Leonard George Chapman
| Leonard George Chapman | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | Len |
| Born | 28 March 1910 |
| Died | 25 July 1975 (aged 65) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/ |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1937–1964 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
Squadron Leader Leonard George Chapman (28 March 1910 – 25 July 1975) was an inventor, radio engineer and Royal Air Force officer.
While serving in the Royal Air Force he invented the 'Chapman Method' in 1937–1938. This method accurately determines the location of an object from the time difference of arrival of a signal (possibly radio echo) emitted from that object to three or more receivers. A method commonly used in civil and military surveillance applications, and also known as Multilateration. Thus it has been suggested that Chapman be nominated as the father of Multilateration.
Chapman was in charge of installing 5 radar stations as part of the Chain Home system. Including the Netherbutton station in the parish of Holm, Orkney Islands, the installation of which Chapman performed while only holding the rank of Corporal.
He had a long and distinguished career holding a variety of commands, rising to the rank of Squadron Leader and receiving a permanent commission.
Leonard Chapman was born on 28 March 1910 to father George Chapman and mother Ellen Cole. George Chapman was serving at the time in the Queen's Northamptonshire Regiment.
By 1929 the direction of Leonard Chapman's life's work had begun to form when he attended Flowerdown, the Royal Air Force Electrical and Wireless school for training aircraft apprentices.
Subsequently, Chapman attended the Chatham Technical School for 2 years. He was then accepted into the Engineering Department of Woolwich Polytechnic for 3 years, after which he attended the Royal Air Force Electrical and Radio School for 3 years. Finally in 1937 he attended the Ground Radar course under Watson-Watt.
During the late 1920s and the 1930s due to advances in aircraft technology London and other cities were becoming increasingly vulnerable to (theoretical) attack by high altitude aircraft bombers. Such bombers could fly out of reach of ground-based, anti-aircraft guns. Another defensive option was fighter planes, specifically continual high altitude patrolling of the sky by fighters. But the time required for fighters to gain sufficient altitude to engage high altitude aircraft bombers meant this option of continuous 'standing patrols' would have been too expensive in pilot hours, engine wear and fuel consumption to have been effective.
Another option was proposed on 12 February 1935 by Watson-Watt in a memo entitled Detection and location of aircraft by radio methods sent to the Air Ministry. This detection and location method known today as radar, combined with a command and control system would act as a Force multiplier by allowing friendly fighters to know the exact location of enemy bombers and converge on them. On 26 February a successful demonstration of radar was given at Daventry, Northamptonshire. By the end of 1935 a system with a detection and location range of 100 km had been established, and plans were made in December to set up five fixed radar stations covering London airspace. One of these stations was to be located on the coast near Orford Ness, and Bawdsey Manor Research Station was set up there to become the main centre for all radar research.
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