William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 11-16-15 
After the Nazis took power in Germany, but before World War II started the British heard rumors that they had a “death ray” capable of destroying whole towns. They felt it imperative to make their own. They sent radio waves at solid objects. They soon learned a death ray was a pretty stupid concept. The radio waves, however, were just peachy at detecting things and determining their range. Hence R(adio)A(nd)D(etection)A(nd)R(anging) came about. The Nazis, ironically, never matched the Allies with regard to radar.