Hi Dave,
Bob the Morse was around a LONG time before 144 Cse, and his "methods" were the same back in "my" day !
As you say - simple, happy days - one enemy, a bazillion aeroplanes, more Commands than you could shake a stick at, no glossy magazines to tell you what the Air Force was, and you could communicate highly complex messages with a handful of 3-letter groups !!! Baaaah !