Covert Radar and Signals Interception: The Secret Career of Eric Ackermann
“A remarkable reconstruction of the extensive and quite exceptional career” of a key WW2 military intelligence officer. (Royal Air Force Historical Society)

Of German stock dating back to 1530 in Saxony, Eric George Ackermann GM was born on the Isle of Wight in 1919 and became a leading figure in the world of signals and electronic intelligence. As a Junior Scientific Officer at the Telecommunication Research Establishment, Boscombe Down, with an honorary commission in the Royal Air Force, he made numerous flights over occupied territory searching for, monitoring and destroying Germany’s Wuerzburg, Knickebein and X Band radar systems. Much of his research was passed to the highest levels of wartime government, ensuring that tactical plans could be executed that took full advantage of top secret German intelligence. A host of secret missions to assess the enemy’s radar capabilities were carried out in North Africa, Gibraltar and Italy.

This engaging biography explores his operational deployment at the vanguard of tactical intelligence operations during WWII. Winner of the George Medal for conspicuous gallantry, Ackermann also saw conflict up close and personal. After the war, he played a major part in the implementation of a string of listening stations built along the borders of Soviet Bloc countries, which later gleaned a wealth of invaluable post-war intelligence. Further work in aeronautics and satellite construction in the United States followed.

Despite Ackermann’s achievements, he has never been the subject of a book-length study until now. Covert Radar and Signals Interception will appeal to aviation enthusiasts, as well as readers curious to gain new insights into twentieth century intelligence practices and their often far-reaching consequences.
1132110320
Covert Radar and Signals Interception: The Secret Career of Eric Ackermann
“A remarkable reconstruction of the extensive and quite exceptional career” of a key WW2 military intelligence officer. (Royal Air Force Historical Society)

Of German stock dating back to 1530 in Saxony, Eric George Ackermann GM was born on the Isle of Wight in 1919 and became a leading figure in the world of signals and electronic intelligence. As a Junior Scientific Officer at the Telecommunication Research Establishment, Boscombe Down, with an honorary commission in the Royal Air Force, he made numerous flights over occupied territory searching for, monitoring and destroying Germany’s Wuerzburg, Knickebein and X Band radar systems. Much of his research was passed to the highest levels of wartime government, ensuring that tactical plans could be executed that took full advantage of top secret German intelligence. A host of secret missions to assess the enemy’s radar capabilities were carried out in North Africa, Gibraltar and Italy.

This engaging biography explores his operational deployment at the vanguard of tactical intelligence operations during WWII. Winner of the George Medal for conspicuous gallantry, Ackermann also saw conflict up close and personal. After the war, he played a major part in the implementation of a string of listening stations built along the borders of Soviet Bloc countries, which later gleaned a wealth of invaluable post-war intelligence. Further work in aeronautics and satellite construction in the United States followed.

Despite Ackermann’s achievements, he has never been the subject of a book-length study until now. Covert Radar and Signals Interception will appeal to aviation enthusiasts, as well as readers curious to gain new insights into twentieth century intelligence practices and their often far-reaching consequences.
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Covert Radar and Signals Interception: The Secret Career of Eric Ackermann

Covert Radar and Signals Interception: The Secret Career of Eric Ackermann

Covert Radar and Signals Interception: The Secret Career of Eric Ackermann

Covert Radar and Signals Interception: The Secret Career of Eric Ackermann

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Overview

“A remarkable reconstruction of the extensive and quite exceptional career” of a key WW2 military intelligence officer. (Royal Air Force Historical Society)

Of German stock dating back to 1530 in Saxony, Eric George Ackermann GM was born on the Isle of Wight in 1919 and became a leading figure in the world of signals and electronic intelligence. As a Junior Scientific Officer at the Telecommunication Research Establishment, Boscombe Down, with an honorary commission in the Royal Air Force, he made numerous flights over occupied territory searching for, monitoring and destroying Germany’s Wuerzburg, Knickebein and X Band radar systems. Much of his research was passed to the highest levels of wartime government, ensuring that tactical plans could be executed that took full advantage of top secret German intelligence. A host of secret missions to assess the enemy’s radar capabilities were carried out in North Africa, Gibraltar and Italy.

This engaging biography explores his operational deployment at the vanguard of tactical intelligence operations during WWII. Winner of the George Medal for conspicuous gallantry, Ackermann also saw conflict up close and personal. After the war, he played a major part in the implementation of a string of listening stations built along the borders of Soviet Bloc countries, which later gleaned a wealth of invaluable post-war intelligence. Further work in aeronautics and satellite construction in the United States followed.

Despite Ackermann’s achievements, he has never been the subject of a book-length study until now. Covert Radar and Signals Interception will appeal to aviation enthusiasts, as well as readers curious to gain new insights into twentieth century intelligence practices and their often far-reaching consequences.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781473835061
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date: 01/31/2020
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 216
File size: 37 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Peter Jackson is an author and a historian.

Table of Contents

Illustrations and Maps vi

Preface vii

Chapter 1 Family Background and Early Life 1

Chapter 2 The Telecommunications Research Establishment 6

Chapter 3 North Africa and Italy: Torch, Husky and Avalanche 47

Chapter 4 The George Medal 61

Chapter 5 Eric Ackermann and the Flying Bombs 66

Chapter 6 North-West Europe, 1944 to 1946 80

Chapter 7 The Long March to Lindau, 1946 90

Chapter 8 The Air Scientific Research Unit 101

Chapter 9 Life and Work at Obernkirchen 121

Chapter 10 No. 646 Signals Unit and the RAF Signals Intelligence network in Germany 138

Chapter 11 Farewell to Obernkirchen 163

Chapter 12 The 646 Signals Unit badge 166

Chapter 13 Farewell to Germany 171

Chapter 14 Migration to Maryland 175

Chapter 15 The Family Man 182

Chapter 16 A Full and Useful Life 186

Bibliography 190

Index 192

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