watson fans
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What are Watson Fans? AWD0003dns
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by ral104 moderator, scientist
Watson Fans were a method of identifying troop positions to aircraft. It was essentially a sheet of white material which could be unfolded so it was visible from the air. It would have helped friendly aircraft who were on contact patrol.
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by deehar
Anyone know what these are? Apparently used to signal to aeroplanes.
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The 'Watson Fan' was a device to show the location of front line troops to a 'Contact aeroplane' so that information could be marked on a map and brought back to the units HQ. It was one of many devices used or proposed during the war. It would be used in conjunction with or instead of 'ground flares' of various colours. The 'Watson Fan' is described as a pleated canvas disc, white on one side and a 'neutral tint' (black or other dark colour) on the other, it was used by showing white/dark side alternately. It was over 12 inches in diameter. See link: http://www.cefresearch.ca/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7316
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by HeatherC moderator
Merging this with another thread where the same question was asked. Page that this second question refers to is here https://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD0003ihg
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