Francis Jones (physicist)
Encyclopedia
Francis "Frank" Edgar Jones, FRS, MBE (16 Jan 1914 - 10 April 1988) was a British physicist who co-developed the OBOE
blind bombing system.
He was born in Wolverhampton
, the son of a teacher. In 1921 the family moved to Dagenham
, Essex, where he attended the Royal Liberty School
at Romford
.
During World War II Jones worked in the Telecommunications Research Establishment
(TRE) and collaborated with Alec Harley Reeves
to develop the Oboe
blind bombing system. After the war he directed investigations in the Basic Research Division of TRE on the detection and properties of infra-red and millimetre-wave radiation. He also made very accurate measurements of propagation velocity of electro-magnetic radiation at radio frequencies and studied applications of radar in meteorology. He became Deputy Head of the Division (later renamed the Physics Department, Royal Radar Establishment)
In 1953, as Chief Scientific Officer and Deputy Director, Royal Aircraft Establishment
(Farnborough), he initiated joint rocket programme with Royal Society for exploration of upper atmosphere and, together with Desmond King-Hele
, studied the orbits of artificial satellites. In 1957 he was co-author with R.A. Smith and R.P. Chasmar of The Detection and Measurement of Infra-Red Radiation.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1969. He was awarded an MBE
in 1945.
Oboe (navigation)
Oboe was a British aerial blind bombing targeting system in World War II, based on radio transponder technology. Oboe accurately measured the distance to an aircraft, and gave the pilot guidance on whether or not they were flying along a pre-selected circular route. The route was only 35 yards...
blind bombing system.
He was born in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, the son of a teacher. In 1921 the family moved to Dagenham
Dagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
, Essex, where he attended the Royal Liberty School
Royal Liberty School
The Royal Liberty School, once a traditional English grammar school, now a state comprehensive boys senior school in Gidea Park in the London Borough of Havering in east London, United Kingdom.-Admissions:...
at Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
.
During World War II Jones worked in the Telecommunications Research Establishment
Telecommunications Research Establishment
The Telecommunications Research Establishment was the main United Kingdom research and development organization for radio navigation, radar, infra-red detection for heat seeking missiles, and related work for the Royal Air Force during World War II and the years that followed. The name was...
(TRE) and collaborated with Alec Harley Reeves
Alec Reeves
Alec Harley Reeves, CBE was a British scientist best known for his invention of pulse-code modulation . He was awarded 82 patents.-Early life:...
to develop the Oboe
Oboe (navigation)
Oboe was a British aerial blind bombing targeting system in World War II, based on radio transponder technology. Oboe accurately measured the distance to an aircraft, and gave the pilot guidance on whether or not they were flying along a pre-selected circular route. The route was only 35 yards...
blind bombing system. After the war he directed investigations in the Basic Research Division of TRE on the detection and properties of infra-red and millimetre-wave radiation. He also made very accurate measurements of propagation velocity of electro-magnetic radiation at radio frequencies and studied applications of radar in meteorology. He became Deputy Head of the Division (later renamed the Physics Department, Royal Radar Establishment)
In 1953, as Chief Scientific Officer and Deputy Director, Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
(Farnborough), he initiated joint rocket programme with Royal Society for exploration of upper atmosphere and, together with Desmond King-Hele
Desmond King-Hele
Desmond George King-Hele is a British physicist and author. In 1957, together with Doreen Gilmour, and as part of the Guided Weapons department of Royal Aircraft Establishment, he wrote a report proposing the use of the Blue Streak missile and Black Knight as a satellite launcher...
, studied the orbits of artificial satellites. In 1957 he was co-author with R.A. Smith and R.P. Chasmar of The Detection and Measurement of Infra-Red Radiation.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1969. He was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 1945.