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By late 1935, as Germany was rapidly expanding its military capabilities, it became evident that a new technology that was created by British scientists would be essential to Britain’s survival. With war looming, special training facilities that were used to train men and women to detect planes from great distances now needed to be away from British soil, safe from German spies and bombs. As a result, the Canadian Government agreed to establish a training program in which Canadian universities would train recruits in basic electronics and radio theory.
During World War II, almost 6,000 Canadians were trained on RADAR at the request of the British government and sent into every theatre of war. Sworn to an oath of secrecy that was not fully lifted until 1991, it was only recently that these men and women were able to share their experiences. Canadian radar personnel were a crucial part of the war effort. Many of these early radar veterans went on to have leadership roles in the development of radar during the Cold War and in the Canadian electronics industry.
This exhibit highlights the experiences of some of these Canadian men and women as they worked building and maintain radar stations on the Canadian coast and overseas. Most completed their training at a newly constructed air force base in the rural Ontario farming community of Clinton.
The contributions of the thousands of men and women working on Canadian radar since 1940, both military and civilian, have helped to protect our soldiers on the front lines, our people at home, and helped to create a technological legacy that continues to be part of our everyday lives.
The Secrets of Radar Museum is dedicated to preserving the experiences, stories and history of the men and women who helped build, develop, operate, maintain and defend Canadian RADAR, here in Canada and abroad. Founded in 2001, we are an incorporated not-for-profit museum located in London, Ontario. The museum’s exhibits and education programs ensure that this remarkable and unique Canadian story continues to be remembered by the next generation of Canadians.
