ABOUT LINE BOOKS.

ATC Observer, 1 September 1942, Page 3

ABOUT LINE BOOKS.

-by

Cadet Pearse

' Most. Squadrons of the R©AoF o now possess so called Line Books* This system . was inaugurated by the. Americans• in the last war .to curb some of ■the ..more grandiloquent, statements., of -their pilots© The habit had continued through peace time in the regular squadrons, but it was not until the beginning of that most of them adopted the idea© The following are, some of the ’’Lines? taken, from the Line Book of a Coastal Command Squadron: ”Rear GunnCu" ” 1 think 1711I 7 11 take some maps tonight© I’ve often had to bring the chaps back® ” - ■■” L always fly home at 200 ft© so that I can take in a bit of the country side©” 57 1 t was a large ship® In fact we had ‘to climb to read ■ the name 7 " "We ? re good enough, we don’t need an air gunner* 77 The next altimeter I have must be graded in inches*”

Hear * Gunner' 1 o ’lthought I knew someone on the destroyer* but I ’haedant at neb.?/j'9 not quite recognise his faced ,f ■ ■ ■. ■ ■ , i’.,. - ■. ■ ' • Tom: '_,. . • "The weather was very thick last night* I had to use "tile Astro* Di ck: /hat do you know about. "Astro?" "Well? on the way' out? Venus was in the Port window • and on the .way back in the starboard window* so we ' knew we were O*Kd ? ■ ” " ■ x < . "If a "chap is alive when we-get him to hospital he . is usually alright* (This was a line shot by the till ; Station 11*0*)