Joe Airey
British telecommunications engineer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Enoch Airey MBE (25 August 1894 – 10 February 1976) was a British telecommunications engineer. He became Senior Technical Officer for the Telecommunications Research Establishment.
Joseph Enoch Airey OBE | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 25 August 1894 |
| Died | 10 February 1976 (aged 81) Poole |
| Occupation | Engineer |
Life
Airey was born in Oldham, Lancashire on 25 August 1894. He joined Robert Watson-Watt in 1924, and was an original member of the radar team,[1] responsible for masts and support equipment. He was Senior Technical Officer at Telecommunications Research Establishment. Alongside Arnold Wilkins, Airey is credited with having discovered Bawdsey Manor, Ordfordnessas a site for the Air Ministry department that was significant in the history of radar.[2] In his book "Three Steps to Victory" Robert Watson-Watt proclaims Joe Airey's greatest constructional achievement as the installation of a mast atop the Great Pyramid at Cheops.[3] During World War I, Airey was a member of the Dunsterforce in the Persia and the Middle East. By the time of his retirement, he was Station Engineer at the Royal Radar Establishment. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services by King George VI in his Birthday Honours on 14 June 1945.[4] Airey died in Poole Dorset on 10 February 1976.
