Albert Percival Rowe, CBE (23 March 1898 – 25 May 1976), often known as Jimmy Rowe or A. P. Rowe, was a radar pioneer and university vice-chancellor. A British physicist and senior research administrator, he played a major role in the development of radar before and during World War II.[1]
Rowe was born in Launceston, Cornwall, and after attending the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard School, he studied physics at the Royal College of Science, University of London, graduating with a first-class honours in 1921, and postgraduate diploma in air navigation in 1922. On 18 June 1932 at Beckenham, Kent, he married Mary Gordon Mathews, a solicitor.[1]
Air defence and radarEdit
In the Air Ministry he read up everything he could find on the art of air defence, and became alarmed. Working at that time for Harry Wimperis, he wrote a memo to him that concluded that "we were likely to lose the war if it starts within the next ten years".[citation needed] Wimperis took the report seriously, and in 1934 started the formation of what later became known as the Tizard Committee, which supported the early development of radio-based detection.
In 1935, Rowe coined the acronym RDF as a cover for the work, meaning Range and Direction Finding but suggesting the already well-known Radio Directing Finding technology. Rowe replaced Robert Watson-Watt as Superintendent of the Bawdsey Research Station where the Chain Home RDF system was developed, and in 1938–1945 was the Chief Superintendent of the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE), which carried out pioneering research on microwave radar. He was appointed a CBE in 1942.[1]
E. H. Putley describes Rowe as a complex character with a strong sense of mission, so, difficult to live with.[2] However, Putley supports Rowe's decisions in giving priority, and most of TRE's resources, to the completion of the Chain Home and Chain Home Low systems in 1938–39, and also continuing research in 1940 on developing airborne interception (AI) radar and centimetric radar with the cavity magnetron. Despite some opposition from Bomber Command who felt that the project would not produce large-scale results, Rowe, assisted by Alec Reeves, also led in the development of the Oboe navigation system and the H2S radar.[3]
Vice-chancellorEdit
In 1946 Rowe moved to Australia as chief scientific officer for the British rocket programme. The following year he was appointed scientific adviser to the Australian Department of Defence, and on 1 May 1948 he became, by invitation, the first full-time vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide, a position he held until his retirement in 1958.[1]
RetirementEdit
He returned to England, living in Malvern, Worcestershire until his death on 25 May 1976. He was survived by his wife; they had no children.[1]
Lovell, Sir Bernard: Echoes of War; The Story of H2S Radar (1991, Adam Hilger)
Rowe, A. P.: One Story of Radar (1948, Cambridge U. Press) 2015 pbk reprint. ISBN978-1-107-49479-4.
October 17, 2023
albert, rowe, physicist, albert, percival, rowe, march, 1898, 1976, often, known, jimmy, rowe, rowe, radar, pioneer, university, vice, chancellor, british, physicist, senior, research, administrator, played, major, role, development, radar, before, during, wor. Albert Percival Rowe CBE 23 March 1898 25 May 1976 often known as Jimmy Rowe or A P Rowe was a radar pioneer and university vice chancellor A British physicist and senior research administrator he played a major role in the development of radar before and during World War II 1 A P Rowe photographed pre WW2 Contents 1 Early years 2 Air defence and radar 3 Vice chancellor 4 Retirement 5 References 6 BibliographyEarly years EditRowe was born in Launceston Cornwall and after attending the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard School he studied physics at the Royal College of Science University of London graduating with a first class honours in 1921 and postgraduate diploma in air navigation in 1922 On 18 June 1932 at Beckenham Kent he married Mary Gordon Mathews a solicitor 1 Air defence and radar EditIn the Air Ministry he read up everything he could find on the art of air defence and became alarmed Working at that time for Harry Wimperis he wrote a memo to him that concluded that we were likely to lose the war if it starts within the next ten years citation needed Wimperis took the report seriously and in 1934 started the formation of what later became known as the Tizard Committee which supported the early development of radio based detection In 1935 Rowe coined the acronym RDF as a cover for the work meaning Range and Direction Finding but suggesting the already well known Radio Directing Finding technology Rowe replaced Robert Watson Watt as Superintendent of the Bawdsey Research Station where the Chain Home RDF system was developed and in 1938 1945 was the Chief Superintendent of the Telecommunications Research Establishment TRE which carried out pioneering research on microwave radar He was appointed a CBE in 1942 1 E H Putley describes Rowe as a complex character with a strong sense of mission so difficult to live with 2 However Putley supports Rowe s decisions in giving priority and most of TRE s resources to the completion of the Chain Home and Chain Home Low systems in 1938 39 and also continuing research in 1940 on developing airborne interception AI radar and centimetric radar with the cavity magnetron Despite some opposition from Bomber Command who felt that the project would not produce large scale results Rowe assisted by Alec Reeves also led in the development of the Oboe navigation system and the H2S radar 3 Vice chancellor EditIn 1946 Rowe moved to Australia as chief scientific officer for the British rocket programme The following year he was appointed scientific adviser to the Australian Department of Defence and on 1 May 1948 he became by invitation the first full time vice chancellor of the University of Adelaide a position he held until his retirement in 1958 1 Retirement EditHe returned to England living in Malvern Worcestershire until his death on 25 May 1976 He was survived by his wife they had no children 1 References Edit a b c d e Hugh Stretton 2002 Rowe Albert Percival 1898 1976 Australian Dictionary of Biography Dr E H Putley on A P Rowe pp 31 33 in Latham Colin amp Stobbs Anne 1999 Pioneers of Radar Sutton ISBN 0 7509 2120 X A P Rowe One story of radar Cambridge University Press 1948 pp 112 14 144 7 Bibliography EditBowen E G Radar Days 1987 Inst of Physics Publishing 1998 pbk reprint ISBN 0 7503 0586 X Lovell Sir Bernard Echoes of War The Story of H2S Radar 1991 Adam Hilger Rowe A P One Story of Radar 1948 Cambridge U Press 2015 pbk reprint ISBN 978 1 107 49479 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albert Rowe physicist amp oldid 1170105133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
