Vivian Bowden joined the Radar team in 1940 and during
the War led the group that developed the Identification of
Friend or Foe equipment (IFF). This provides signals to
radar operators to help distinguish between hostile and
friendly aircraft. From 1943 - 1946 this team was based in
the USA and joint programmes resulted in various marks of
the equipment leading to the present day responder beacons
fitted in both civil and military aircraft to provide
identification and air traffic control information.
Before the war Bowden was chief physics master at
Oundle School. After the War he became Principal of the
University of Manchester Institute of Science and
Technology (UMIST). He was invited by Prime Minister
Harold Wilson to join his Government for his 'White-hot
heat of technology' programme and was created Lord Bowden
of Chesterfield in 1963.
18 Jan 1910 - 28 July 1989
Bill Penley, Jan 2011 |
