Monica (radar)

Monica was a range-only tail warning radar for bombers, introduced by the RAF in June 1942.[2] Officially known as ARI 5664,[3] it operated at frequencies of around 300 MHz (on the boundary between VHF and UHF). The system was also used by the US Army Air Forces, under the name AN/APS-13, and the nickname Archie.

Monica
Monica Mk III Indicator Unit
Country of originthe United Kingdom
IntroducedJune 1942[1]

History

Monica was developed at the Bomber Support Development Unit (BSDU) in Worcestershire. After the Luftwaffe became aware of Monica from a crashed bomber, German scientists developed a passive radar receiver, named Flensburg (FuG 227). From early 1944, FuG 227 was used by nightfighter crews to home in on Allied bombers using Monica.[4] However, on the morning of 13 July 1944, a Junkers Ju 88G-1 nightfighter equipped with Flensburg mistakenly landed at RAF Woodbridge. After examining the Flensburg equipment, the RAF ordered Monica withdrawn from all Bomber Command aircraft.[5] An AN/APS-13 was used as a radar altimeter during the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the 509th Composite Group, USAAF.

See also

References
  1. Robert Forczyk (20 June 2013). Bf 110 vs Lancaster: 1942–45. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 15–. ISBN 978-1-78096-318-1.
  2. "Bf 110 vs. Lancaster", Robert Forczyk, Osprey Publishing, 2013, p. 11
  3. René J. Francillon (9 December 2017). HIGH-SPIRITED MUSTANG Volume I: The saga of the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang - Part 1 : Development and Production. Eirl Aerosphere Research. pp. 168–. GGKEY:25JLGUZ502L.
  4. Price, p. 100.
  5. Price, p. 154.

Further reading
  • Price, Alfred : Battle Over the Reich (1973) ISBN 0 7110 0481 1
  • Forczyk, Robert: Bf 110 vs Lancaster 1942-1945 (2013) ISBN 978 1 78096 3167


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