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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 1191.PDF
APRIL 25, 1940 373 CLASSIFYING AIRCRAFT A Rapid Method of Recognising Types AIRCRAFT recognition is of such importance to-daythat any scheme for facilitating identification and1 reporting is deserving of close study. We are indebted to our French contemporary Revue de I'Armee de I'Air for the following suggestion. While it is recognised that identification charts are of great assistance, it is considered that their scope can be widened by the use of a code which will classify the silhouettes into small groups of aircraft, differing only in detail. Such a code must be adaptable for general use under all conditions and from all angles. It must be reliable, and while it could not be made foolproof it should be the one least subject to errors. As selective- ness is essential such points as the number of rudders and engines are particularly useful. It often happens, when several factories axe producing the same type in large quantities that minor variations are introduced. For example, radial engines might be used on some machines in- stead of in-line units, so that the type of engine cannot be so reliable a guide as the general out- line of wings and fuselage. Another useful point is that, in machines of the same make, such parts as the fin and rudder often have a characteristic de- sign which varies but little trom type to type. The last, but most im- P°rtant, requirement of a code is that it should beras y to remember. Mes- ses would have to be sent m condensed form bv telephone or telegraph and E I I I II I I IT T T TT TT T TT T —F I I TT T T T T I I II I II TT T T Code —w I I I II T T T I I II II II II T —U I T I T T T T T I I IT T T T1 II T —R I I [ [ I I I T I I TI IT T I TT I C T T T I T I T T I T T I T IT T I T I Types of Aircraft Messerschmitt Me 109, Heinkel He 112, He 118 and He 170, Arado Ar 79 and Ar 96, Gotha 149.Arado Ar 80, Blohm and Voss Ha 137, Junkers Ju 87, Henschel Hs 125, Klemm K) 35.Focke-Wulf Fw 159, Dornier Do 18. Heinkel He 111, Henschel Hs 122 and Hs 126.Domier Do 22, Fieseier Fs 156, Henschel Hs 122, Hs 126 and Hs 121, Focke-Wulf Fw 56.Henschel Hs 123, Arado Ar 95, Biickc-r Bii 133, Focke- Wulf Fw 44.Arado Ar 08 and Ar 197, Heinkel He 45, He 51, He 60 and He 74, Bucker Bii 131, Gotha 145.Arado Ar 81. Focke-Wulf Condor, Junkers Ju 88.Focke-Wulf Fw 57 and Fw 58, Heinkel He 111 ati He 116, Gotha 146, Ago 192, Siebel 104.Henschel Hs 124, Junkers Ju 86 and Ju 89, Me 110. Heinkel He 115, Junkers Ju 52.Dornier Do 23. Blohm and Voss Ha 140.Blohm and Voss Ha 139 and Ha 139b. Dornier Do 26.Dornier Do 24, Do 17 and Do 215. Blohm and Voss Bv 138.Heinkel He 59. the possibility of any confusion must be minimised. In the suggested code a group of six letters is adopted for reasons of simplicity. These are easy to remember even by the least technically minded and sufficient to form small separate classes of machines. Each code heading has only two alternatives. For example, single- engined or multi-engined, and not single-engined, twm- engined, three-engined, etc. Significance of Letters The fixation of each heading is made by sending only one letter. The letter I means "single" and T means the opposite of this, i.e., single-engined = I, multi- engined =T. Because of the difference between these two letters in Morse the risk of confusion is minimised. The following code headings are given in the order of their use: — E : number of engines (one = I; multi = T). F: position of fuselage in relation to wing (above = 1; below = T). W: number of wings (monoplane = I; multi- plane = T). U: undercarriage (re- tracting =I; fixed (or floats) = T). R: fin and rudder (single = 1; multiple = T). C : cowling (radial = I ; in-line = T). Thus appears the master word EFWURC with the six letters in the order of their use. This is sufficient to de- scribe an aircraft so that it
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