The Royal Flying Corps
was established in May 1912. Major Herbert Musgrave was placed in
charge of RFC's experiments. This included research into how wireless
telegraphy could be used by military aircraft. By the start of the
war in 1914 Musgrave and his team had devised a system where pilots
could use wireless telegraphy to help the artillery hit specific
targets. The aircraft observer carried a wireless set and a map
and after identifying the position of an enemy target was able to
send messages such as A5, B3, etc. to the artillery commander.
The Royal Flying Corps
began research into how wireless telegraphy could be used to help
home-defence aircraft during German bombing raids. In 1916 the RFC
developed a lightweight aircraft receiver and a Marconi half-kilowatt
ground transmitter. These transmitters were located on aerodromes
in raid-threatened areas. The aircraft receiver was tuned in advance,
and the pilot had to unreel a 150 ft. aerial from its drum and switch
on.
Trials started in May
and pilots reported that signals were clearly heard up to ten miles
but at longer distances they weakened. Further adjustments were
made and by November clear signals could be heard over twenty miles.
Pilots could now be informed about enemy aircraft movements and
therefore had a far better chance of successfully reaching them
before they dropped its bombs on Britain.
