Paul E. Watson
Encyclopedia
Paul E. Watson was a pioneer researcher in the development of radar
. Born in Bangor, Maine
, Watson was a civilian engineer employed by the U.S. Army Signal Corps from the late 1920s. In 1936, he was named Chief Engineer of a Signal Corps research group at Camp Evans
in Fort Monmouth
, New Jersey tasked with developing a workable long-range radar for coast defense. By 1937 Watson's team had developed a proto-type "Search Light Control Radar" (SCR-270
) apparatus and successfully demonstrated it to the Secretary of War at Fort Monmouth
. Watson's team then became the "Radio Position Finding Section", and worked with the Westinghouse Corporation over the following year to develop an Early Warning Radar, which was successfully deployed at Highlands, New Jersey
in August, 1938, and was capable of detecting incoming bombers at a range of 78 miles. A second system was deployed in Meriden, Connecticut
in June, 1939, with an operational range of 138 miles.
Watson's prototypes were adopted by the Army in 1940 and Westinghouse delivered 112 sets prior to the American entry into World War II. This was the first radar system to be deployed by the United States military. Six of these sets were made operational in Hawaii
by December 1941, and one, at Opana Point
, detected the incoming Japanese air assault on Pearl Harbor
on the morning of December 7.
Watson was made a U.S. Army major with the outbreak of the war in 1941, and had risen to the rank of colonel by his death in 1943. His laboratory at Camp Evans was named "Watson Laboratories" after his death, and continued to be the chief Army electronics lab until absorbed by the new U.S. Air Force
into the current Rome Laboratory
.
Ironically, in the 1990s the U.S. Air Force would control the world's most powerful radar
, designed to cover the entire Atlantic Ocean from Europe to Africa, from a headquarters in Watson's home town of Bangor, Maine
.
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
. Born in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, Watson was a civilian engineer employed by the U.S. Army Signal Corps from the late 1920s. In 1936, he was named Chief Engineer of a Signal Corps research group at Camp Evans
Camp Evans
Camp Evans, New Jersey is a former military base associated with Fort Monmouth. It is located in Wall Township, although it is often said to be located in Belmar . The property overlooks the Shark River.Camp Evans is named after Lt. Col...
in Fort Monmouth
Fort Monmouth
Fort Monmouth was an installation of the Department of the Army in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The post is surrounded by the communities of Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Oceanport, New Jersey, and is located about 5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The post covers nearly of land, from the Shrewsbury...
, New Jersey tasked with developing a workable long-range radar for coast defense. By 1937 Watson's team had developed a proto-type "Search Light Control Radar" (SCR-270
SCR-270 radar
The SCR-270 was one of the first operational early warning radars. It was the U.S. Army's primary long-distance radar throughout World War II and was deployed around the world...
) apparatus and successfully demonstrated it to the Secretary of War at Fort Monmouth
Fort Monmouth
Fort Monmouth was an installation of the Department of the Army in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The post is surrounded by the communities of Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Oceanport, New Jersey, and is located about 5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The post covers nearly of land, from the Shrewsbury...
. Watson's team then became the "Radio Position Finding Section", and worked with the Westinghouse Corporation over the following year to develop an Early Warning Radar, which was successfully deployed at Highlands, New Jersey
Highlands, New Jersey
Highlands is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,005. It is the home town of film maker, director, and comic book writer Kevin Smith. The eastern part of the town is built on a high bluff that overlooks Sandy...
in August, 1938, and was capable of detecting incoming bombers at a range of 78 miles. A second system was deployed in Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
in June, 1939, with an operational range of 138 miles.
Watson's prototypes were adopted by the Army in 1940 and Westinghouse delivered 112 sets prior to the American entry into World War II. This was the first radar system to be deployed by the United States military. Six of these sets were made operational in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
by December 1941, and one, at Opana Point
Opana Radar Site
The Opana Radar Site is a National Historic Landmark and IEEE Milestone that commemorates the first operational use of radar by the United States in wartime, during the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is located off the Kamehameha Highway just inland from the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, south of...
, detected the incoming Japanese air assault on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on the morning of December 7.
Watson was made a U.S. Army major with the outbreak of the war in 1941, and had risen to the rank of colonel by his death in 1943. His laboratory at Camp Evans was named "Watson Laboratories" after his death, and continued to be the chief Army electronics lab until absorbed by the new U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
into the current Rome Laboratory
Rome Laboratory
The Rome Laboratory, formerly known as the Rome Air Development Center, is one of eight research and development labs run by the US Air Force located at Griffiss AFB in Rome, NY. One of four superlabs run by the Air Force, the Rome Lab is tasked with generic research, as opposed to having a...
.
Ironically, in the 1990s the U.S. Air Force would control the world's most powerful radar
Over-the-horizon radar
Over-the-horizon radar, or OTH , is a design concept for radar systems to allow them to detect targets at very long ranges, typically up to thousands of kilometers...
, designed to cover the entire Atlantic Ocean from Europe to Africa, from a headquarters in Watson's home town of Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
.