The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Approximately 50 strips of aluminium backed with paper, known as 'Window' or 'Chaff', of the type used to jam radar.
This is a remnant sample of 'Window' from 600 units dropped from Royal Australian air Force (RAAF) Catalina A24-97, 42 Squadron on operations around Manila on 14 December 1944. This aircraft was responsible for jamming Japanese radar while 19 other RAAF Catalinas mined the entrance to Manila Harbour in an attempt to confine a group of Japanese Navy vessels, including an aircraft carrier, four battleships, six cruisers and many destroyers. The Catalinas dropped six large and 11 small American mines. The operation achieved its objective but one aircraft was lost on the mission. 424171 Flight Sergeant (later warrant officer) Robert Noel Forbes, RAAF, was navigator of the 'jamming' aircraft. He claims that this was the first time 'window' was used in the Pacific theatre, by any nation. His aircraft was filled with strips of the 'window' for the operation, and navigation became very difficult. An American aircraft took over the jamming role from them an hour and a half after they began. Forbes completed two tours of duty serving with 71, 32 and 48 Squadrons, RAAF.
2 pages from RAAF navigator's log book showing evidence of the radar-jamming tactics which enabled the successful mining of Manila Bay by the Allies 14 December 1944
White acetate sheet printed with a topographic map on each side. Title of map printed in black at top 'NO. C-44, NORTH BORNEO / AAF CLOTH CHART-PHILIPPINE SERIES' on one side, and 'NO. C-43 MINDANAO I
Silk sheet titled 'HALMAHERA'. Printed on one side with a simple map of Halmahera and Dutch (West) New Guinea. Scale is 6 inches = 90 statute miles. Part of an escape kit issued to and carried by 42
Simple black painted brass spindle type compass with eight pointed direction indicator plate recessed in a well under a glass top. The compass was sealed in a plastic pouch to protect it from humidity
Transparent yellow plastic pouch with fold in and roll down opening fitted with a press stud tab. Marked on plastic 'FOLD ON LINES / AND ROLL TIGHTLY / CLOSE SNAP'. Probably military issue. Part of
Simple black painted brass spindle type compass with eight pointed direction indicator plate recessed in a well under a glass top. The compass was sealed in a plastic pouch to protect it from humidity
Silk sheet titled 'HALMAHERA'. Printed on one side with a simple map of Halmahera and Dutch (West) New Guinea. Scale is 6 inches = 90 statute miles. Part of an escape kit issued to and carried by 42
Transparent yellow plastic pouch with fold in and roll down opening fitted with a press stud tab. Marked on plastic 'FOLD ON LINES / AND ROLL TIGHTLY / CLOSE SNAP'. Probably military issue. Part of
White acetate sheet printed with a topographic map on each side. Title of map printed in black at top 'NO. C-44, NORTH BORNEO / AAF CLOTH CHART-PHILIPPINE SERIES' on one side, and 'NO. C-43 MINDANAO I
Collection related to the Second World War service of 424171 Flight Sergeant Robert Noel Forbes, 1944. Wallet 1 of 1 - consists of 2 pages from a RAAF navigator's logbook showing evidence of the rada
Paper and cardboard parcel containing strips of Window radar counter measure foil. To be used in conjunction with Window Launching Machine Mk.1a Window foil was a radar countermeasure used by the Al
