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| Sir Edward Lewis, Decca's CEO. (From the collection of Walter Blanchard) |
DECCA - KEY PEOPLE
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| Sir Edward Lewis, Decca's CEO. (From the collection of Walter Blanchard) |
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| Harvey Schwarz and Bill O'Brien receiving their respective awards. (From the collection of Walter Blanchard) |
The following letter was sent from A.L.Buchanan to John Molloy-Vickers. Racal-Decca
Marine Navigation Limited
England.
Telephone: 081-942 7711 Telex, 22891 Fax: 081.3361158Mr. J. Molloy-Vickers
Racal Decca Canada Limited
7510 Airport Road
Mississauga Ontario
L4T 2H5
Canada21 July 1994
Dear John,
As you may be aware, it was 50 years ago that the Decca Navigator System, under the code name QM, was used to define the channels to be swept by the minesweepers to enable the invasion fleets to successfully negotiate the minefields and help land the Allied forces on the Normandy beaches on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Some of the leading vessels of these flotillas also used QM.
The Decca Navigator had been developed during the war and there is little doubt that without QM, D-Day would have even been bloodier.
Since then, the Decca Navigator system has gone on to be the most widely used navigational system in Europe and many other parts of the world, contributing to improved livelihoods for fishermen, improving safety of life at sea and actually assisting in saving many lives. It has made its mark in many fields and has become a household name to every mariner.
To recognise. this landmark, we have had 500 First Day Covers produced with the new D-Day stamps. Enclosed herewith please find your own numbered and. personalised cover.
Yours sincerely,
A.L.Buchanan
Sir Ernest Harrison, former Chairman of Racal, died in mid February 2009 at the age of 82. He was originally an accountant with the young Racal company and pushed them to take on the HF receiver that became the basis of Racal Communications and lead ultimately to the whole Racal Group that acquired Decca in 1980 and then pushed on to set up the second cellular carrier in the UK in 1984. That division, Vodafone, became the giant that spawned Verizon Wireless and several other carriers. Always a gambler, he was quick to make a decision and keen to join in the fun at the end of a long day over drinks and cards.
Contributors and Credits:1) Walter Blanchard <(wblanch(at)ntlworld.com>
2) David Jones <dsjjones(at)bellsouth.net>Feb 26/09
