MOORE PARK ANTI-AIRCRAFT SEARCHLIGHT BATTERY
SYDNEY, NSW DURING WW2

The men at Moore Park Anti-aircraft Searchlight Battery lived in tents. Cooking was done in the open on improvised cooking facilities. They took part in air co-op and manning drills on most nights. At the end of the night's training two sentries were posted to guard the equipment.

The Searchlight battery was located on Mount Steel one of several small hills in Moore Park. It was a very public area and many inquisitive people would be attracted to the location particularly at night when the searchlight was being used during air co-op or manning drills. It was difficult for the Detachment Commander (DC) to ensure that the searchlight crew was not distracted. The 9 man detachment were scattered across their position which made it difficult for the the DC to control the public. The Gen Set operator was usually about 80 yards from the Projector Crew. The DC was usually near the Projector Crew. The 3 man crew of the Sound Locator and the two Spotters were always in a remote location.

The CSIR Radiophysics Laboratory at Sydney University produced a Search Light Control (SLC) apparatus (radar) in early December 1941. After a series of tests and demonstrations, the first SLC apparatus became operational at Moore Park Searchlight battery in January 1942.

REFERENCES

"Expose - A History of Searchlights in WWII"
by Noel F. Hill

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 1 January 2004

This page last updated 25 January 2020