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Sir Robert Watson-Watt

(1892-1973), Pioneer of radar

Sitter in 19 portraits
In 1935 Watson-Watt, who had previously worked in the Meteorological Office and at the National Physical Laboratory, was appointed to lead a team to design practical systems of locating aircraft by radio waves. He developed a theory proposed by his assistant, A.F. Wilkins, for detecting aircraft with reflected radio waves; between 1935 and 1940 he supervised its transformation into the sophisticated radar defence system which largely contributed to the success of the RAF in the ability to locate incoming aircraft on the attack in all conditions and was a decisive factor in the Battle of Britain (1940), further applications included airborne and maritime radar and an identification device for friendly targets.

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Sir Robert Watson-Watt, by Yousuf Karsh - NPG P490(83)

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1960
NPG P490(83)

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 9 September 1936
NPG x104306

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 9 September 1936
NPG x104307

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 9 September 1936
NPG x104308

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 3 July 1941
NPG x178011

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 3 July 1941
NPG x178012

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 3 July 1941
NPG x178013

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 3 July 1941
NPG x178014

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Elliott & Fry
quarter-plate glass negative, 20 August 1942
NPG x95257

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Elliott & Fry
quarter-plate glass negative, 20 August 1942
NPG x95258

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Elliott & Fry
quarter-plate glass negative, 20 August 1942
NPG x95259

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Elliott & Fry
quarter-plate glass negative, 20 August 1942
NPG x95260

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 1943
NPG x31020

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, November 1943
NPG x169294

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, November 1943
NPG x169295

Web image not currently available

Sir Robert Watson-Watt

by Elliott & Fry
half-plate negative
NPG x81826

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