Ivan
Getting Interview (June 11, 1991)
This interview is part of the Rad
Lab Collection.
Ivan A. Getting filled numerous positions
during his 1940-45 tenure at Radiation
Laboratory. In October 1940 he began his work in
the development of modulators. He shifted his
concentration to the roof system, conical scan,
and XT-1 (SCR-584 prototype) development between
January and May 1942. Beginning in May 1942
Getting assumed leadership of Group 81 and was
responsible for administration of the XT-1,
SCR-584 (ground-based S-band AA fire control),
SCR-598 (X-band fire control), SCR-682
(transportable S-band coastal system), MPG-1 , HR
(hand radar), RO (lightweight range-only ground
search and warning system), and GFCS Mk 56
(gunfire control system). He was head of Division
8 in charge of fire-control and work related to
Army Ground Forces from September 1943 to
December 1945.
In this interview Getting discusses early
research objectives at Radiation Laboratory,
MIT's atmosphere for Rad Lab research, and his
personal interest in defeating Nazi expansion in
Europe. The Microwave Committee, military
security, product testing, and the related radar
work done by NRL and Signal Corps are also
addressed. Working relationships with various
co-workers and military personnel are described.
Alfred Loomis, Ed Bowles, and Warren Weaver are
among the most frequently and extensively
discussed. Getting speaks at length regarding
several of his specific projects, particularly
those involving fire control, most notably the
XT-1 and air intercept (AI) radar, prototype of
the SCR-584.
See
also Interview #245, Ivan Getting
(February 25, 1995)
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1
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BS at MIT; won Edison Scholarship in
1929; thesis under Karl
Compton. Rhodes Scholarship to
Oxford for two years, got PhD in
astrophysics with E. A. Milne.
Worked with Arthur Compton, brother
of Karl, did paper on cosmic
rays. Back as junior fellow to
Harvard. Sliding some from
astrophysics to nuclear physics.
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2
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Brought into Rad Lab by Ken
Bainbridge, working next door to him at
Harvard. Among first three to five
employees at Rad Lab. Very
anti-Hitler because Slovak ancestry,
his father had worked with Mararyk
and Benes in WWI to set up
Czechoslovak state. Had spent
year in Bratislava in 1919.
Anxious to work to defeat Hitler.
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3
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Electrical engineers at MIT knew a
lot of relevant information for
radar; odd “sociological
phenomenon” that physicists
DuBridge, Rabi, Wheeler Loomis made
physicists the core of the Rad Lab.
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4
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Some secrecy to begin with on what
they’re working on; know
it’s “radar” but
not entirely sure what that is.
First learned what was what going
down to Fort Hancock, to demonstrate
experimental XT-1.
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5
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Some lack of coordination: Navy NRL
and Signal Corps had done modulator
work and fire-control work that they
had to reinvent. Navy, Army,
Signal Corps, don’t
necessarily talk to one
another. Nor did Microwave
Committee always talk with Rad Lab.
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6
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Involved story about how SCRs 541,
545, and 585 competed for getting
into production, arranging to make
sure it was the 585, with relevant
quid pro quo to compensate companies
that would have been building
competing models.
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7
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Getting in fairly responsible
position on this project, because
senior people at Rad Lab focused on
airborne intercept radars, which
Britain desperately needed.
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8
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Military wants small radar, able to
go anywhere. Scientists want
radar that can be carried around,
always be read in the dry and
dark. Scientists suggest truck;
army prefers trailer, fewer engines
and tires to worry about.
Effective compromise. Military
and scientists worked well together.
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9
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Some officers have antiquated ideas;
many more don’t even have the
security clearance to know what radar
is, can’t even judge why it
would be useful. Getting serves as
“special assistant” at
various positions, including Secretary
Stimson, acting as lubricant in
military bureaucracy.
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10
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Some bollixes getting radar into
production for Navy, for fire control
and anti-aircraft and range and
direction finders. Navy even
more conservative than army,
especially about gear. Bureau
of Ordnance, separate institution,
also reluctant to change.
Trying to marry radar to existing
Draper sight. Eventually gets
Navy fun fire-control system Mark 56
through bureaucracy and into
production. Head of Navy fire
control for OSRD by this time.
But war over by time production
ready.
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11
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British air ordered lots of
SCR-584s. British navy too
backward to be able to integrate radar
properly into their systems.
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