Observers course for RA officers at Netheravon in Jan/Feb 1915?

[b3rn]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has information on an observers course for RA officers at Netheravon in Jan/Feb 1915?

 

A caveat: The course is mentioned in a RAF officer's service record, but appears to have been added sometime after the fact, perhaps 1918 or 1919, and the 'authority' is given as 'officers personal statement [file number]'.

 

I checked Jefford's Observers and Navigators: And Other Non-Pilot Aircrew in the RFC, RNAS and RAF. He says by late 1914, efforts to recruit and train observers were gathering apace, and a rudimentary training scheme was introduced at Netheravon. But he also suggests there is little information about this early phase of training for "proto-observers".

Has anyone come across an RA course at Netheravon in early 1915?

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear b3rn,

I am afraid I cannot oblige with Netheravon Information.

However, I attach the Appointments and Dates for Frederick Eden Elliot, RGA, who volunteered for the RFC and was wounded over Bullecourt in a Be2c.

His Training consisted of one month (!) at Brooklands: the RFC Wireless and Observers' School in 1917...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[Moonraker]

I haven't come across details of many course syllabi for Netheravon - not that I've looked for them - but Billy Bishop (later Air Marshal William Avery "Billy" Bishop, VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED, LL D and Canadian flying ace officially credited with 72 victories) transferred from  the 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915. As there were no places available for pilots in flight school, he chose to be an observer and on September 1 reported to 21 (Training) Squadron at Netheravon for elementary air instruction. After service in France and a knee injury, he trained as a pilot at the Central Flying School at Upavon on Salisbury Plain.

 

See

Billy Bishop VC: Lone Wolf Hunter: The RAF Ace Re-Examined by Peter Kilduff

 

Extracts here

 

page 28 onward

 

(Not as early in 1917 as b3rn might have liked, I know.)

 

Moonraker

 

 

 

[Airshipped]

I'd have similar material to hand as the previous posts, i.e. nothing specific for Woolwich to Netheravon in the timeframe in question. 

 

However, do see below two extracts from a file on the training of observers from Camberley, Sandhurst and Woolwich (AIR 1/122/15/40/). In one example there's reference to pilots and observers. In the second image there's a useful example from Sandhurst of cadets (Broadway and Lascelles) being sent straight to France as observers (i.e. the 'training' is in effect live ammo).

If this was the situation in Dec 1914 then it's unlikely that Jan-Feb 1915 was much different, e.g. short term pressures at the front versus the need for structured observer training programmes, particular for those with an understanding of artillery and gunnery.

[MikeMeech]

23 hours ago, b3rn said:

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has information on an observers course for RA officers at Netheravon in Jan/Feb 1915?

 

A caveat: The course is mentioned in a RAF officer's service record, but appears to have been added sometime after the fact, perhaps 1918 or 1919, and the 'authority' is given as 'officers personal statement [file number]'.

 

I checked Jefford's Observers and Navigators: And Other Non-Pilot Aircrew in the RFC, RNAS and RAF. He says by late 1914, efforts to recruit and train observers were gathering apace, and a rudimentary training scheme was introduced at Netheravon. But he also suggests there is little information about this early phase of training for "proto-observers".

Has anyone come across an RA course at Netheravon in early 1915?

Hi

 

This may not be of direct use but may be of interest, these are documents from various TNA AIR 1 files reference RA observers and the importance of using air spotting of artillery fire from 1914/15.  It will give some idea of the thinking and discussion on the subject at the time.

 

Mike

[b3rn]

Kim, Moonraker, Airshipped and MikeMeech — thank you! And a note of ongoing appreciation for the GWF.

[b3rn]

Would anyone have a copy of this memorandum, referred to above?

 

Co-operation of aeroplanes with Artillery.
Reference: AIR 1/2266/209/70/9

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4092223
 

PS Mike, Airshipped – those documents were very helpful. Presumably Jefford used them as sources (he names those first candidates) but it's good to read them in full.

[MikeMeech]

13 hours ago, b3rn said:

Would anyone have a copy of this memorandum, referred to above?

 

Co-operation of aeroplanes with Artillery.
Reference: AIR 1/2266/209/70/9

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4092223
 

PS Mike, Airshipped – those documents were very helpful. Presumably Jefford used them as sources (he names those first candidates) but it's good to read them in full.

Hi

 

The 'Co-operation of Aeroplanes with Artillery' can be found in several files at the TNA.  The attached is from AIR 1/2251/209/54/6.  The communication methods mentioned in the text had been tried out in various forms before the war, there was another trial in November 1914 on Salisbury Plain.  It was not just a response to the war situation as the British as well as the French and Germans had been thinking about this use of aeroplanes before the war. 

 

Mike

 

[b3rn]

Many thanks MikeMeech.