Mr. Beall describes being mistaken for an escaped prisoner near the POW camp in Kananaskis, Alberta, and being shot at by two members of the Home Guard.
Escorted overseas by HMS Rodney
Mr. Beall describes having his vessel, the Georgik, and one other troop ship escorted to Scotland by the battleship, HMS Rodney.
CH and CHL radar systems
Mr. Beall compares the two radar systems that the British used, CH for long range and CHL for lower level detection. He mentions his posting to a CH station on the Isle of Wight.
German phosphorous bombs
Mr. Beall describes how Germany bombed British cropland with bombs filled with phosphorous impregnated paper, which would theoretically set fire to crops.
GCI and IFF radar
Mr. Beall describes learning about
GCI (Ground Control Interception) and
IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) radar systems, and explains their respective functions and interaction in detail.
Mine detection in the Suez Canal
Mr. Beall describes how the Suez Canal would be covered each night with netting. Holes in the netting would then reveal where German mines had been dropped overnight.
Reassignment a mixed blessing
Mr. Beall describes being given the responsibility for sighting all of the
GCI (Ground Control Interception) radars in North Africa. As important as his task was, he felt resentment from the ground troops because in his job he avoided the front lines.
Scavenging German Electronics
Mr. Beall describes spare part shortages and using scavenged parts from abandoned German electronic equipment to help maintain his equipment.
You can't judge a book...
Mr. Beall describes having to deliver a British diplomatic bag while in Ankara, Turkey. It's a canvas sack which he feels is more vulnerable than the flashy American leather valises he'd seen. His contact assures him that the British bags are better.