ABOVE: September 4th, 2011 photo of Vincent and Arline Benedetti at Saint James Cathedral in downtown Orlando.
Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory
With a $3.5 million dollar budget, three research facilities, and physicists engaged in unequaled sonar technology for the U.S. Navy, the quiet Underwater Sound Reference Division of the Naval Research Laboratory on Summerlin Avenue, brought high technology and top jobs to the Orlando area.
From the WWII generation of scientists to the space age entrepreneurs of today, the outstanding scientific achievements of the Navy sound lab’s engineers and physicists are recognized internationally. The research and development technology is used by the U.S. Navy to this day.
Learn more about the history of scientific work accomplished at the Bureau of Standards for underwater sound in this excerpt from an oral history interview with the sonar physicist who served as Head of the Anechoic Tank Facility at the United States Naval Research Laboratory, Vincent Benedetti.
LISTEN (5:43)
ABOVE: Photo, description and history of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory – Underwater Sound Reference Division in this article “Navy Lab Serves As One Of Two Such Facilities”, Southside News, December 8, 1977, 1:1.
Robert J. Bobber, Sr.
ABOVE: Physicist Robert J. Bobber, Sr., and the contributions he made to Orlando and to our country are detailed in this February 23, 2009 Orlando Sentinel article.
Bobber wrote the book, Underwater Electrical Acoustic Measurements, which was considered to be the textbook for the Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory. Sonar physicist Vincent Benedetti said, “Bobber was the real hero of the lab and his book was the bible for the lab.” Robert Bobber was considered a hero locally and a scientific leader internationally. Bobber was invited to lecture at MIT and NATO Advanced Study Institute, as well as teaching graduate courses at University of Central Florida and the University of Florida. Learn more about the history of scientific work accomplished at the Bureau of Standards for underwater sound in this excerpt from an oral history interview with the sonar physicist who served as Head of the Anechoic Tank Facility at the United States Naval Research Laboratory, Vincent Benedetti.
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The Benedetti's, Saint James Cathedral
September 4th, 2011 photo of Vincent and Arline Benedetti at Saint James Cathedral in downtown Orlando.
U. S. Naval Research Laboratory
Photo, description and history of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory - Underwater Sound Reference Division in this article "Navy Lab Serves As...
Navy's Underwater Sound Reference Laboratory
Aerial photo of the Navy's Underwater Sound Reference Laboratory and description of the facility, Orlando Sentinel, February 28, 1965. Excerpt: The La...
Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory
Aerial photo of the Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory, mission statement and description of the scientific work at...
Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory
Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory, mission statement and description of the scientific work at the Orlando lab on...
Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory
Photo inside the Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory on Lake Mary Gem in Orlando are detailed in this...
Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory
Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory, mission statement and description of the scientific work at the Orlando lab on...
Naval Research Laboratory Underwater Sound Reference Laboratory
Orlando Morning Sentinel June 17, 1948 announcement: "House Okays $1,120,000. for Orlando Laboratory". For a firsthand account of work at the facility...
Underwater Sound Research Division of the Naval Research Laboratory
"The Orlando laboratory established in 1941, has the world's most complete facilities for underwater sound measurements and is known as the bureau...
Naval Underwater Sound Reference Library
Orange Echoes, Winter 1948, article on the Naval Research Laboratory Underwater Sound Laboratory on Lake Mary Gem in Orlando. Excerpt: Some 60-70 perc...
Underwater Naval Research Laboratory
Photo, description and history of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory - Underwater Sound Reference Division in this article "Navy Lab Serves As...
Physicist Robert J. Bobber, Sr.
Physicist Robert J. Bobber and the contributions he made to Orlando and to our country are detailed in this February 23, 2009...
My Mother, Dlores Pieper worked there for many years. Many fond memories of Robbert Bobber and others.
Dee, thank you for visiting Orlando Memory! We are happy that the post brought back memories of your Mother and her time at the Naval Research Laboratory. If you have any photos of her at work that you’d like us to add, please contact us.