AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION
Sts,—Questions asked recently in the House about German aeroplanes Which have flown close to anti-aircraft guns without being fired at show that some concern is felt about the instructions issued to A.A. gunners, more particularly those in charge of machine-guns, for defence against low-level attack. As a result of promiscuous shooting in the early days of the war, when R.A.F. pilots were shot down by our own anti-aircraft fire, there was naturally a tightening-up of the regulations with regard to firing at aeroplanes. No A.A. gunner can be regarded as efficient unless he has reached a high standard of accuracy in aircraft recognition,
and, whatever may have been the case in 1939, there has been ample time for all concerned to have become efficient by now.
Aircraft recognition can be an exceedingly interesting hobby and one which should, or could, have done much to relieve the boredom and loneliness to which many in the Army, and particularly those in isolated anti-aircraft posts, are subject. And yet in the occasional competitions at the B.B.C. and others of which I have knowledge the enthusiastic amateurs (such as members of Spotters' Clubs) have beaten the teams put up by the Army. If the men at our anti-aircraft guns have been given orders which indicate a lack of faith in their ability to recognise an enemy aeroplane when they sec one, those orders are either an unjustifiable hindrance or else there is need for immediate and drastic action in training the Army in aircraft recognition.
In almost every town in the country there are Royal Observer Corps' Clubs or Spotters' Clubs composed of keen enthusiasts experienced in aircraft recognition. Like most of us, they have little enough spare time in these days, but I think I speak for the majority when I say that they would be willing to give one hour a week to instruction of the nearest Army gun-crews in need of it. I offer this as the quickest, although possibly unorthodox, method of dealing with what is apparently an urgent need.—Yours faithfully, E. N. B. BENTLEY. 24 Hollybush Lane, Harpenden, Hens.
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