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Royal Australian Air Force Surveillance & Response Radar Air DefencePrint Page Print this page

17-March-2015
17-March-2015
Photographs supplied by Peter F Williams

The plaque commemorates those who served with Royal Australian Air Force (R. A. A. F.) Surveillance & Response Radar Air Defence during World War Two. 

Location

Address:Federal Highway, RAAF Memorial Grove, Majura, 2609
State:ACT
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -35.211571
Long: 149.190164
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Plaque
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW2
Actual Event Start Date:07-November-1941
Actual Event End Date:15-August-1945

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Wednesday 22nd March, 2006
Front Inscription

RAAF Surveillance and Response
Radar Air Defence WWII 1939 - 1945

On the 7th November 1941 the RAAF was given responsibility for ground-based early warning radar operations.

From this date to the end of hostilities 15th August 1945 142 ground radar units were brought into operation.

In addition some 500 air to surface vessels (ASV) radars were installed in bomber and reconnaisance aircraft such as Hudsons, Beauforts and Catalinas.

Of the ground based radars some 56 were known as Light Weight Air Warning (LWAW) radars which were designed and manufactured in Australia based on British electronic technology.

6 LWAW equipments were allocated to radar units formed in Canberra in 1943, the remaining 50 were assigned to units formed in Townsville QLD, Mascot and Richmond NSW.  All these radars gave outstanding performance in remote areas on north west Australia, New Guinea, Pacific islands and Borneo.  RAAF radars were deployed also around the coastline of Australia.

WWII RAAF radars and their associated Fighter Control Units (FCU) formed a large part of the secret war and involved more than 6000 RAAF and WAAF personnel.  Their contribution to victory was invaluable through their skills and dedication.

Lest We Forget

Dedicated 22 March 2006

 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au