IEEE History Center: Herbert G. Weiss Abstract

This interview is part of the Rad Lab Collection.

Herbert George Weiss, a 1941-45 Radiation Laboratory employee worked predominantly in the development and project engineering of numerous Rad Lab projects. From April 1941 to June 1943, Weiss concentrated on receiver development, specifically the autofrequency control and AJ (anti-jamming) circuits, in the following projects: AIA (airborne interception of aircraft), ASG (advisory specialist group), ASD (X-band air-to-surface vessel), APS-3A , -15, GCA (ground control of approach), LHTR (lighthouse tube radar), APG-5, -15, APA-9, and SCR-582 (coastal surveillance system). In June 1943 he began a year as project engineer of the Oboe Mk II (air systems search and bombing radar) in the BBRL (British branch of the Rad Lab). His final assignment was as assistant project engineer to Project Cadillac from June 1944 to September 1945.

In his interview, Weiss describes his work on the blind landing project as an MIT student before Rad Lab. He discusses his contributions to Rad Lab's Project Cadillac and Oboe navigational systems. He compares the British and American Oboe systems and outlines the role of private industry in Rad Lab projects. He also discusses the influence of Rad Lab research in projects related to conflicts after World War II.

Weiss recalls the usefulness of the Monday night Rad Lab seminars and W.W. Hansen Lectures and describes the cooperative spirit among different teams within Rad Lab. He comments on the social life of Rad Lab participants and describes many of his post- Rad Lab experiences at Los Alamos, Raytheon, Lincoln Labs, Project Charles, and Loomis Labs.

1	MIT undergraduate in electrical engineering. Working on receiver electronics, high frequencies, while a student there. There when Tizard Mission comes through MIT.
2	Working on Instrument Landing Program (ILP). Working with klystrons, helped build first “microwave” triple conversion heterodyne.
3	Into Rad Lab about April 1941, into receiver group with Lew Turner as division head. Worked with people like P. R. Bell, Van Voorhis, Bill Breazeale, Jim Lawson. His work a continuation of ILP work, building IF amplifier strips and detectors. 18-24 months of this.
4	Also into various systems programs, using receivers from their laboratory, Weiss goes and helps get them work properly for the systems guys. Working to assemble American knock-off of British Oboe navigational system.
5	In England about a year, up to Normandy invasion, working on Oboe system. Working closely with F. E. Jones. Successful installations on B-17s, B-24s, B-25s. Impressed with British bombing raid techniques, masses of planes taking off to bomb. Had lost 35 pounds, overworking, when told to head back to US.
6	Then working on Project Cadillac, the AEW predecessor. Installing them into Grumman planes—slow and unwieldy, but only meant to hover over carriers, so not a problem. Figuring out how to get information down to ship to be interpreted properly.
7	Learned from Rad Lab to knock on people’s doors, talk with them, to get things done. Good esprit de corps. Informal structure.
8	Monday night lectures on different aspects of Rad Lab work, keep people informed about work beyond their nook. Normally not technicians or secretaries, unless their own project was getting presented. Hansen lectures a separate series. Weiss went to more practical lectures, not high theory that would be over his head.
9	Weiss had lots of input in decisionmaking, constant support from Lew Turner and Van Voorhis. Internal conflicts: lack of space makes for some jostling. Getting machine shops to put your project on the top of the list.
10	No tight scheduling—optimistic goals, very long weeks, ad hoc practices.
11	Lots of socializing, parties. Egalitarian: technicians invited to parties. Art Roberts made up songs and parodies about Lab work. Willy Higinbotham another vigorous socializer.
12	To Los Alamos after war. Mechanical engineering of a-bomb had been lousy, Rad Labbers with experience getting delicate electronics into combat-ready form sent out to re-engineer a-bomb. There for three years. Worked on Bikini project. To Raytheon, doing computer work, 1948-51.
13	Then on Project Charles, building continental air defense network. Using digital computers—Whirlwind Computer at MIT, connecting radars to computers. Project Charles leads to SAGE system, and set up of Lincoln Labs. Modeled on Rad Lab—not many Rad Lab alumni, but director was one.
14	Concept of early warning network and DEW line. Weiss in charge of team putting together early warning radars for the DEW line. Technical discussion of building system.
15	Getting industry, Sperry, to mass-produce copies of Rad Lab designed equipment.
16	Most important contribution: Making stable, portable receiver—got weight from 50 pounds to 50 ounces.
17	Details on working at Tuxedo Park for a few weekends around 1940. Sperry connection for early work, pre-war, on radar. Working with Frank Lewis, Don Kerr, Bill Tuller. Test flights out of Logan.