Air Observation Post
Encyclopedia
An Air Observation Post is a British military aircraft used for active or passive observation of artillery actions.
and other services of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth air forces for an aeroplane or helicopter used in the role of artillery spotter. In this role, either the pilot of the aircraft or a passenger acts both just as an observer watching for targets on the ground, and as a Forward Observation Officer
directing the fire, by radio, of artillery
on the ground (or calling in tactical ground-attack aircraft).
In the interwar period the role of artillery spotting was mixed with reconnaissance and ground attack to be served by Army Co-operation (AC) squadrons. At the beginning of World War II
their standard aircraft was the Westland Lysander
. The enormous losses of British Expeditionary Force
shown both the aircraft and the concept to be a failure, and around 1941 AC squadrons have been converted to fighter-bomber
aircraft, dropping the liaison and artillery spotting roles. These roles have been take over by numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF, the all-new Air Observation Post units working closely with Army. A further three of these squadrons - Nos. 664, 665 and 666 - were RCAF AOP squadrons manned by Canadian and British personnel.
For the remainder of the World War II, AOP units used light, fixed-wing aircraft, notably several marks of Auster
aircraft, flown by RAF or British Army
pilots. In 1957, the newly-formed Army Air Corps took over the role, aeroplanes eventually being replaced by helicopters.
History
Air Observation Post is the term used by the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and other services of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth air forces for an aeroplane or helicopter used in the role of artillery spotter. In this role, either the pilot of the aircraft or a passenger acts both just as an observer watching for targets on the ground, and as a Forward Observation Officer
Artillery observer
A military artillery observer or spotter is responsible for directing artillery fire and close air support onto enemy positions. Because artillery is an indirect fire weapon system, the guns are rarely in line-of-sight of their target, often located tens of miles away...
directing the fire, by radio, of artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
on the ground (or calling in tactical ground-attack aircraft).
In the interwar period the role of artillery spotting was mixed with reconnaissance and ground attack to be served by Army Co-operation (AC) squadrons. At the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
their standard aircraft was the Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
. The enormous losses of British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
shown both the aircraft and the concept to be a failure, and around 1941 AC squadrons have been converted to fighter-bomber
Fighter-bomber
A fighter-bomber is a fixed-wing aircraft with an intended primary role of light tactical bombing and also incorporating certain performance characteristics of a fighter aircraft. This term, although still used, has less significance since the introduction of rockets and guided missiles into aerial...
aircraft, dropping the liaison and artillery spotting roles. These roles have been take over by numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF, the all-new Air Observation Post units working closely with Army. A further three of these squadrons - Nos. 664, 665 and 666 - were RCAF AOP squadrons manned by Canadian and British personnel.
For the remainder of the World War II, AOP units used light, fixed-wing aircraft, notably several marks of Auster
Auster
Auster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.-History:The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, Thurmaston near Leicester, England, as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of...
aircraft, flown by RAF or British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
pilots. In 1957, the newly-formed Army Air Corps took over the role, aeroplanes eventually being replaced by helicopters.
External links
- Army Air Corps History www.army.mod.uk
- Canadian Warplane Heritage: Auster Beagle AOP www.warplane.com