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| WWI captured German cannon |
Any sportsman knows that the eye of an observer trying to spot game is attracted by movement. It is movement that gives away the position either of game in peace or of soldiers in war. The observer of an airplane searching for the position of a hostile battery has his attention drawn by movement.
The approach of a hostile airplane is notified by the airplane scout whom every battery in action must keep on the gun position, a specially selected man, with the sharpest of wits, eyes, and cars, and armed with a whistle and field glasses. The airplane scouts should be exceptionally able to stare into bright sunlight, be acquainted with the designs as well as distinguishing marks of enemy airplanes, and be relieved every hour. On the scout blowing his whistle the order "stand fast" is given and obeyed instantly. (The old instructor's "detail" of the meaning of "stand fast" is unbeatable: "On the order "stand fast" nobody don't do nothing.")…
The guiding principle of camouflage from aerial observation should be this: It is useless to attempt to hide anything, but not difficult to disguise anything so that it will look like something different and harmless. For example, four or six guns at 20 yds interval are obviously a battery. Fill up the spaces between the guns and spread netting or leaves over the top and from the air you have apparently a row of trees, a thick hedge, or even a big hog of swedes or beetroots. But all the men must stand absolutely rigid. The slightest movement anywhere is enough to ruin your attempt at disguise when an enemy airman is scouting overhead The penalty for movement will be possibly smashed guns, probably dead and wounded gunners, almost certainly a move to a new position and all your work to be done again.
