battle of britain16

Royal Observer Corps

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IPTC Object Name Royal Observer Corps Exhibit
IPTC Created Date 2006-01-01
IPTC Author Jason McDonald
IPTC City Duxford
IPTC SubLocation IWM Duxford
IPTC Province State Cambridgeshire
IPTC Country Name England
IPTC Caption Royal Observers stayed in constant operation until the 1960s, and monitored the possibility of a Soviet nuclear attack until 1992. They were rewarded with the "Royal" title added to their name. Observer Corps members correctly identified Rudolph Hess's ill-fated attempt to negotiate a truce, and also fought the V1 and V2 rockets, allowing fast aircraft to either shoot down or flip over the "doodlebugs" that killed thousands of British civilians. The German equivalent, the Flugmeldedienst, did not receive the level of training and technology the Royal Observer Corps did, and were never able to intercept Allied bombers the same way. Here, the Observer Corps is using a mechanical sighting instrument mounted over a gridded map that allowed them to track the aircraft and give accurate reports to their Group Centre. The ROC also almost unilaterally developed aircraft recognition training.