Plane Spotting
Airplane spotting is a hobby that has been in existence
since airplanes were invented. However, during World War II, it became a matter
of life and death. Spotters were civilian volunteers who were trained to
identify planes (and their associated country), and to determine where they
were headed.
After the attack at Pearl Harbor, the Army Air Force (at that
time the Army and the Air Force were one organization) created the Ground
Observer Corps in an attempt to prevent future attacks. At their peak, the GOC
has over a million and a half members. Posts were manned around the clock,
mostly along the U.S. coasts. Some of the posts were as simple as a chair and
an umbrella at the top of a bluff to a special built structure.

Not everyone was cut out to be an observer. Passing a strict
training course was required. Students had to identify airplane models that
were 1/72 size from thirty feet away. Doesn’t sound like a lot, but many were
unable to do it. Over 500,000 models were used in classes around the country, and
the government called on children and model airplane enthusiasts to fill the
need.

Would you have fit the bill as a Ground Observer?
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