posted 05-10-2014 12:25 PM ET (US)            

The book goes into some detail on the operation of the Radiation Laboratory (RadLab) at MIT in the years 1940 to 1947, where modern microwave RADAR was developed. This material was especially interesting for me because of the mention of one of the researchers at the RadLab, Jim Lawson. I knew Jim Lawson as a fellow radio amateur. His call sign was W2PV. In the 1970's he had one of the largest, finest, and most sophisticated amateur radio stations in the world. I visited him in c.1974, and spent a weekend as a guest operator of his station during a world-wide radio contest. I had not known of Jim's participation in development of RADAR, which, in "Tuxedo Park," is described as having been extremely significant. Jim Lawson developed the Transmit-Receive mechanism that allowed microwave RADAR sets to use a common antenna for both transmitting and receiving. To learn about Jim's important contribution to the war effort some 40-years after first meeting him in person was extremely interesting.

The book also describes the invention of LORAN by Loomis. As you may know, LORAN is a subject of interest to me. I was not aware of its earliest forms and important use in World War II.

There is a much shorter summary of Loomis's contributions in a biographical memoir written by the noted physicist Luis Alvarez at

http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/ loomis-alfred.pdf

As for a boating connection, Loomis was involved in the America's Cup defense, campaigning, at enormous expense, the J-boat Whirlwind unsuccessfully in the 1930's. Whirlwind was built at the Lawley boat yard in Boston, which also has some significance in Boston Whaler history. The boat was built in 1930 and scrapped in 1935. More at

posted 05-14-2014 11:09 AM ET (US)            

I'm glad that you enjoyed the book. It sounds like the fellow you knew was somewhat like Loomis, a man modest about his past achievements. Contrast him with the man who said that he "invented" the internet.

Have a good summer

posted 05-19-2014 10:42 AM ET (US)            

"During my service at the MIT Radiation Labooratory, I took the initiative in creating a practical airplane microwave RADAR."

However, it is actually true that both of those people did take a great deal of initiative in creating a practical airplane microwve RADAR at the MIT Radiation Laboratory. Had they said that on a nationally televised interview while campaigning for president, it would have been a remarkably clear and truthful statement of their actual involvement and contribution to the creation of RADAR.