Navigation markings on the ground, N. Africa
 

Hi all.

Over the years I've seen just a couple of references (with scant details) about navigation markings being laid out along the ground on long routes in northern Africa in the early days of aviation there, pre-radio navigation.

One suggestion I've seen is that there was an entire, unbroken line marked out on the ground along a route (I can't recall which one) of some hundreds of miles by digging a trench or some such. And perhaps large arrows or mounds as well.

Does this sound right? Does anyone have any details?

Thanks in advance.

Google 'Plain of Nazca'.

In 1921 the RAF was surveying the proposed route between Jordan and Iraq and ploughed a furrow to help navigation.

Magnificent, thank you very much for the quick replies!

I once asked an old Transport Command navigator about navigating across the desert in the 1950’s and 60’s.

He said that it was easy; you just followed the oil slick that the Beverley’s had left over the years!

Alex Henshaw may or may not mention 'Markers' . If I remember rightly he followed tracks in the sand on his Trans-Saharan Flights. Read his super memoir ' Flight of The Mew Gull ' available in paperback.

I've read it twice. I am truly amazed that he survived the trip, given the number of close shaves he had, never mind nearly passing out from exhaustion when arriving back at Southend.