Recognition: Army Air Forces Ground Observer Corps - Identification of Aircraft - VII: Use of the Manual

CHAPTER VII: USE OF THE MANUAL

81. The principal purpose of preceding chapters has been to show the observer where to look to find the distinguishing characteristics of a plane. The ability to spot those characteristics, and by them to identify the plane quickly and almost instinctively, cannot be acquired without repeated plane observation.

82. Unfortunately, it will not be practicable for the student to rely for this purpose exclusively upon the observation of aircraft in flight. Accordingly, he must rely in part upon silhouettes and photographs to gain familiarity with the appearance of the different types.

83. The following pages contain fifty-odd such silhouettes and photographs. The number has been intentionally restricted in recognition of the importance of not trying to learn too many planes at the beginning. The planes selected include only those important United States military and naval planes which, in all probability, the observer will be most frequently called upon to report, and those important enemy planes presently believed capable of attacking this country or furnishing interesting comparisons. Those U. S. planes used as well by the British are so indicated and a few other famous British planes are included largely for the purpose of comparison,

84. Additional selection should be exercised by the observer himself. He should try to learn only two or three planes at a time, not tackling additional ones until the first group is very firmly fixed in his mind, and constantly reviewing those already learned. He should concentrate in the first instance on those which are most likely to appear in his area. The following order of priority in learning is suggested:

a. First learn the U. S. Army and Navy aircraft likely to be seen in your locality. At first thought it might seem more important to be able to identify enemy aircraft than friendly air-craft, but such is not the case. All aircraft unidentified at an Information Center are assumed to be enemy, so it is of the utmost importance that friendly aircraft be properly identified.

b. In certain coastal areas few training planes will be observed. In other areas they may predominate. Seaplanes need not concern observers who are nowhere near the water. Other methods of applying further selectivity to the list of U. S. Army and Navy planes included will occur to observers depending upon their locality.

c. In learning enemy planes, West Coast observers should first concentrate on Jap aircraft and East Coast observers first on German aircraft.

85. The silhouettes are identified by type and nationality, but no descriptions are supplied. Instead, it is suggested that each observer make such notes as he thinks will be helpful to him in the space provided for that purpose.

86. On the reverse side of each page of silhouettes is a photograph of that plane. No identification is given on the photographs them-selves, and it is suggested that the observer use them to test himself from time to time.

87. It is believed that learning will be made easier if these suggestions are followed :

a. Match up those planes that are most alike and fix in your mind the features which distinguish them. A comparison of the German Condor with our B-17, for instance, is very helpful in learning to identify both planes.

b. Draw planes yourself and see how much more readily you will recall their shapes. You won't need artistic ability. Rough sketches or even tracings will serve to fix the characteristics of the plane in your mind.

c. Sharpen your skill by the traditional American method of competition. Invent and play games involving aircraft identification. For instance, a variation on Bingo can be played by preparing a list of names of aircraft for each contestant which are to be checked off as unidentified silhouettes are displayed.

d. Collect and study photographs and silhouettes from other sources, magazines for instance. Remember, however, that it is better to know twenty-five planes well than it is to be vaguely familiar with one hundred. Positive identification is the objective.

88. Above all, the observer should seize every opportunity to observe actual planes in flight, for, as in the case of golf or bridge, a book may tell him how it is done but he will never be successful unless he does it. Many opportunities for the observation of aircraft will arise when the observer is not on duty and he should take full advantage of them. Field glasses, if available, will be an additional help. The British Ground Observers have learned to identify planes, and the constant practice which the Germans have provided them has doubtless hastened their proficiency. There is no reason, however, why the observers of this country, with reasonable diligence, cannot attain the same proficiency and it is of vital importance to air defense that they do so.

89. In closing this chapter, it seems appropriate to quote a British authority on aircraft identification :

It cannot be too often emphasized that recognition is merely the employment of normal faculties and there is nothing mystic or technical about it. The way one ship is picked out from another, or a rook from a pigeon, or one man's dog from the next man's dog, all show at work qualities possessed by every man.