Defending the NationPart II

Press ‘Esc’ at any time to end the presentation.

Observers had been used by the Navy during World War

One to look out for enemy ships and planes.

As the use of aeroplanes became more widespread during

and after the war, the responsibility of spotting and

identifying aircraft was given to the army.

Photograph courtesy of M. Williams

What equipment do you believe was needed by the Observer Corps to identify and track enemy aircraft?

During the mid 1930’s, with the threat of Fascism in Italy and

the rise of the Nazis in Germany, volunteers were drafted into

the Observer Corps and were given training in the basic

equipment needed to identify and track enemy aircraft.

Binoculars

A Field Telephone

Range Finding Equipment

An aircraft recognition booklet

What would have been the purpose of each of these items?

By the time of the Battle of Britain 30,000 Observers, many of

whom were ex-service men and women, manned over 1,000

posts across the U.K.

These 1,000 posts reported to 32 information receiving

centres.If the Observers were spread equally amongst the 1,000

Observer Posts, how many would be at each one?

If an equal number of posts reported to each Information

receiving Centre, roughly how many posts reported to each

one?

Radar was quite effective in telling R.A.F Stations how far

away enemy aircraft were, but it was not as accurate

when predicting their altitude (how high up planes were).

The Observer Corps therefore carefully calculated the

altitude of enemy formations as soon as they were in

sight of land. They also identified the type and number of

aircraft that made up enemy formations using aircraft

recognition charts.Images courtesy of the Battle of Britain Historical Society

Information from the Observer Corps helped R.A.F. Pilots

immensely as they would now know roughly how high

they had to climb to meet the Luftwaffe, as well as the

type and number of planes they were going to encounter.

“Special constables who were members of the Observer

Corps spent many hours of their spare time watching from

hill-tops and plotting in stuffy rooms. …Their work was

vital. Where radar ended at the coast the whole weight of

responsibility for accurate records of aircraft movement’s

lay with the Observer Corps and its telephone network.”

Derek Wood and Derek Dempster, The Narrow Margin, (1961)

The Battle of Britain Historical Society

One of the problems of the Radar Stations, was that their beams were directed out to sea and away from the coast. This was fine, as radar could pick up and track hostile aircraft as soon as they were leaving the French coast and making their way across the Channel. But, as soon as they were over the English coast, the enemy was no longer in the hands of radar. Of course, radar could not detect how many aircraft there were, nor could they supply any information as to type and exact height. This task was left to a band of men, looking skywards and visually making a 'sighting' and reporting their findings to a central command post. This band of highly trained and skilled men who were to be known as The Observer Corps.

Alan L. Putland 2003. Battle of Britain Historical Society

According to this source, why was the work of The Observer Corps so vital in the defence of Great Britain?

If observers gave the height of the enemy as 5,000 feet when in fact they were 8,000 feet, because it meant that when the British fighters were airborne and searching for the enemy, they could easily be "jumped" on by hostile fighter escorts because they had not been at the correct height to meet the formation. The observers would give the type of aircraft detected by its name, Heinkel III, Junkers 88's etc. They did not have to count every single aircraft, this would take up too much valuable time, they had been trained to observe a formation and be able to accurately estimate its strength and they would report this strength as "50 plus" or "100 plus". If any fighter escort could be visually seen, this may be reported, but generally, fighter escorts flew much higher than the bomber formation that they were protecting. Alan L. Putland 2003. Battle of Britain Historical Society

What were the potential problems associated with the work of the Observer Corps according to this source?

In 1941 the word Royal was added to the

Observer Corps title. Why do you think this

was?

Overall, how important a role do you think

Observer Corps played in defending the

nation during:

* The Battle of Britain

* The Luftwaffe bombing raids that took

place over towns and cities across the U.K.?

The Observer Corps in Wales. This photograph was taken in a quarry near Usk Road, South East

WalesClick here for your task

ENDPhotograph courtesy of Torfaen Museum Trust

Imagine that you are a member of the Observer Corps in Wales during The Battle of Britain. Can you recognise these planes?

Label each and then use the ‘Check’ button to see if you are right.

Hawker Hurricane

Check Labels

How many did you get right?

Hawker Hurricane Supermarine

Spitfire

Junkers-Ju 87 (Stuka)

Messerschmitt Me 109

Dornier Do 17 Z