1935
UNITED KINGDOM: First Successful Demonstration of RADAR
In the mid-1930s, as Nazi Germany grew more threatening and belligerent, the British became increasingly concerned about the state of their air defenses. Robert Watson-Watt, a Scottish physicist, had been working on methods of using radio-wave detection to locate thunderstorms in order to provide warnings to airmen. Realizing that a similar system could be used to track enemy aircraft, he drafted a report titled "The Detection of Aircraft by Radio Methods," and presented it to the newly formed committee for the scientific survey of air defense.
Before committing resources to the idea, the Air Ministry insisted on a demonstration. On February 26, 1935, a trial took place using a British Broadcasting Service short-wave radio transmitter to track a Royal Air Force bomber. Encouraged by the success of the trial, the British military installed a chain of radio detection and ranging (RADAR) stations along the east and south coasts of England in time for the outbreak of war in 1939.
By providing crucial advance information about incoming German aircraft, the system enabled the outnumbered Royal Air Force to win the Battle of Britain and to prevent a German invasion. In recognition of the enormous importance of his RADAR, Robert Watson-Watt was knighted in 1942. RADAR has since proven equally useful in such peacetime efforts as controlling air traffic, detecting weather patterns, and tracking spacecraft. (Tom Hickcox)
1936
JAPAN: What will become known as the "2-26" incident occurs in Japanese Politics today. For additional information see Mike Yaklich's post "Japanese Army pt 26 (July 1937)" of December 9, 1999 in the archives. Rebel officers had called out entire units of troops under various pretexts, and these occuppied the quarter of Tokyo containing most of the government offices, and surrounded the Imperial Palace. Their program was; the establishment of open military government, with officers associated with the radical right in the key positions; "commitment" to the Emporer (as was often the case with the right-wing militarists, this was expressed in a curious way, by surrounding his palace and assasinating several of his top officials); anti-capitalism (the big industrialists and bankers in Japan being seen as too materialistic and greedy); anti-Communism; and opposition to the system of civilian political parties in any form, especially the ones currently existing. With several regiments of soldiers mobilized by the rebels, the crisis was a major one. But events at the Palace itself helped to break their momentum. The Palace buildings and their considerable grounds were surrounded by a more or less circular moat, three miles in circumference. This moat was about 100 feet wide, and was backed (on the inner-- Palace-- side) by a stone wall up to 100 feet high. There were only seven bridges over the moat. Police guarding the Palace managed to hold on to the key bridges, and prevent the rebels from storming the Palace itself. On February 28th the Emporer himself ordered a crackdown on the mutineers. The Japanese Navy also played a crucial part. It threw its weight in on the side of those who would oust the mutineers and restore order, and the admirals threatened to turn the guns of their capital ships in Tokyo Bay against the rebels, and against the city itself if necessary. Seeing the situation turn in this manner, the Army hierarchy abandoned its usual attitude of benign inaction, and finally determined to exercize a firm hand. Loyal troops were called in, the uprising was quelled.
February 26th, 1939 (SUNDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Alloa Athletic: A record 13,000 attend Scottish Cup 3rd Round replay match here against Dunfermline.