Radar at War in the RAAF WWII 1939-1945

On the 7 November 1941 the RAAF was given responsibility for ground-based early warning radar operations.  From this date until the end of hostilities on 15 August 1945, a total of 142 ground radar units were brought into operation.  In addition, some 500 Air to Surface Vessel (ASV) radars were installed in bomber and reconnaissance aircraft such as Hudsons, Beauforts and Catalinas.  Of the 142 ground based radars, approximately 56 were known as Light Weight Air Warning (LWAW) radars which were designed and built in Australia based on British electronic technology.  Six LWAW systems were allocated to radar units formed in Canberra in 1943 and the remainder distributed to radar units that had been formed in Townsville, Queensland and Mascot and Richmond in New South Wales. 

All these radars gave outstanding performance in remote areas of North Western outback Australia, around the coastline of Australia, New Guinea, the Pacific Islands and Borneo.  WWII radars and their associated Fighter Control Units (FCU) formed a large part of the ‘secret war’ of communications and electronic technology and involved more than 6 000 RAAF and Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) personnel.  Their contribution to victory was invaluable through their skills and dedication.