 Joan Strothers (later Curran) went
to the Cavendish Laboratories at Cambridge as a research
student under the direction of Philip
Dee. It was there that she met Sam
Curran who she married in November 1940. They
both moved to Worth Matravers late in 1940.
RV Jones, was developing
ideas for for 'window' or 'chaff' - a radar decoy
comprising strips of metal dropped from aircraft that
would resonate with German radar to give the impression
of ghost forces. In late 1941 and early 1942 Joan
Curran undertook trials of 'window' at Swanage under the
direction of Robert
Cockburn. The form that was eventually chosen
comprised strips of aluminium foil about 25cm long and
1cm or 2cm wide.
Window was used in April 1942 to help protect bombers
from flak by confusing the German gun laying
radar. Its most impressive success was probably
when used to simulate a phantom invasion force of ships
in the Straits of Dover in June 1944 for the D-Day
landings.
Early in 1944 Joan went to the United States with Sam
to work on the Manhatten Project - the American
development of the nuclear bomb.
In 1946 they returned to the United Kingdom where Sam
worked at Glasgow University with his wartime boss
Philip Dee, later moving to become principal of
Strathclyde University.
While in the United States, Joan gave birth to their
first child who was to be severely mentally
handicapped. After the war Joan and Sam set up the
Scottish Society for the Parents of Mentally Handicapped
Children, called 'Enable'.
Lady Joan Curran (neé Joan Strothers)
26 February 1916 - 10 February 1999
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