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NASHVILLE, TN--Feb 2, 1999--The man who first bounced a radar signal off the moon--John DeWitt Jr, N4CBC--died January 25--53 years to the day after making radio history. DeWitt, 92, reportedly died at his home in Nashville. Moonbounce, or EME, subsequently became a popular Amateur Radio operating mode among some VHF and UHF enthusiasts.
A broadcasting pioneer and amateur astronomer, DeWitt first came up with the idea of bouncing a radar signal off the moon in 1940. His earlier amateur attempts unsuccessful, DeWitt finally got the chance to bounce a radar signal off the moon courtesy of the US Army. Awaiting discharge following World War II, DeWitt and his Project Diana team--named for the Roman moon goddess--got the OK from the War Department to investigate the possibilities of bouncing a radio signal off the moon. At the time, DeWitt was a lieutenant colonel assign to the Signal Corps Laboratories in Ft Monmouth, New Jersey. During the war, DeWitt developed radar for locating mortars and directing counterfire.
Project Diana achieved success on January 10, 1946, when the team detected the radar signals reflected off the moon's surface. The event was trumpeted in the news media of the day as a major achievement, proving that radio waves could penetrate Earth's atmosphere.
DeWitt later returned to Nashville and broadcasting, eventually becoming president of WSM radio here.
Survivors include his wife, Sykes, a son, a daughter, and a stepdaughter. -- from press reports; thanks to Bob McKinley Jr, W2OMR
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