Highlights for Warspot: Patriotic Games

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The large-scale offensive launched by Germans in 1940 that went down in history as The Battle of Britain became not just one of the key moments of the Second World War but also was the reason for some events associated with war merely indirectly.

During the war years British were undoubted leaders in radar implementation, however even they couldn’t create continuous radar network along their coastline. In addition, using radar stations couldn’t put them past bombing raids performed at low altitude and high speed, which is exactly what Germans took advantage of. There was only one way out – to create a wide observation post network that could swiftly recognize attacking aircraft and report it «to the right place». Spotters from among civilian volunteers served that purpose in addition to various military auxiliary services.

Lance Corporal of the Auxiliary Territorial Service on duty keeping a close eye to the sky. December 1942 (Imperial War Museums) - Highlights for Warspot: Patriotic Games | Warspot.net — Lance Corporal of the Auxiliary Territorial Service on duty keeping a close eye to the sky. December 1942 (Imperial War Museums)

Just recruiting people wasn’t enough for the Warning Service to operate effectively. Only trained spotter could identify nationality and type of an aircraft that flies at 500 km/h speed, that is why an entire industry was developed for the cause. Manufacturing aircraft models became its most meaningful act – creating static models for display, which became craze afterwards, was born precisely during the war, also other standards, like scale variety, were established back then.

Such simple and effective trick for training spotters as playing cards was among other various products. It is known that play-based learning isn’t for kids only. First British, then Americans who supported this endeavor, produced several kinds of playing cards during the war years, that started out depicting allied and enemy aircraft as well as ships and tanks later. Nowadays they are documentary proof from that era that allows us to draw amusing conclusions.

Click on a picture to enlarge it.

One of the early decks with pictures for spotter training. Four suits are equivalent to the air forces of Great Britain, USA, Japan and Germany. Interestingly, the deck produced in the United States in 1942 could come in handy in Europe but was completely useless in the Pacific.
American and British intelligence failure visible to the untrained eye when looking at clubs: Imperial Japanese Army Air Force ace – «Zero» fighter – doesn’t look himself;
Ki-43 «Hayabusa» that became main fighter aircraft for the army is missing; however hopelessly obsolete and completely unused Japanese planes are there. (http://www.ameshistory.org)

Late versions of playing cards for spotters became more practical. All kinds of flying exotics were excluded while the most common were depicted from different angles and got verbal descriptions – such as main German fighter «Messerschmitt» Bf 109 for example. However, not everything was smooth there – rounded nose of the late version mixed with squared wings of the early version (Imperial War Museums) - Highlights for Warspot: Patriotic Games | Warspot.net — Late versions of playing cards for spotters became more practical. All kinds of flying exotics were excluded while the most common were depicted from different angles and got verbal descriptions – such as main German fighter «Messerschmitt» Bf 109 for example. However, not everything was smooth there – rounded nose of the late version mixed with squared wings of the early version (Imperial War Museums)

Giants of the industry didn’t mind manufacturing such products to the obvious benefit for all. (https://www.1944supply.com) - Highlights for Warspot: Patriotic Games | Warspot.net — Giants of the industry didn’t mind manufacturing such products to the obvious benefit for all. (https://www.1944supply.com)

Such a great concept wasn’t forgotten even after WWII – playing cards from the times of the Cold War on photo. Soviet Tu-22M long-range bomber as the Joker. (http://for-sale.yowcow.com)

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