Aircraft technical Basics: TM 1-409, Aircraft Armament and Pyrotechnics, 1941: XIV. - Duties of Armament Officer

Section XIV - DUTIES OF ARMAMENT OFFICER

95. Duties of armament officer.-a. Principal duties.-(1) The armament officer is responsible to the commander that all tactical airplanes are at all times ready to perform their tactical missions under full military load, and that all pilots are familiar with and capable of operating the armament equipment on the tactical airplanes.

(2) He is responsible for familiarization on his own part, as well as his personnel, with the latest development, of aircraft armament, equipment, and technique, together with the proper performance of service tests of armament. equipment.

(3) He will cooperate at all times with operations and engineering in order that the War Department training directive is completed. In this connection, all necessary armament maintenance work and inspections will be done, if possible, when the airplane is undergoing periodic inspections, or is out of commission for other reason.

b. Specific responsibilities.-(1) Compliance with all Air Corps technical, ordnance, and other orders applying to his work.

(2) Compliance with post (or local) orders, either ordnance, armament, or senior armament officer.

(3) Keeping of all forms, records, service test reports, and inspection reports.

(4) Inauguration of all unsatisfactory reports pertaining to his equipment.

(5) Writing of all quarterly requisitions for standard equipment and supplies.

(6) Requisition, inspection, and report of expenditure of ammunition, bombs, pyrotechnics, chemicals, and chemical equipment.

(7) Safeguarding, care, maintenance, and proper storage of all armament equipment and supplies.

(8) That all personnel in his department are properly trained in their duties, and that replacement armorers are trained in advance of their need as replacements, insofar as it is practicable.

(9) That all safety requirements are known, understood, and adhered to, both by his armament personnel and by the entire unit.

(10) That proper supervision is exercised in connection with and during the fuzing and loading into or on the airplane of all bombs, chemicals, and ammunition.

(11) Periodic gas mask drills and for instruction in same, where no chemical officer is present.

(12) Instruction in chemical warfare and pertinent drills.

(13) Conduct of the periodic chemical warfare schools when required by GHQ.

Note.-Technical Orders at present specify that the installation (and routine removal) of flares in aircraft is a function of the engineering department.

(14) Requisition, expenditure reports, and scoring of all tow targets used in training.

c. Miscellaneous duties.-The armament officer will

(1) Act as technical adviser to the unit commanding officer in all matters pertaining to the use of armament equipment.

(2) Have published the necessary notices when firing or bombing will occur on the range.

(3) Keep coordinated with the next larger unit armament officer as to the amount of training to be given pilots and enlisted personnel, the periods when the range will be available to his unit, and any other matters which require coordination with other units.

(4) Detail all range guards and scoring details for gunnery or bombing on the range.

(5) Keep the operations officer (or flight commanders) informed at all times as to the status and availability of equipment and ammunition (including bombs and chemicals).

(6) Supervise all work in connection with the fuzing and loading of bombs, the loading of ammunition and chemicals, and will insist that all safety precautions are strictly followed.

(7) At stations where skeet is possible, be in direct charge of the skeet range and necessarily function as supervisor and director in such training for his unit.

(8) Be responsible for and will conduct and supervise all pistol practice engaged in by members of his organization. He will verify the scores and assure that all methods of procedure and safety precautions are adhered to.