Guest Gary Davidson Posted 12 March , 2005 Share Posted 12 March , 2005 POPHAM PANELS were apparently a device used early in the war by ground troops at the front to send messages to friendly aircraft. Does anyone have a picture of one? It's supposedly some sort of venetian blind-type contraption. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 12 March , 2005 Share Posted 12 March , 2005 Gary A photograph of a Popham Panel (being used by US troops? - the uniforms look more American than RFC) is below. The caption says that white cloth panels were laid out in pre-arranged patterns to communicate with aircraft. From the photo, it looks like various white symbols could be created by moving bits of the dark cover. I hope this helps. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gary Davidson Posted 12 March , 2005 Share Posted 12 March , 2005 Thanks, Gareth! I figured you'd have it in your bag of tricks! Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Gary Attached (and in the next 2 posts) is a 3 page pamphlet on the Popham Panel, the group in the picture are signalling "248". The pamphlet is dated February 1918 but I do not know hhow long the panels had been in service prior to that. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Page 2 M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Page 3 M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Gary, At the risk of being boring, I have now found that I have the follow up info on the panels in a copy of the Appendix mentioned on page 1, so 3 more pages follow. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Apologies, missed off the first attachment, here goes again. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 next page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Final page - M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gary Davidson Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Thanks, Mike! I'm always amazed by the resources available amongst the collective members of this forum. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlight Posted 20 March , 2006 Share Posted 20 March , 2006 Mike, I've been reading this topic to find out more about Popham Panels but cannot see the attachments. Any chance you could resubmit the three page pamphlet on Popham Panels? Thanks Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowNslow Posted 20 March , 2006 Share Posted 20 March , 2006 Mike, I've been reading this topic to find out more about Popham Panels but cannot see the attachments. Any chance you could resubmit the three page pamphlet on Popham Panels? Thanks Steve I'm glad it's not just me! Yes please Mike, I'm dying to see them too! Steve S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 Sorry, I no longer have access to the leaflet to scan it. The info is from SS 135 Appendix B "Co-operation Between Aircraft & Infantry" April 1918. This is an appendix to SS 135 "The Training and Employment of Divisions". If you are desperate for your own copies the IWM's Department of Printed Books will provide photocopies, sorry can't quote cost. (If you have not already encountered them the SS serieries are a series of instructional manuals and pamphlets published by the army Stationery Services Yours Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest f@man Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 Mike, I've been reading this topic to find out more about Popham Panels but cannot see the attachments. Thanks Steve Yeah me too. Anyone have any idea why ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 I was really annoyed about letting you down and have rooted about and uncovered scans I'd retained in a place I never thought to look!!! lets see if they are OK Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 That seems OK -- next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 next............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 found some extras that weren't posted last time....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 next.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 and finally.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowNslow Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 Mike, Thanks so much for going to the trouble of digging these out again. It's helped me a great deal in getting my head around communications in the infantry support role. When we get the BE-2 up and running, we'll have to try a live demonstration! Many thanks again Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowNslow Posted 21 March , 2006 Share Posted 21 March , 2006 Anyone have any idea why they were called 'Popham Panels'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest f@man Posted 22 March , 2006 Share Posted 22 March , 2006 Mike, thanks for going to the extra trouble. LowNslow, can you tell me more about the BE-2, sounds interesting. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowNslow Posted 23 March , 2006 Share Posted 23 March , 2006 Hi F@man. In an attempt to stay as broke as possible, Matt Boddington and myself are restoring a replica BE-2c that was built for the movie Biggles Sweeps The Skies in 1969. We hope we'll have it flying again by early 2007. We have a website dedicated to the project: www.biggles-biplane.com. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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