WWII Aircraft Recognition Training: Watching the Unfriendly Skies

Proper Aircraft Recognition: Because no one benefits from getting things Just Plane Wrong.

I recall reading about the ‘Renshaw Method’ in an old Robert Heinlein novel. It was presented as this amazing system for greatly expanding a person’s ability to take in and process information.

The least filthy use of the word ever.

Fun vide, make more, I enjoyed this and made out pretty well on the quizzes.

I just wanted to say I love your videos. Your ability to find an niche subject, thoroughly research it, and present it in a fun an interesting way is excellent. Your passion for history really shines!

As a kid, I was given an Petlyakov PE 8 AC recognition model, made out of vinyl, like a record. Lost in many moves unfortunately.

does anybody know the movie from the intro?

All this is completely unnessecary, at least if you live in late- war Germany.
Here is how they went about it:


If it's green or comes during the night, it's British.

If it is silver or comes during the day, that's the Americans.
And if it is invisible or completely undetectable by any means, that's the mighty Luftwaffe!


I don't even know who to credit for this, I think it is an original german Flüsterwitz (whisper joke).

I recon the best way to become intimate with an aircraft is to build a detailed model of it. Paint and all.

Speaking of kit I really appreciate your RAF uniform and all your models and materials well done. I am putting together a Cold War RAF uniform myself.

Loved the quizzes even though they weirdly stressed me out as though I was doing it during a real life and death situation in WW2.

Yeah I've got this one! Quiz 2, picture 10.5 is text saying 'Air Cadets Photo Quiz answers on page 26'. Flawless performance.

I did terribly on the first two quizzes but surprisingly well on the third with the flash cards.

I so wanna play a game of spotto with a bunch of aviation geeks.

I know I wouldn’t do very well but I think it would be a hoot

Hello, Q; what is the fourth image showing the young ladies in front of instruments in the introduction. My Dad Michael was a young lad living in Farnham during the War and was trained to identify aircraft to assist the ARP, he also rode his bicycle caring messages to various Observers etc. I asked him " was he frightened " and he said for a young boy it was an exciting adventure, he never spoke of the bad moments in fact people didn't say much about that time and it wasn't the done thing to ask.

Awesome video, great watching!

I have a set of playing cards that have aircraft shapes on them for training. I also recently went to a former gun battery that had all the sea and air identifying charts, it was the Leighton battery for those interested.

Bring Spotto into 17 Wing and I will get even less work done there than I already do/don’t!

Could you please advise what the central insignia on the wings on your uniform is.

It is a propeller with an odd crown over it.

Dual wings are pilots in British and Commonwealth practice, with the force in letters (RAF, RCAF etc.) in the centre, with the King or Queen's crow above. That doesn't match!

One of the coolest things I've seen was a set of playing cards for poker and whatnot at the Dayton Ohio air museum, that had aircraft silhouettes and names on them, because I'd never thought about that sort of stuff before. Seeing a set of cards that were used by actual people brought home how real those events were, definitely want to go again when I get the chance.

Aircraft recognition competitions when I did them in the 1980's. 10 aircraft exposers at 1 second. 10 at 1/2 second, 10 at 1/4 second. 3 points for identifying the basic type. A bonus point for identifying the Mark / Version. Was good enough to make the final of the UK national Aircraft recognition competition in 1983, but joined the RAF three days before the event so couldn't attend.

For the "Air Britain" competition, any aircraft that had flown in the UK since 1908 could be in the competition, plus any aircraft build in the USA or USSR.

Wow! That had to be one of the most extensive & comprehensive videos you’ve done. Very impressive and entertaining.

Looking good, Gilles!

I got 5 on the first quiz, love all your videos, and this was very interesting......best wishes from Florida, Paul

thank you, another awsome job of teaching to us

I recognised one of the silhouettes as Thunderbird 2!

Not even 1500+ hours in War Thunder air battles could help me with this one. i guessed like 3 correctly. 😅

You are canadian, right ? how come that you pronounce "Dornier" so wrong then ???! It's a french name.

In the modern day you can just have people play War Thunder.

Love how you made the effort of donning that uniform for this video, Gilles! 😊

Anyone else wish they own a PB???

14 out of 20. 10 out of 23. i guess i did better with silhouettes. this was definitely a humbling experience. ive been into ww2 aircraft for decades, yet i didnt get some that were common or couldnt remember the names but at least got the manufacturer, or at least friend or foe.

1/72 scale is just about Lego Minifig scale.
I'm sure that's why they chose that scale.

Thanks for the interesting video. I thought I was pretty good at aircraft recognition since I can tell the F-22 from the F-35. Apparently there more to it than I initially thought.

Since you're hiding that spare tire under the RCAF uniform, you should do an episode on 5BX.

Yes, but these Fokkers were Messerschmitts!

I was wondering what you're opening gag would be.. I should have seen that a mile away! (Or maybe I did see it.. but misidentified it?)

After the first quiz, I've decided to become a submariner.

great channel do not regret subbing

..at almost 75 I (and my model building friends can still spot mistakes in movies..made by non Boomer model builders who HAVE NO CLUE...

...3rd down on tbe LHS looks like a Blohm und Voss...

Not going to lie I was a bit startled when the video clicked over to you and you were in a period appropriate uniform.

I thought the Bv-138 was a Catalina (didn't pay attention to the dorsal engine). Sorry folks but the convoy has been spotted and the wolfpack is waiting. My bad. That's why they used P-38s as fleet defense during the D-Day landings, the Germans didn't have any twin boom/single cockpit fighter planes so even a lousy eyeball like mine on an AA gun wouldn't try and shoot them down.

Love the lead in (and setup) for the topic. The 1969 'Battle of Britain' scene was great and fun..

The only plane I can identify is Snoopy's Sopwith Camel.

Yes! I recognized the Hellcat because one of my favorite video games for the Macintosh was “Hellcats over the Pacific”! 😂
edit: also the Buffalo (thank you Wikipedia wormhole!)

Oh, those randi birders…

My friend used to help his dad with NATO vs Warsaw Pact tank identification by silhouette flash cards in the 1980s. Very similar techniques.

i literary got everyone wrong. Every singe one :)