World War II, one of the most devastating conflicts in human history, was marked by unprecedented technological and scientific advancements. Historical accounts usually focus on the scariest and most violent breakthroughs, such as the first use of rockets in V1 and V2 weapons or the atom bomb. However, there are others that have helped shape the modern world for the better. The art of technical writing exploded with the onslaught of innovative technology that a large number of people need to learn to use quickly. In fact, most experts consider the WWII era as the beginning of modern tech writing as a profession. We can still see examples of WWII technical writing: videos showing American Airmen using targeting equipment in B24 bombers, tech manuals for radar equipment, and medical field guides for new medicines.
During the war, technical communications played a key role in advancing scientific knowledge while ensuring inexperienced users understood how to handle unfamiliar or dangerous technology. The world understood how professional writers could not only communicate standardized information, but keep users engaged with it. Tech communicators partnered with SMEs to write patents, proposals, and PSAs.
While the contributions of soldiers, strategists, and scientists are widely recognized, the role of technical writing in the Allied victory is often overlooked. Technical writing, the practice of documenting complex information clearly and accurately, proved essential in the development, deployment, and operation of new technologies and strategies.
Radar
The rapid technological advancements during World War II, such as radar (which stands for “Radio Detection and Ranging”), required precise documentation to ensure they could be effectively developed and utilized. Technical writers played a crucial role in translating complex scientific and engineering concepts into practical instructions and manuals accessible to military personnel and factory workers alike.
The development of radar technology was a game-changer in the war. First used during the Battle of Britain, we now use it to direct airport traffic and help track and predict weather patterns. Radar helped Britain and the Allies repel the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, using an army of engineers, maintenance crews, and operators to run, maintain, and interpret it. All these people needed quick and effective training during an incredibly stressful time.
Technical writers documented the intricate details of radar operation and maintenance, making it possible for technicians to install and repair radar systems in the field. This ensured that radar could be deployed widely and maintained effectively, giving the Allies a significant advantage in detecting enemy aircraft and ships.
Computers
Used by Bletchley Park codebreakers to break the Enigma code, the first modern computer was Colossus, built in 1943. It was designed and built at the Post Office Research Laboratories at Dollis Hill in North London. The team, led by Dr. Tommy Flowers created it for the code-breaking center at Bletchley Park to help break the German Lorenz codes, which were even more difficult to crack than the Enigma codes. Colossus did not have a major direct impact on the evolution of computers due to its high secrecy —nearly all the machinery and documentation were destroyed immediately after the war. However, individuals actively involved with its creation understood the technology’s future possibilities and took that with them into their civilian jobs.
About the same time, another technological breakthrough was happening in the US. The ENIAC (which stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer) was built between 1943 and 1946 at the Moore School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. Description of the ENIAC and Comments on Electronic Computing Machines was distributed among several government departments and specialists, and it was one of the first descriptive manuals about computing for non-specialized audiences. Two of the authors, John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, were the engineers who built the computer. Their manual described and defined ENIAC in terms accessible to both mathematicians and liaisons in the military. After the war was over, the US government made ENIAC available to all civilians. ENIAC was key to the evolution of computers, proving that a large electronic digital machine was viable and useful. The documentation of these technologies enabled continued research and development, leading to the rapid technological progress in the decades following the war.
Medicine
The policies in place during the war and aftermath greatly affected patents. To prevent war-related inventions from leaking to Axis powers, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) implemented a program of secrecy that halted the filings of 11,000 patent applications. As you can imagine, this significantly hampered discovery, slowed commercialization of inventions after the war, and temporarily restricted advancement in technological communications. However, these USPTO orders mainly concentrated on weapons and communication. Patents related to medicines weren’t as heavily targeted, so developing and marketing them was easier.
Many common medical strategies we take for granted today, such as blood plasma transfusion and antibiotics, were either pioneered during WWII or collectively adopted due to the war effort. The Allies’ use of plasma blood transfusions was a huge improvement over the Axis version, which required that a live donor be present during the transfusion. This Allied advancement undoubtedly saved thousands of lives. However, this life-saving process would have been useless if not for documentation on properly transporting, storing, and using it.
Though Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, he didn’t file its patent until 1945, making the antibiotic available to the general public. Until then, it was only available to the troops during the war. A post-war public information effort after the war generated public awareness, circulating informational posters and PSAs filmed through the Signal Corps.
Jet Airplanes
English engineer Frank Whittle filed a patent for the jet engine in 1930. Germany was the first to fly jet engines in 1939, five days before they invaded Poland. Jet engines equipped planes with more speed and power than propeller engines, but were also more difficult to handle. To help Allied pilots fly their new jets successfully and safely, technical writers and communicators used a technique called transmedia storytelling, a precursor to day’s multimedia training and eLearning. Transmedia storytelling employed mixed media across multiple platforms to engage its audience. It was used in training manuals and safety notices for new WWII recruits, capturing their attention by teaching essential information in a meaningful and memorable way.
Before the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941, the US Army Air Corps had about 4500 pilots, 2000 of which were on active duty. After joining the Allies in the war, the US very quickly increased the number of aircrew and ground crew. By the end of the war, 435,000 pilots had been trained – and that doesn’t include the thousands of Navy and Marine Corps aviators trained. These pilots had to undergo training fast and safely, so enlisted writers and cartoonists created informative, engaging, and accessible information on aircraft safety. These writers developed and implemented transmedia storytelling to make the new airplane technology more accessible.
One of the best-known cartoonists was Robert C. Osborn, who created over 2,000 aircraft safety posters between 1942 and 1945. Osborn interviewed SMEs, toured training facilities, and even trained as a pilot and attended missions. Thanks to his extensive research, he gained a comprehensive knowledge of aircraft safety procedures and understood how pilots best retained the information. Osborn used this information to create colorful, attention-grabbing, and humorous training manuals. Many of Osborn’s posters and booklets featured the original Dilbert, a “goofball pilot who did everything incorrectly. He also often included Grampaw Pettibone, and experienced but cranky old Navy pilot known as the “Sage of Safety.” Both were used to educate pilots about safety.
Final Thoughts
In addition to the soldiers on the front lines and the scientists in the labs, technical writers were also heroes of World War II. By bridging the gap between complex innovation and practical application, therefore ensuring effective communication, enhancing training, and preserving knowledge for future use, technical writing played a vital role in the war effort. As we look back on this pivotal period in history, it is important to recognize and appreciate the unsung heroes whose words and documentation helped secure victory and shape the modern world.
Related Blogs
Chaucer: A Technical Writing Tale
From Bits to Bolts: Write User Manuals for Hardware and Software
Technical Writing: Principles and Characteristics
Resources
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