GIANT TELEFUNKEN WURZBURG RADAR UNITS USED IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
By George Potter
Giant Wurzburg radar units were used for fighter-control in the German defensive system against the Allied bombing offensive from 1942 until the end of the Second World War. The radar units were operated in pairs, one being used to track an Allied target bomber and the second unit controlling a defending German fighter. There were approximately 1,500 of the Giant Wurzburg radars that were built.
In 1904, the principal of "seeing" by bouncing radio waves off an object was first proposed by a German scientist. Research and Development (R&D) in radar (or radio detection finding (RDF) as it was called until 1944), proceeded in Germany in the 1920s; then became parallel in Britain and Germany in the 1930s.
During 1938, Telefunken began the production of the Small Wurzburg gun-laying and ground control radar, with a range of just 25 miles. The success of the small short-range equipment led to the development of the Giant Wurzburg, which had a range of up to 50 miles in ideal conditions. Each of these units could be stationary mounted or in the case of the Giant Wurzburg, mounted on railway flatbed cars making them highly mobile. Later there would be much smaller units like the "Mannheim", made for antiaircraft batteries.
The late Professor Sir Martin Ryle, FRS, brought the Giant Wurzburg radar from Germany after the Second World War. In 1959, it was erected near Cambridge at Lord's Bridge, for the Mullard Radio Astronomy Laboratory. It was used in conjunction with the Cambridge University Radio Telescope until 1981, when it was moved quite a distance to Duxford Airfield and assembled (Photo #1). Duxford Field is now a Department of The Imperial War Museum, which is headquartered at Lambeth Road, London.
Duxford Field was a Royal Air Force (RAF) base during World War I and World War II, up until April of 1943, when Duxford Field was handed over to the United States, becoming home for the Mighty US 8 th Air Force.
If you are traveling overseas and happen to tour Britain, you can find the restored example of the Giant Wurzburg radar, and be able to view it at Duxford Field, just West of Hangar 5. There is also a complete V1 display along with the launching rail next the Giant Wurzburg radar display.
Duxford Field is located next to junction 10 of the M11 motorway on the A505, 48 miles from London and a half hour from the M25. Duxford Field is 8 miles South of Cambridge and 35 minutes from the A1. Now an easy way is to take a daily express coach service from Victoria Coach Station London, or use the regular bus service from Cambridge via the railway station.
I understand from a recent visitor, that a German Enigma machine (Photo Gp #3), with 3 rollers and complete electronics is also displayed in the museum. One of these Enigma machines (1941 model), sold on the auction block in 2003, by Auction Team KOLN, in Köln, Germany for $32,892.00!
For you aircraft aficionados out there, Duxford Field, is also home to a scarce Avro Vulcan B2 bomber (massive manta ray shaped wing), a De Havilland Comet airliner (first jet airliner), a British Concorde and a US Boeing 52D bomber. Coincidentally, Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, Louisiana, is home to one of three Avro Vulcan B2 bombers in the US (Photo #2).
It was the 7 th Bombardment Wing, 8th Air Force, at Carswell AFB, Texas, who flew to Duxford Field in Britain and donated a B52D bomber to the RAF in 1982. It is currently on display at Duxford Field today.
The US fleet of operational B52's, is now in the "H" series; and the "Buff" B52 bomber, is now a venerable 54 years old!
The Avro Vulcan Mk. II has been retired from the RAF since 1987, after participating in combat (famous Black Buck raids), during the Falklands war.
Website for the Imperial War Museum: www.iwm.org.uk/duxford
Website, for the Avro Vulcan MK. II bomber: www.xl426.com
Website 8 th Air Force Museum Barksdale AFB, LA.: www.8afmuseum.net
Reference:
Deutschen Luftwaffe 1945, Podzun-Pallas-Verlag GHMB (German portable and fixed mounted radar units).
Photo Gp #1- Giant Wurzburg radar on fixed mounting position, others could be rail-car mounted. By no means were they considered "small". A Giant Wurzburg is now located and displayed at Duxford Field.
Photo #2- British Avro Vulcan B2 bomber, at the 8 th Air Force Museum, Barksdale AFB, LA. ( Photo credit: George Potter, 2004 )
Photo Gp #3- German Enigma machine being operated by German field troops, France 1940.
