Posted this one a while ago regarding the Air Observation of Artillery http://1914-1918.inv...&showentry=1270

An interesting addition to the information regarding Air Observation shoots from MikeMeech in response to a query from Marc of an shoot conducted with 154 Siege

Battery.

Source: 154 SB wireless contact for observation shooting with N° 6 Squadron

Air Observation shooting by night is an interesting dimension. I used to find it hard enough by day.

Hi Marc

The document that details all this information is the S.S. 131 'Co-operation of Aircraft with Artillery', the actual edition that matches your text will be the the December 1916 that was reprited with ammedments in August 1917(some relevant pages attached).

The cloth strips used on the ground would be 12 feet by 1 foot (the French used similar. Signal lamps could also be used for sending messages to the aircraft in Morse (also from the aircraft as well with an aircraft lamp).

Wireless was generally one way, from the aircraft using Morse. However, at the beginning of 1918 'Corps' squadrons started to be equipped with 2 Bristol Fighters each (to supplement their RE.8s or FK.8s. These were to be used with long-range heavy guns and had both transmitting and receiving sets so they could stay near the target for spotting and still receive messages from the battery concerned.

The procedures for 'night shooting' with air co-operation on a moonless night was first carried out by Capt. R A Archer in BE.2E '7059'. Although it appears he only dropped Parachute Flares and some small bombs in support of a raid by 14th Australian Brigade (night of 30th Sept./1st Oct. 1916) to keep down hostile artillery fire. He believed that if he had known the country better: "I could probably have pinpointed the batteries by the light of the flares if they continued to fire after I had dropped them." (TNA, AIR1/918/204/5/878). other experiments were done later in the war I believe, although I am not sure how 'common' it would have been.

I hope that helps.

Mike

Source: 154 SB wireless contact for observation shooting with N° 6 Squadron