WHO was Rebecca? was the question posed by Journal readers after the story carried on May 1, on page 14, about residents in Rebecca Place, Besford, asking for a name change.

The answer has been supplied by Graham Evans, clerk to Defford and Besford Parish Council.

He explained: "Rebecca was a Radar homing device which allowed aircraft so equipped to locate a beacon, called Eureka, which would be activated by a person needing assistance.

"In a simple scenario this would be a Battle of Britain pilot who had ejected from his doomed aircraft over the Channel and needed rescue from the water. Normally this would present the needle in the haystack search but with Rebecca he could be located quickly and rescued either by boat or Walrus amphibian aircraft and then returned to his unit or hospitalised as the case might be."

Mr Evans explained the system was also used for dropping supplies, pinpointing landing zones for paratroopers or gliders and was still currently used extensively world-wide in rescue operations.

Other names developed at Defford in conjunction with Malvern included Gee, Oboe, Monica., Moonshine, Village Inn, Window, Mandril. Boozer and Walter, and Mr Evans said: "These names were purposely obscure to prevent the Axis powers being able to deduce the nature of the Radar even though they might discover the name itself."

He added: "Like most people, I have only in the last few years become aware of the fascinating history of the old airfield tucked away in the Worcestershire countryside. It has only been possible due to the relaxation of national secret information. Even though my father worked at Defford, and latterly Pershore, all had signed the official secrets act. Security was so tight during the war that Defford was never discovered and never bombed."