in flight communication

since radio communication between patrol members in flight was non-existent, what did the various flare colors indicate? Were standardized hand signals used and what were they? Were the streamers attached to struts standardized in color and length and what did they indicate? Seems to me that this was quite important, but I've read nothing describing how these things were accomplished, except some stuff in "In the Company of Eagles"about German hand signals.

[stephen]

Re: British units: streamers were used to indicate the flight leader. Not necessarily a captain whose rank gave him flight leader duties, but the actual, acting flight leader on that particular patrol. If your captain wasn't flying and you were ordinarily deputy leader, you would assume command of the flight and the streamers would fly on your plane instead for the purposes of that patrol. I don't know the color of the streamers or if they were standardized, but I'd say contacting our pal Michael Skeet would be a good bet!

Sighting EA was generally indicated by diving ahead of the formation and violently waggling the wings, pointing in the direction of the EA. And from what I've seen, hand signals varied from unit to unit with no official standard.

Hopefully that gets us started... somebody help me fill in the blanks.

I read in Walter Noble's book "With a Bristol Fighter Squadron" that the flare signals were as follows:

RED fired by the patrol leader meant 'I am going to attack'. Red fired by anyone else meant 'We are being attacked'

WHITE fired by the leader meant he was 'washing out' the patrol.

GREEN fired by anyone meant that particular aircraft had a problem and was returning to base.

Hope that helps.

Bob

[Ginger.]

I saw a Flight Commander's streamer in a musuem recently.It was red and six foot long.

Thanks people;your info helps. Anyone else have anything to add?

I think the previous posts pretty much cover it. Thinking about it, though, I find it hard to believe that the Verey light (flare) system was much used once the patrol had crossed the lines. If you're under attack, the last thing you're going to be thinking about is which colour cartridge to put in the Verey pistol.

Michael,

Walter Noble (see my previous reply) relates several occasions when they used Verey lights over the lines successfully. Bear in mind he was with a two-seater squadron that was used to doing deep reconn's in formation. The observers watched every machine behind while the pilots watched every machine in front, or in front to the sides. You might be too far off to see an arm waved at you, but a flare would be pretty recognizable. He also tells of an occasion where the flight leader's observer fired the wrong colour (green instead of white): the leader then flew off in one direction while the deputy leader and the rest all went off in the other direction. Good book. Out of print now, but a library might have it.

Bob

I recall reading somewhere that MvR used "rude hand signals" when communicating with one of his victims before shooting him down???

I think it was an "observation" made by a observer of a british two-seater crew...

So THIS observer lived to tell about it..........Nice tall tale.