Plane Spotting
Airplane spotting is a hobby that has been in existence
since airplanes were invented. However, during World War II, it became a matter
of life and death. Spotters were civilian volunteers who were trained to
identify planes (and their associated country), and to determine where they
were headed.
After the attack at Pearl Harbor, the Army Air Force (at that
time the Army and the Air Force were one organization) created the Ground
Observer Corps in an attempt to prevent future attacks. At their peak, the GOC
has over a million and a half members. Posts were manned around the clock,
mostly along the U.S. coasts. Some of the posts were as simple as a chair and
an umbrella at the top of a bluff to a special built structure.
Observers needed a telephone, a set of binoculars, and a pad
of flash message forms. Most important was the official identification book
that included photographs and silhouette drawings of both Axis and Allied war
planes. When an airplane was seen or heard, the observer recorded as much information
as possible, and then called it in to an Army Filter Center.
Not everyone was cut out to be an observer. Passing a strict
training course was required. Students had to identify airplane models that
were 1/72 size from thirty feet away. Doesn’t sound like a lot, but many were
unable to do it. Over 500,000 models were used in classes around the country, and
the government called on children and model airplane enthusiasts to fill the
need.
Playing cards were manufactured by various toy companies,
and charts were printed in comic books, newspapers and magazines. Coca-Cola
offered a manual called “Know Your Planes,” and Wonder Bread offered an
Aircraft Spotter Dial.
Would you have fit the bill as a Ground Observer?
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