Sir Robert Watson-Watt
(1892-1973), Pioneer of radarSitter 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.
by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, 3 July 1941
NPG x84993
by Elliott & Fry
bromide print, 20 August 1942
NPG x92000
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, November 1943
NPG x31021
by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 9 September 1936
NPG x104306
by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 9 September 1936
NPG x104307
by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 9 September 1936
NPG x104308
by Elliott & Fry
quarter-plate glass negative, 20 August 1942
NPG x95257
by Elliott & Fry
quarter-plate glass negative, 20 August 1942
NPG x95258
by Elliott & Fry
quarter-plate glass negative, 20 August 1942
NPG x95259
by Elliott & Fry
quarter-plate glass negative, 20 August 1942
NPG x95260
by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, November 1943
NPG x169294
by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, November 1943
NPG x169295
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.