Wehrpass Nachtjagd Nachrichten specialist Wien-Mauer Y-Gerät

(D22099)
Eduard Sykora, Corporal (Obergefreiter) plane spotter Luftwaffe communcation units „Nachtjagd“

Wehrpass, 14.8.40. Some pages loose due to rusted staples.

Tailor born 1901 in Wien Austria. Military examination 20.1.42 indicating he could become a „Flugmelder“ plane spotter. 1943 he was after special training a technician working with special communication equipment „Spezialpersonal der Luftnachrichten-Truppe“. He served: Jan.-Apr.42 with Luftgau-Nachrichten-Regiment 7 in Augsburg; Apr.-Nov.42 with Kleine-Luftmelde-Sammelstelle Luftgau XI active in Germany; Nov.-Dec.42 with Luftgau-Nachrichten-Regiment 11 in Germany; Dec.42-Mar.43 with Flugmelde-Reserve-Kompanie 11 in Germany; Mar.43 again with Luftgau-Nachrichten-Regiment 11 in Germany; Mar.-Apr.43 special training with Luftnachrichten-Versuchs-Regiment(mot). May 43-Dec.44 he was active with Luftnachrichten-Ausbaukompanie 1 supporting „Nachtjagd“ night-hunting planes in Germany. His unit was based in a secret bunker complex in Mauer near Wien Austria part of the Luftwaffe south warning system. Uduard was specialized personell for the secret „Y-Gerät“ (also known as Wotan II): Y-Gerät used a single narrow beam pointed over the target, similar to earlier beam systems, transmitting a modulated radio signal. The system used a transponder (Fug 28a) that received the signal from the beam and immediately re-transmitted it back to the ground station. The ground station listened for the return signal and compared the phase of its modulation to the transmitted signal. This is an accurate way of measuring the transit time of the signal, and hence the distance to the aircraft. Coupled with the direction of the beam (adjusted for a maximum return signal), the bomber’s position could be established with considerable accuracy. The bombers did not have to track the beam, instead the ground controllers could calculate it and then give radio instructions to the pilot to correct the flight path.