'Air Sentry List 1985' Army Code No. 71234 Has anyone used this type of document in the course of their military duties? It lists 75 Commonwealth and foreign aircraft recognition cards. In 1985, the date it was produced it was a 'restricted' document and only issued on a need to know basis. Although my copy is 25 years old I hesitate to post more as I'm not sure if the document would still be on the restricted list? Any ideas?
Hi, Peter. As a former Air Trooper I can claim to have used the Air Sentry List. It was handed out to the unlucky bod who had to deploy as (unsurprisingly) Air Sentry when an AAC Sqn went into the field, to act as a sort of air traffic controller. The squadron's aircraft would deploy around a wood, and a route in and out, or CATO (Concealed Approach and Take Off) would be selected. The Air Sentry would have the task of informing the aircrew of the route in use. The Air Sentry List wouldn't be the only equipment our unfortunate would be carrying - he usually got a Light Machine Gun (that was 'light' in name alone), Aldis lamp, a field telephone and a reel of D10 cable to speak to the CP, shovel for digging-in, sometimes an ammo-box full of stuff including the ASL, plus all of his personal kit. On top of that, he'd normally be NBC Sentry as well, just to stop him getting bored. Hope this helps.
Hi Yorkie, Welcome to the forum. Many thanks for the explanation. I had my copy of the list given to me some years ago by a retired Marine officer. At least I now know how it was used. Regards Peter
No worries, Peter. TBH, the ASL rarely got used, as the recognition skills of your average Airtpr were, and I imagine, still are, very good. Plus, if 3rd Shock Army's aviation elements pitched-up at your location you'd have more to do than thumb through the ASL to identify the airframes. Edited to add; the ASL came out as an expanded extract from the Groundcrewman's Pocket Book - a thoroughly useless bit of kit that told you all you needed to know about fitting stretcher casualties into Sioux litters, long after we'd moved on from Gentleman's Aerial Carriages to gas turbine propelled machines. Additionally, the method of securing the pages into the Pocket Book was designed by someone who never went out into the great outdoors, where the slightest breeze would have the owner running round like a headless chicken gathering confetti.
Would be well up for seeing some of those cards Peter, but only if it is allowed. Ger, Not sure if I should post more info, don't want to annoy the security services.
Gotthard, as far as I can recall, the ASL contains NATO Standard silhouettes of aircraft, nothing exciting.
