Name
Watson-Watt, Robert Alexander, Sir, 1892-1973 (Interviewee)
Mason, John T., 1909-1998 (Interviewer)
Title
Reminiscences of Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt, 1961
Abstract
Childhood and education, Scotland; meteorological work, World War I; radio and static studies, direction finders; Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; studies of nature of atmospherics; simultaneity of technical developments; memorandum on detection of radiation, 1935; Baudsie Manor, training observers, operation research; political pressures; Air Ministry staff, 1936; airborne radar; recruiting young scientists; United States interest in radar; planned position indicator; target finding, H2S; "Window"; interallied intelligence missions; secondary radar devices; Telecommunications Research Establishment; V-1 and V-2 raids; Royal Commission on awards to inventors; impressions of many political and military figures, notably Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Stafford Cripps, Frederick Lindemann, Henry Tizard, Ernest Rutherford, Arthur Balfour, Richard Haldane. The digital version, created from the microfiche edition, also includes John T. Mason's 1964 interview with Watson-Watt. Subjects addressed in the 1964 interview include: consulting with United States military leaders during World War II; post-war activities in civil aviation, marine navigation; scientific adviser to British government ministries; Pugwash conferences; travel; writings; Center for Study of Democratic Institutions
Collection Name
Individual interviews oral history collection
Subjects
Physicists--Great Britain; Meteorologists--Great Britain; Radar--Great Britain; World War, 1939-1945--Communications; Radar defense networks; Great Britain Politics and government 1936-1945; Watson-Watt, Robert Alexander, Sir, 1892-1973
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Physical Description
719 pages
Note (Biographical)
Radio physicist, meteorologist
Note
Interviewed by John T. Mason, Jr.
Note (Provenance)
Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt, Gift 1961
Language
English
Library Location
Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Browse Location’s Digital Content
Catalog Record
13813827
Also In
Oral History Archives at Columbia
Time-Based Media
Time-Based Media
Persistent URL
https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-94ee-bv50
Related URLs
Available digital content for this interview.