Mystery aerial

[BC]

Hi all:

Hopefully some of you radar/radio equipment buffs can i.d. the aerial in the attached pic. It was found recently at a dig on a former USAAF WW 2 dump site in South Norfolk.

At first I thought it was German night-fighter radar, but the 'prongs' are similar to those found on the British "Rebecca" beam-approach aerial. There were originally six 'prongs' on the device, but unfortunately two were broken off.

I now think it looks similar to some of the aerials fitted to 100 (RAF) Group aircraft.

TIA for any help from TOCH forumites.

BC

[Dan O'Connell]

It looks like it used to be a 3 element yagi, a directional antenna, for about 150 megahertz, with the reflector to the right. The large spacing between the driven element and the director, to the left, would have created a large oval pattern, yet still directional.

[BC]

Thanks Dan. Can you state in simple English what it would be used for ? Is it a beam approach system or a search radar ?

BC

[Dan O'Connell]

It could have been used for either purpose. The entire pupose of an antenna of that style is directivity and gain, i.e. signal enhancement.

[BC]

Thanks Dan. Perhaps someone in the 100 (RAF) Group fraternity will be able to ID it for me.

BC