Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #226283 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

Synopsis
The rapid evolution of radio and radar systems for military use during World War II, and devices to counter them, led to a technological battle that neither the Axis nor the Allied powers could afford to lose. The result was a continual series of thrusts, parries and counter-thrusts, as first one side then the other sought to wrest the initiative in the struggle to control the ether. This was a battle fought with strange-sounding weapons: 'Freya', 'Mandrel', 'Boozer' and 'Window'. It was a battle characterised by the bravery, self-scarifice and skill of those who took part in it. During the war, however, and for many years after, electronic-warfare systems and their employment during the conflict remained closely guarded military secrets. When that veil of secrecy was finally lifted, the technicalities of the subject helped ensure that it remained beyond the reach of lay researchers and readers. Alfred Price, an aircrew officer with the RAF where he flew with V-Force and specialised in electronic warfare and air fighting tactics, was both inspired by the subject and in the unique position to lift the lid on this largely unexplored aspect of World War II.

When it was first published in 1967, Instruments of Darkness came to be regarded as a standard reference work on this intriguing subject. Since its initial appearance, it has been expanded as important additional material has become available. This completely revised edition concludes with the Japanese surrender in August 1945 and brings the analysis fully up to date in the light of what we now know.

Customer Reviews

An excellent read - technical but well explained for laymen
I have read both Jones' and Johnson's books about WW II radio and radar warfare, but I consider this book to be the best by far. It contains sufficient technical knowledge to satisfy professional radio engineers (like me), and yet the author has written the text so well that laymen should be able to understand and enjoy it well.
A good smattering of pictures and diagrams, many from the period, help explain the thinking behind many of the decisions taken by the main combatents to help render their enemy's radio and radar systems unuseable and the response of scientists on both sides to invent replacement systems.
A thoroughly good read - highly recommended.

Tells you what the Internet doesn't tell you just yet.
I was researching the role that Radio Navigation aids played in early aviation after the First and during the Second World Wars. This book together with the excellent "Quest for All Weather Flight" by Tom Morrison filled all the gaps the Internet research missed.
The early aviators could not have envisaged what your GPS is doing for you.
From early Radio Transmission ZZ landings through development of Lorenz,X-Gerat, Knickbein and various counter measures on bombing missions both books complement each other.