P005864 new AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created human Helen Cohn updated 2025-12-31 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005864b.htm person Pither Alfred George AACR2 16 October 1908 2 July 1971 Place of Birth Shepparton, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia George Pither, a Royal Australian Air Force officer from 1930 until his retirement with the honorary rank of Air Commodore in 1966, has been called the "father of RAAF radar". An early interest in radio led him to specialise in signals. After four years commanding the Signals Training School at Laverton, Victoria, he travelled to the United Kingdom in 1940 to learn about the new, secret technology of radar. Much of his service during WWII revolved around radio-jamming programs, and the establishment of a chain of 126 long-range radar stations in Australia. Pither commanded what became the Directorate of Radar. After the war Pither was given responsibility for guided missiles and was involved in the development of the Australian rocket-range (named Woomera at his suggestion). In 1954 he became Director of telecommunications and radar for the R.A.A.F. and in 1963 was in charge of telecommunications engineering. 1930 1930 Education - Graduated from Royal Military College, Duntroon 1930 1936 Career position - Commissioned in the Royal Australian Air Force 1936 Career position - Flight Lieutenant, Royal Australian Air Force 1936 1937 Education - Training at Royal Air Force signals school, United Kingdom 1937 1939 Career position - Officer-in-charge, Signals Training School, Laverton, Victoria 1939 1941 Career position - Staff Officer, Directorate of Training, R.A.A.F. Headquarters, Melbourne 1941 1943 Career position - Wing Commander, Directorate of Signals, Royal Australian Air Force 1942 1943 Career position - Commander Directorate of Radar, R.A.A.F. 1946 1951 Career position - Responsible for guided missiles, R.A.A.F. Headquarters 1951 1954 Career position - Seconded to the Department of Supply 1954 1959 Career position - Director, Communications and Radar, R.A.A.F. 1956 1956 Award - Commander of the British Empire (CBE) 1959 1961 Career position - Commanded No.1 Aircraft Depot, Laverton, Victoria 1961 1962 Career position - Officer Commanding, R.A.A.F. Base, Laverton, Victoria 1963 1966 Career position - Staff Officer, Telecommunication Engineering, R.A.A.F. Support Command, Melbourne 1966 1966 Life event - Retired Broken Hill South Ltd (1885 - 1972)

Chief Metallurgist 1922 - 195

 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Commonwealth of Australia (1921 - )

Director, Communications and Radar 1954 - 1959; Officer Commanding, RAAF. Base, Laverton, Victoria 1961 - 1962; Staff Officer, Telecommunication Engineering, R.A.A.F. Support Command, Melbourne 1963 - 1966

Wikidata

 Pither, Alfred George (19081016-19710702)

Trove

 'Pither, Alfred George (George)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Pither, Alfred George (George) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book Section: Pither, Alfred George (1908-1971), air force officer Coulthard-Clark, C.D. Pither, Alfred George (1908-1971), air force officer Melbourne Melbourne University Press 2002 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 16: 1940 - 1980 Pik-Z John Ritchie and Diane Langmore 6-7 Resource: A12372 RAAF Personnel files - All Ranks 1921- CA 35, Department of Air, Central Office; CA 46, Department of Defence [III], Central Office A12372 RAAF Personnel files - All Ranks 1921- National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch Resource: A12372 RAAF Personnel files - All Ranks 1921- CA 35, Department of Air, Central Office; CA 46, Department of Defence [III], Central Office A12372 RAAF Personnel files - All Ranks 1921- National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch Journal Article: The "Bailey boys": the University of Sydney and the training of radar officers Fielder-Gill, Walter The "Bailey boys": the University of Sydney and the training of radar officers 1999 Historical Records of Australian Science 12 4 469-77 Journal Article: Light-weight air warning radar Minnett, Harry Light-weight air warning radar 1999 Historical Records of Australian Science 12 4 457-67 Journal Article: Radar and the bombing of Darwin Minnett, Harry Radar and the bombing of Darwin 1999 Historical Records of Australian Science 12 4 428-55