A LOOK inside the war-winning work of a group of radar boffins has received critical acclaim from Britain’s leading aviation magazines.

Top Secret Boeing by Dr Bob Shaw tells the story of airborne experiments carried out by aircraft flown from Defford, near Pershore, to test radar devices created at Malvern’s Telecommunications Research Establishment.

We have previously reported on Dr Shaw’s account on the work of “one of the most secret places in Britain” during the Second World War, and the use of the Boeing 247-D plane on board which much of the radar testing took place.

The work of the TRE on the automatic landing system – which allows modern planes to touch down safely in any visibility – was among the technological leaps they served up, helping deliver victory against the Nazis.

In the latest issue of Aeroplane magazine, reviewer Mike Hooks wrote: “Every now and then a self-published book turns up on a subject which has not been covered before, and this is a good example.”

Fly Past, Britain’s top-selling aviation monthly, described the book as an “original and scrupulously researched account, telling the story of an elderly airliner, a gift from Canada, which flew with the RAF during the war, making an exceptional contribution to radar research”.

And Classic Aircraft magazine made Top Secret Boeing its book of the month.

Dr Shaw said: “These flattering book reviews are very pleasing, but the important thing is we are putting on record the efforts of the Malvern scientists and the airmen of Defford.”