Figure 1.--This is J.E. Beardwood of Brooklyn, New York. He is offering sweets to two British children on a sunny street in Bournemouth, England (1941). Sweets were sructlyratiioned in Britain at the time. Beardwood was a Civilian Technical Corps voluneer recently arrived from America. He was assisting with the mauntenance of British radio and radar operations.

The Civilian Technical Corps (CTC) was a para-military uniformed organization that the British recruited in America (1941). The CTC seems to have functioned almost entirely in (1941). After Pearl Harbor and American entry into the War there was no needed for a civilian effort. The United States had the largest radio industry in the world. This mean that there was a huge resource of technicians skilled in repairing radios and radio equipment--as far as we know all men. The War was bringing women into the factories, but for hat ever reason, virtually all the technicians in the radio industry were men. Radio communications was an critical part of the War. One of the reasons that the Germans were so successful in early engagements was the use of radio in aircraft, tanks, and battlefield communications. In addition was the maintenance of radar equipment. Radar was basically an off shoot of radio and the equipment essentially the same. So technicians were needed for radar as well. America was unprepared for the War, but the American radio industry was the largest in the world. This included a huge number of technicians skilled in the operation and maintenance of radio equipment. Few knew anything about radar, but the equipment was so similar that only minimal training was needed. We are not sure what British agency was involved, but the British with American Government permission recruited American radio technicians. ["Britain calling ... "] It was an entirely volunteer operation. An while no engaged in military ooperatiins they not only heloed mauntain vital equioment, but freed up British tchnicians for military service. While initially focused on radio and radar, the CTC was soon extended to other areas. We have no idea how many volunteers there were and their actual impact. Presumably most returned to American operations after the United states entered the war. And people experienced with radar would have made a valuable addition to the American war effort. The CTC volunteers were outfitted with Royal Air Force uniforms but with wreath-and-bars non-commissioned rank badges instead of chevrons similar to the Royal Observer Corps. We only see references to 1941. After Pearl Harbor there was no longer any need for civilian technical organizations.

Sources

"Britain calling ...", Radio Service Dealer (August 1941).

Created: 10:24 PM 11/3/2022
Last updated: 10:24 PM 11/3/2022