| Description | Blackett became known as the 'virtual founder' of O.R studies in Britain because of the great impetus given to the subject by the outbreak of the war and the many new weapons, techniques and devices then rapidly being introduced. His early studies of radar for A.A. Command (D.83) led to the development of an O.R. unit for Coastal Command, and then to his appointment as C.A.O.R and D.N.O.R at the Admiralty, where he worked especially on convoys and the anti U-boat campaign (se D.78-81 and D.84).
Blackett lectured extensively on the subject to Service personnel throughout the Second World War. After the War, he continued to lecture, though less frequently, and also wrote up some of his material for general publication. He returned to the subject on several occasions, notably in 1961 (see D.109) and at the end of his life (see D.110).
See also J.54, J.60 for references to Blackett's service at the Admiralty on Operational Research.
The material is presented as follows:
D.83-96 Papers, Reports, lectures during the Second World War
D.97-112 Lectures and writings after the war
D.113-125 Correspondence on O.R., 1944-1974 |