OPANA RADAR SITE DESIGNATED AS AN IEEE HISTORICAL MILESTONE

By Jim V. Leonard, P.E.

On 23 February 2000, the Opana Radar Site was designated as an IEEE Historical Milestone. The IEEE Historical Milestone Plaque was installed in a small park on the grounds of the Turtle Bay Hilton, Kuhuku, Hawaii. This event was the culmination of over 12 years of effort by many dedicated IEEE members.  Their efforts are highlighted below.

In 1988, the first application to the IEEE History Center was submitted. When considered by the IEEE History Committee in 1990, it was turned down because it (the RADAR) "didn’t work". But, in reality, it did work! The Westinghouse-built SCR-270B RADAR was set up on the Opana Peak on the North Shore of Oahu. It was being operated by two U.S. Army Privates: Joe Lockhart and George Elliott. At about 0700 hours on 7 December 1941, they tracked and plotted the course of the incoming Japanese aircraft for about one-half hour. They phoned in their report to a temporary information center at Fort Schafter. The Lieutenant on duty told them to "Forget it, don’t worry about it." He thought it was a flight of B-17’s coming in from California. The fact that the U.S. Army did not respond to the warning given by this RADAR was not because the RADAR didn’t work, it was because the U.S. Army did not have the proper procedures in place to take advantage of this of this new technology marvel.

At the request of the Hawaii Section IEEE in 1999, Paul Kostek [then President of IEEE-USA and President-Elect of the Aerospace and Electronics Systems Society (AESS)], sent out a broadcast email in search of a volunteer to assist the Hawaii Section with their efforts to have the Opana RADAR Site designated an IEEE Historical Milestone. Jim Leonard, a member of the AESS Board of Governors, volunteered for the assignment. Leonard contacted Fred Kobashikawa, Hawaii Section Chair, for background information, and also George Curtis, the history chairman of the Hawaii Section, who had helped to prepare the paperwork for the original 1988 proposal.

After preparing the necessary application documents, Leonard took them to the AESS Board of Governors meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on 1 September 1999. There, the AESS BoG discussed the proposal. Professor Ed Reedy, Georgia Tech, a long time RADAR expert and Senior Past President of AESS, stated that the SCR-270B was on the leading edge of technology during this era. Leonard then met with Fred Kobashikawa and Paul Kostek at the IEEE-USA Professional Development Conference in Dallas, Texas. Leonard and Kobashikawa signed the forms, Paul Kostek signed the accompanying letters, and all were submitted to Mike Geselowitz, Director of the IEEE History Center.

Leonard called the Turtle Bay Hilton to request space for an IEEE Historical Plaque next to the National Parks Service Plaque. The National Parks Plaque features storyboard relating to the infamous events of 7 December 1941.  Hotel General Manager, John G. Elford, agreed to Leonard's request. He also suggested that Dan Martinez, responsible for the Arizona Memorial and one who helped with the National Parks Plaque, be contacted. Martinez explained that the markers were placed on the grounds of the Turtle Bay Hilton because the actual site is being used for a Regional Relay Facility for Diplomatic Communications and is off limits to the public.

The IEEE History Committee met at IEEE Sections Congress '99 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 9 October 1999 to finalize the wording on the plaque. Committee members Charles R. Wright and John Martin worked with Leonard jotting down ideas and wordsmithing until a final text was agreed upon:

OPANA RADAR SITE

On December 7, 1941, an SCR-270B RADAR located at this site tracked incoming Japanese aircraft for over 30 minutes until they were obscured by the island ground clutter. This was the first wartime use by the United States Military, and led to its successful application throughout the theater.

February, 2000

Mike Geselowitz took the application with the above wording to the IEEE Board of Directors meeting in November at Snowmass, Utah. The IEEE Board of Directors approved the application and Gesleowitz sent an official IEEE letter to Fred Kobashikawa informing him of the Opana RADAR Site's designation as an IEEE Milestone in Electrical Engineering and Computing. A copy of this letter appears in the January 2000, issue of SYSTEMS magazine

Leonard paid a special visit to Capitol Hill in early December to meet with the legislative assistants of the two Senators and two Congressmen from Hawaii. Legislative Assistant Ann Stewart, from Congresswoman Patsy Mink’s office, furnished Leonard with a letter from the Congresswoman commending the IEEE for designating the site. Jim read this letter during his dedication speech on 23 February 2000.

At the same time, Leonard requested -- through the office of his Congressman, Jim Talent, Second District of Missouri -- that an American Flag be flown over the United States of America Capitol Building on 7 December 1999, in commemoration of the IEEE designation of the Opana RADAR Site as an IEEE Historical milestone. Kara Vlasity, legislative assistant to Congressman Talent executed the request. The American Flag was presented to Fred Kobasikawa, representing the Hawaii Section, at the Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies National Engineers Week Banquet, 25 February, 2000 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The ceremony to dedicate the Opana RADAR Site as an IEEE Historical Milestone was held at the Turtle Bay Hilton on 23 February 2000 commencing at 10:00 AM. Hilton manager John Elford arranged for a concrete pedestal to be set in the ground to the left of the storyboard. The IEEE plaque is mounted upon this pedestal. He also arranged for seating at the small park area on hotel grounds and provided refreshments. Fred Kobashikawa was the master of ceremonies. He introduced the event and provided the agenda. Jim Leonard then made the dedication speech. He was followed by Stephen Johnston (IEEE, RADAR Engineer, Historian) who related the events of the day and subsequent history of RADAR in WW II. With the aid of Paul Kostek (President of AESS) and Cleon Anderson (IEEE Director Region 6), Mr. John Elford unveiled the plaque. This was followed by remarks by Bill Slattery (IEEE RADAR Engineer) whose father had worked on the early development of RADAR prior to WWII. George Curtis, Hawaii Section Historian, then made a few remarks about the earlier attempt to make this an IEEE Historical Milestone. He thanked Jim Leonard for making the second try a success.

Following the ceremony, a small group of IEEE members were taken up to the actual site by U.S. Navy Chief David Dettor. They were told not to take pictures of the facility. They did, however, take photos of the marker, looking in the direction of the sea. 23 February 2000, is a memorable date for the Hawaii Section and plans are in the offing to make this an annual celebration.

IEEE-USA | IEEE | IEEE History Center

James Leonard is the 2001 (Senior) Member-at-Large on the IEEE-USA Board of Directors and 2002 IEEE-USA President-Elect.

Copyright © 2000 IEEE.
Permission to copy granted for non-commercial uses with appropriate attribution.