Herbert Meyer's role in the war, related to his son only after about 50 years

Herbert Meyer was born in Cologne in 1911 of Jewish heritage. His PhD studies in organic chemistry were disrupted in the late 1930s, but he managed to get his PhD in only two years at the University of Cologne and escaped to England in 1939. He applied to be a pilot in the RAF but was rejected as still a German national. He managed to gain employment at Phillip Mineral and Chemical corporation at Brimsdown, Enfield where he was in charge of research on phosphorescent chemicals (phosphors) used to coat cathode ray screens which light up to produce the pictures on TV, oscilloscope or radar screens. He developed a machine for automated testing of large numbers of novel materials to improve the performance of the screens. He rarely ever spoke about his wartime experiences, but as an old man he once proudly mentioned his unlikely role in the Battle of Britain.

He said that although he had failed to become a pilot, during the war, he was the only civilian in Britain to hold a pass in to any military base in the country! This was because he was supplying screens for radar with improved phosphors which glowed for longer. This allowed operators of radar to follow the flight of enemy bombers continuously as lines rather than as a series of flashes which faded until the next flash appeared.

I did not pay much attention at the time although the unique permit did seem very strange. It was clarified years later (after his death) when I saw a TV programme on the Battle of Britain which explained that radar information on enemy bombers heading to bomb airfields with fighter planes on the ground was sent to a central control room at Uxbridge RAF, from which a message to 'Scramble' was issued just in time to get the fighters airborne and so preserve ther fighter squadrons until they were able to carry the fight to the enemy. It seems likely that the quality of the radar data was critical to carry out these rapid escapes of pilots and planes, which in the long run led to victory in the Battle of Britain. Only then did I realise the potential importance of my father's work and his unique military pass.

From the information I have, I do not know if his work and his pass was valid during the Battle of Britain or only later during the war. Presumably the MOD may retain information on when the pass was issued, but it may have been/still be an official secret.