In flight communication - basic question

[R Pope]

Roadhog...I was under the impression that the signal to "move out" was the pumping fist to get attention, then a broad sweeping point to the front to indicate motion. But then I've been wrong before!

[Roadhog]

Dear Mr. Pope, Basically the signal is the same; probably a local or national military variant. I know that in the US Army and Marine Corps the signal hasn't changed since WW II. Now having said that, let me clarify that I left active duty in late 1992 and the damn fools who gave up the ranger patrol cap for the beret could have changed everything. VR, Scott

[Roadhog]

Dear Forum mates, This week while doing some research for my novel, I ran across a list of WW I in-flight signals in a book editied by Jon E. Lewis entitled "Fighter Pilots." The book was published in 2002 by MJF Books in New York. One chapter is titled "Crashes and Cocktails" and is taken from the diary of John McGavock Grider, an American pilot who flew with the British in 1917-1918. I am almost certain that this is the same that this is the same pilot from the book "War Birds; Diary of an Unknown Aviator."

Anyway here they are: If the flight leader is about to make a sharp turn, he drops his wing on that side. If he is going into a steep dive he holds up an arm. If he wants the flight to close up or wants to point something out, he "shakes both wings." If it is an EA he "shakes his wings, and points and fires his guns." If he means 'yes' he bobs his nose up and down. If he means 'no,' he shakes his wings.

If a flight members sees an EA that the leader does not see, the pilot in his words, "we fire our guns fly up in front and point."

If the fight leader is having trouble (engine?) and wants the flight to continue on, he fires a red flare from his Very pistol. If he wants his pilots to follow him out of a fight he fires a "white light." If he wants to signal the other flights, he fires a green flare.

If you haven't read it, War Birds is a superb account of what it was like to be an unsung pilot on the Western Front. Hope this helps. VR Scott Price, a.k.a. Roadhog

[rammjaeger]

Very well done, Scott!

This kind of of information is exactly what I am interested in!

It is so easy to ignore this kind of lines during reading but we should not do that! I bet there are many other lines like the above in other books to find - therefore we should continue our search!

Thank you very much again!

VBR
Hannes

Hi; this info comes from my numerous reading and research on this subject and are principly RFC signals:

Wing Waggle: EA Sighted. (If sighted by a wing Man, he would move forward to the laeder, waggle his wings and either point the aircraft or an arm toward the EA.) Here I must mention that the basic fighting doctrine of the RFC ws that the Wing Men should stick to the Leader at all times if possible. So once the leader would see the EA he would waggle his wings and move to position. Usually he would waggle his wings again just before bouncing the target(s).

Pitch Axis Purpoise (nose up and down movement): DUD engine signal. Sometimes used as prepare to land/ return home.

Tap on Head: Follow/Stay with me.

Point Up/Down: Climb / Descend.

Rudder yaw movement / Tailfish: Spread out to enroute or offensive formation. (Some squadron leaders used the V formation, others the finger Four Formation as standard formation. A Tailfish signal would mean to spread the flght elements (2 a/c) from each other to engage an EA formation.)

Flares were used for Rejoins and Rendez Vous with other formations.

References: Winged Victory; V.M. Yeates (he flew in WW1).
Full Circle; Johnny Johnson.
Le Grand Cirque; Pierre Closterman.

[rammjaeger]

Thank you for sharing this information with us, Bushbird!

I do only regret that I did never care to make notes about this topic if I did meet similar information for the German side during all my reading in the past.

I am still wondering if anybody did ever any in-depth study about this topic. As well a comparison of different nation´s signals and their development could be useful too.

VBR
Rammjaeger