Q CODE AND DECODE MANUAL
Some years ago when visiting the Observatory at Greenwich to look at the chronometers - I had just finished reading "Longitude" - I wandered into the Naval Library. On sale was a 1931 edition of the "Manual of Codes": hard cover bound and embossed, 300 pages, including naval ensigns of all nations.
In it was a full listing of the Q codes used by mariners, including "I have yellow fever cases on board", "bales of wheat to unload", estimating arrival at Bombay" and the like. It may surprise some that I did not memorise all of them for future use and unfortunately I am in Jakarta at present and the book is on a bookshelf in Port Melbourne so I cannot quote the codes. I will try to have someone access the book and educate those interested!!
Going back a little less in history, some of us remember using QTE and QDM to home and let down aircraft using the CADF installed at most RAAF bases in the 1970's. Very quickly you remembered to check the position of the toggle switch before each approach.
And how many RAAF ATC students acting as CADF pilots wandering around East Sale with a hand held radio, prolonged the approach while waiting for the ASCO lady to cook a hamburger or wandered across Shagger's roses in the front yard of his MQ?
MJG