Radschool Association Magazine - Vol 29

Page 5

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Life after the RAAF survey

Last issue we asked what you did after you were discharged. Did you continue on with the trade/profession/skill you were taught in the RAAF – or did you go into something completely different. We had 66 respondents, 1 person said they didn’t learn a trade and of the rest, 37 stayed in the learned trade and 28 left and did something else. Of the 65 who did learn a trade, the majority were ex Radschool (as would be expected from readers of this magazine). See the graph below. 

What is interesting is the different vocations people took up after radio, there were:

Caravan Park manager, Computer Projects Director, Computer sales, Copper, Database consulting, Diet food manufacturer, General business, Management, Motel proprietor, Pilot, Project management, Public Servant, Quality Engineer/Configuration Manager, Real Estate, Sales, Security guard, Grazier, Concrete delivery, Supermarket owner and Mediation.

This time we’re running a survey “on request.” A couple of blokes have mentioned that they think people who have worked around radio transmitting devices have more daughters than sons. There is a feeling “out there” that radio/radar techs have been ‘affected’ somehow and produce more girls than boys – is this true???

So – if you’re a bloke, and you were in the radar/radio/tels tech business in the RAAF please fill in our survey and let us know. We’ll publish the results next issue.

You will find the new survey HERE.

Valves.

Recently we were staying with a mate on a property up near Kilcoy (Qld) which is only about a 75 minute drive north west from Brisbane, but far enough away to be ‘bush”. On Friday night we dropped into the local RSL, as you do, and what a pleasant surprise!!  The RSL is only open Friday nights and Sunday mornings (no pokies) but the membership is made up of a bunch of great blokes and blokettes – all ready for a chat. If ever you’re passing through, call in.

We met one such member, Fred Thomason, who had two terms in the RAAF, both times as a metal basher. Fred has inherited a bunch of brand new thermionic valves, still in their boxes, and he’s willing to sell them at super cheap prices. If you’re looking for a valve(s) for some old set you still have, give Fred a call on 07 5422 0443 – he should be able to help.

Fred also had a bunch of old “The Australasian Radio World” magazines, dating back to the late 1940’s early 1950’s, all in excellent condition. He’s lent us a few copies and over the coming editions we’ll publish some of the articles.

Below is a circuit from the 1950 edition. This is a mono audio amplifier (just double it for stereo) and is from the labs of Radiotron, the Amalgamated Wireless Valve Company. The article that accompanies the circuit says this is as close to perfection as you can get and that it will deliver 25 watts of RMS power with only 2% intermodulation distortion. It has a flat curve from 20cps to 30,000 cps (never did like the term Hertz anyway – tb).

The first two 6AU6 amplifiers are used to pre-amp very low signals, and you could get by without one or both of them, depending on the level of your input.

Unfortunately, the printing has faded in the magazine and the scan above is not as good as it should be, however, if you want a “readable” copy, email us and we’ll see what we can do.

Irish Vasectomy.

After having their 11th child, an Irish couple decided that enough was enough, as they couldn't afford a larger bed. So the husband went to his doctor and told him that he and his wife didn't want to have any more children.

The doctor told him there was a procedure called a vasectomy that would fix the problem but that it was expensive. A less costly alternative was to go home, get a large firecracker, light it, put it in a beer can, then hold the can up to his ear and count to 10.  The husband said to the doctor, 'B'Jayzus, I may not be the smartest guy in the world, but I don't see how putting a firework in a beer can next to my ear is going to help me with my problem.' 'Trust me, it will do the job', said the doctor. So the man went home, found and lit a great big cracker and put it in a beer can. He held the can up to his ear and began to count:  '1, 2, 3, 4, 5,' at which point he paused, and placed the can between his legs so he could continue counting on his other hand.  

This was sent to us by that most unsympathetic Jenny Abbott (Wren) who lives across the desert. It brings tears to your eyes just thinking about it - It’s all very well for her to laugh…….tb

Radar Yarns.

The photos below, taken from the book “More Radar Yarns”, written by the late Ed Simmonds, is of the Chain Overseas Low Flying (COL) radar installation at No 1 Radar School which was at RAAF Richmond from 1941 to 1945. This antenna has the five bay array and Celadon turning gear mounted on a Low Weight Air Warning (LW/AW) tower and was developed as an air transportable system for the RAAF. There is no doubt that the Australian LW/AW series of equipment, instigated by the RAAF, soon became the backbone of radar in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

The role of the COL stations was to detect low flying aircraft and also monitor shipping and provide accurate range and azimuth readings for gunlaying. Most of the towers were manufactured in the NSW Government Railways workshops and the electronic equipment was manufactured by HMV.

The truck mounted “light weight” (LW) very portable antennal system. This system could be rushed to a where it is needed and with the help of a bunch of blokes, could be up and running in about a day or so……

The photo below shows how it looked, ready for action.

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