have been minor, possibly transport. Although my dad had been a gun sergeant on 3.7" guns earlier, I believe that he was a bombardier at the time of this Fort Bliss / WSPG venture and, as far as I know, had no special training in radar. As mentioned there are other small format photos of the the V2, static and in launch. What sort of "interesting questions" might researchers have? Jon

[alamotex]

Jon Suggest you contact me via PM if you are interested in this topic.

[alamotex]

These undated images were made available to me by Clive Law of Service Publications

[Grant Bowker]

The seaplane ramp at Rockliffe still exists although it has been more or less surrounded by the Rockliffe Yacht Club. It looks as if a floatplane with a footprint less than the ramp width could still be taken from the water.
Rockliffe airport is ICAO identifier CYRO. Google maps
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=cyro&h...27874&t=h&z=16 should show it but a search on CYRO should also get the result. Rockliffe airport is also the home of the Canadian Aviation And Space Museum http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/index.php and is across the river and slightly upstream from the Gatineau airport CYND that is home to the Vintage Wings Collection http://www.vintagewings.ca/en-ca/home.aspx that has been referred to on MLU http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...=vintage+wings (among others).

[servicepub (RIP)]

Originally Posted by alamotex

These undated images were made available to me by Clive Law of Service Publications

Hmm. Pretty sure I asked you to use them for your personal needs and to not share them until after they were published in "Drive to Victory".
I have about 25,000 images which I share with historians, hobbyists and restorers but these are the basis of my book business and I prefer that I be the first to release them publicly. Just saying.
Clive

[alamotex]

Apologies Clive...I do not recall your request that I restrict these images for my personal use. Below is copy of our MLU exchange of PM's that led to your sending me those Library and Archives photos.
01-07-12
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AKA Clive Law


Default Re: Photos from Library and Archives
Hi Brian,

Did I ever reply to this?

Clive

Quote:
Originally Posted by alamotex
Hi Clive..I was browsing my MLU file and noted a post of 29/11/2008 that you were researching for a book on vehicles and weapons aquired for the Canadian Army Overseas. Has this gone to print ?

My particular interest would be to learn whether you uncovered in your search of the Archives any images of AA Radar sets deployed with the Canadian Army.? The Library and Archives lists photo collections for the Dept of Nat Def... 9500 b&w photos and for the NRC 3829 b& w photos. I have never personally examined those collections, but suspect some previously unpublished photos must be in those collections.Unfortunately, several photos in the collection have been mis identified and have been overlooked in past searches.

Regards Brian Mendes ( Kitchener )

[Jon McGrath]

Further to my initial post, I found this additional photo and notes that the testing and demonstrations to the US military appear to have lasted from April to September 1946, rather than 1947, as I noted in my original post. The equipment was transported by train from Kingston, ON to El Paso, TX. I have no idea who the gunner is.

[alamotex]

Jon.... As stated in earlier posts on this thread, your father's photo shows the Canadian designed MZPI. Microwave Zone Position Indicator sweep search mobile radar designated AA Radar No 4 Mk 6 by the British. I have not been able to locate any documentation covering the 1946 Fort Bliss, Tx trials, but have seen a document pertaining to trials on similar equipment carrried out in 1951. Later versions of this radar carried the NATO designation AN-MPS 501B.

[alamotex]

Originally Posted by Jon McGrath

Further to my initial post, I found this additional photo and notes that the testing and demonstrations to the US military appear to have lasted from April to September 1946, rather than 1947, as I noted in my original post. The equipment was transported by train from Kingston, ON to El Paso, TX. I have no idea who the gunner is.

Jon You may be interested in the following quote from the introduction to the handbook issued by the UK School of Anti Aircraft Artillery . Larkhill
quote..When the Canadian No 4 Mk 6 was designed (in 1944) the circuitry and techniques employed were in advance of normal developments, and at the present time (1949) it is not only by far the best TC radar, but is still far ahead of all other Army Radars in both techniques and performance..unquote.