Birth of the Square Search and the X and Q code.
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Birth of the Square Search and the X and Q code.
Found these on the reverse of 101 Sqn Battle Orders for Aug 1941. One details the introduction of the Square Search, and the other is an incomplete document covering the misunderstanding between the navigator and the W/T operator when using the X code. It also mentions the trial of the Q code to replace the X code. The links are to Photobucket.
Square Search
Nav misunderstanding and X and Q codes.
Square Search
Nav misunderstanding and X and Q codes.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Fascinating. Whilst the square search was taught at Nav School and we considered it once it was not as easy as it first appears.
We soon found that at narrow track spacing we needed to use the modified square search to allow for the turn radius so we effectively searched boxes 1 - 3 - 5 then 2 -4 -6 and so on.
Then time was hugely significant. With a track spacing of 5 miles and not allowing for a turning circle the first box would, IIRC, be 60 miles. At 3 miles per minute that was about 20 minutes. Box 2 was 135 miles. Box 3 was 215 miles and into serious search time - if my rusty fag packet is correct.
The other refinement was to fly the planned headings on each leg not correcting for wind but to calculate the mean wind during the search at the end of the search by taking a fix and measuring the error between the DR position at the end of the search.
Post flight analysis would then me applied to plot out the actual ground covered so that a second or subsequent search patter could cover any areas missed.
We soon found that at narrow track spacing we needed to use the modified square search to allow for the turn radius so we effectively searched boxes 1 - 3 - 5 then 2 -4 -6 and so on.
Then time was hugely significant. With a track spacing of 5 miles and not allowing for a turning circle the first box would, IIRC, be 60 miles. At 3 miles per minute that was about 20 minutes. Box 2 was 135 miles. Box 3 was 215 miles and into serious search time - if my rusty fag packet is correct.
The other refinement was to fly the planned headings on each leg not correcting for wind but to calculate the mean wind during the search at the end of the search by taking a fix and measuring the error between the DR position at the end of the search.
Post flight analysis would then me applied to plot out the actual ground covered so that a second or subsequent search patter could cover any areas missed.
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My uncle accidentally dozed off during an instructional night nav-ex flight in an Oxford somewhere over the sea near 'Rhodesia'.
When he was woken up by the student with the words "Sir. Where are we!?!", he said the square search helped them find the lights of the coastal town near the airfield in the distance.
It can be very useful for self-SAR too!
When he was woken up by the student with the words "Sir. Where are we!?!", he said the square search helped them find the lights of the coastal town near the airfield in the distance.
It can be very useful for self-SAR too!
Interesting post. Amazing what is hidden away in the records!
Some of the RAF training manuals can be downloaded at the following link if you register.
Royal Air Force, RAF
Wireless Set No 19 Group Royal Signals WS19, 19 Set, FREE military document Archive.
Interesting insight into the change over and use of Q-Codes. German Signals Intelligence during World War II came to the conclusion that some of the Soviet Air Force radio operators were being trained by British radio operators. Although that might be correct in some cases it was probably down to the Soviet adoption of international standard Morse Code with standard Q-Codes?
German exploitation of Russian communications through Traffic Analysis during World War II (Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 11-30-2009)
German Traffic Analysis of the Russian Communications
pdf link of the above.
http://www.numbersoddities.nl/Russian-comms-WWII.pdf
German exploitation of RAF USAAF communications during World War II
TICOM Vol. 5 - German AF Sigint Service
Some 70 plus years later the Q-Code is still very much in use by the military during Morse Code air-ground communications. Probably one of the last air-to-ground / ground-to-air Morse networks still in regular daily use?
The following recordings are from the Russian Naval Air Transport network on 8816 Khz during February 2012. A very basic use but obviously fulfills the need for air traffic control of Russian Naval transports such as Antonov 12 Cub and Antonov 26 Curl.
I've included the recordings links for those serving and retired that can copy Morse. How many Veterans out there thought that the use of Morse was consigned to history and especially for aircraft communications?
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 16405, Feb 2012
RJF94
RCB DE 16405 QSA ? QTC K
16405 DE RJF94 QSA 3 QRV K
16405 QTO 1422 QRD XUMO XLLV QAH 5500 QBD 0440 RPT AL K
RJF94 QTO 1422 QRD XUMO XLLV QAH 5500 QBD 0440 K
16405 C K
Aircraft 16405 passes message to ground stations RJF94 and RCB. QTO = I am airborne at 1422. QRD = I am bound for XUMO (Ostafyevo) from XLLV (Levashovo). QAH = Flying at height 5500. QBD = Fuel / Endurance.
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 16405, Feb 2012
DE 16405 QTC K
16405 DE RJF94 QRV K
16405 QTH 5833 2052 QTR 1148 QAH 5800 QBD 0330 RPT AL K
RJF94 QTH 5833 2052 QTR 1148 QAH 5800 QBD 0330 K
16405 C K
Aircraft 16405 passes message to ground station RJF94. QTH = My position is at the following latitude / longitude Map Link at time (QTR) 1148. QAH = Flying at height 5800. QBD = Fuel / Endurance.
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 47040, Feb 2012
47040 QTC K
47040 DE RJF94 QRV K
47040 QTH 6733 3540 QTR 1005 QRE XLMV 1040 RPT AL K
RJF94 RPT K
47040 RPT QTH 6733 3540 QTR 1005 QRE XLMV 1040 RPT AL K
RJF94 QTH 6733 3540 QTR 1005 QRE XLMV 1040 K
47040 C K
Aircraft 47040 passes message to ground station RJF94. QTH = My position is at the following latitude / longitude Map Link at time (QTR) 1005. QRE = Estimated time of arrival at XLMV (Severomorsk-3) is 1040.
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 47040, Feb 2012
DE 47040 QTC QQM XLMV 1043 RPT AL K
RJF94 QQM XLMV 1043 K
47040 C S K
RJF94 OK S K
Aircraft 47040 passes message to ground station RJF94. QQM = I am landing at XLMV (Severomorsk-3) at 1043.
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 09409, Feb 2012
RJC38
RJF94 DE 09409 QSA ? QTC K
09409 DE RJF94 QSA 2 QRV K
09409 QTO 1034 QRD XUMO XLAA QRE 1255 QBD 13500 RPT AL K
RJF94 QTO 1034 QRD XUMO XLAA QRE 1255 QBD 13500 K
09409 C K
Aircraft 09409 passes message to ground stations RJC38 and RJF94. QTO = I am airborne at 1034. QRD = I am bound for XUMO (Ostafyevo) from XLAA (Arkhangelsk). QRE = Estimated time of arrival at XUMO (Ostafyevo) is 1255. QBD = Fuel / Endurance.
The following link contains information on the Russian Naval Air Transport communications network.
Naval Air Transport Units
List of Q-Codes
Ralf D. Kloth DL4TA - List of Q-codes
Some links of interest reference use of Q codes and memories of training.
Ex-Air Gunners: Short Bursts
Advanced Morse - Tony Cunnane's Life and Times
The Q Code
Some of the RAF training manuals can be downloaded at the following link if you register.
Royal Air Force, RAF
Wireless Set No 19 Group Royal Signals WS19, 19 Set, FREE military document Archive.
Interesting insight into the change over and use of Q-Codes. German Signals Intelligence during World War II came to the conclusion that some of the Soviet Air Force radio operators were being trained by British radio operators. Although that might be correct in some cases it was probably down to the Soviet adoption of international standard Morse Code with standard Q-Codes?
German exploitation of Russian communications through Traffic Analysis during World War II (Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 11-30-2009)
German Traffic Analysis of the Russian Communications
pdf link of the above.
http://www.numbersoddities.nl/Russian-comms-WWII.pdf
German exploitation of RAF USAAF communications during World War II
TICOM Vol. 5 - German AF Sigint Service
Some 70 plus years later the Q-Code is still very much in use by the military during Morse Code air-ground communications. Probably one of the last air-to-ground / ground-to-air Morse networks still in regular daily use?
The following recordings are from the Russian Naval Air Transport network on 8816 Khz during February 2012. A very basic use but obviously fulfills the need for air traffic control of Russian Naval transports such as Antonov 12 Cub and Antonov 26 Curl.
I've included the recordings links for those serving and retired that can copy Morse. How many Veterans out there thought that the use of Morse was consigned to history and especially for aircraft communications?
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 16405, Feb 2012
RJF94
RCB DE 16405 QSA ? QTC K
16405 DE RJF94 QSA 3 QRV K
16405 QTO 1422 QRD XUMO XLLV QAH 5500 QBD 0440 RPT AL K
RJF94 QTO 1422 QRD XUMO XLLV QAH 5500 QBD 0440 K
16405 C K
Aircraft 16405 passes message to ground stations RJF94 and RCB. QTO = I am airborne at 1422. QRD = I am bound for XUMO (Ostafyevo) from XLLV (Levashovo). QAH = Flying at height 5500. QBD = Fuel / Endurance.
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 16405, Feb 2012
DE 16405 QTC K
16405 DE RJF94 QRV K
16405 QTH 5833 2052 QTR 1148 QAH 5800 QBD 0330 RPT AL K
RJF94 QTH 5833 2052 QTR 1148 QAH 5800 QBD 0330 K
16405 C K
Aircraft 16405 passes message to ground station RJF94. QTH = My position is at the following latitude / longitude Map Link at time (QTR) 1148. QAH = Flying at height 5800. QBD = Fuel / Endurance.
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 47040, Feb 2012
47040 QTC K
47040 DE RJF94 QRV K
47040 QTH 6733 3540 QTR 1005 QRE XLMV 1040 RPT AL K
RJF94 RPT K
47040 RPT QTH 6733 3540 QTR 1005 QRE XLMV 1040 RPT AL K
RJF94 QTH 6733 3540 QTR 1005 QRE XLMV 1040 K
47040 C K
Aircraft 47040 passes message to ground station RJF94. QTH = My position is at the following latitude / longitude Map Link at time (QTR) 1005. QRE = Estimated time of arrival at XLMV (Severomorsk-3) is 1040.
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 47040, Feb 2012
DE 47040 QTC QQM XLMV 1043 RPT AL K
RJF94 QQM XLMV 1043 K
47040 C S K
RJF94 OK S K
Aircraft 47040 passes message to ground station RJF94. QQM = I am landing at XLMV (Severomorsk-3) at 1043.
Recording of Morse Code from Russian Naval Air Transport Aircraft, 09409, Feb 2012
RJC38
RJF94 DE 09409 QSA ? QTC K
09409 DE RJF94 QSA 2 QRV K
09409 QTO 1034 QRD XUMO XLAA QRE 1255 QBD 13500 RPT AL K
RJF94 QTO 1034 QRD XUMO XLAA QRE 1255 QBD 13500 K
09409 C K
Aircraft 09409 passes message to ground stations RJC38 and RJF94. QTO = I am airborne at 1034. QRD = I am bound for XUMO (Ostafyevo) from XLAA (Arkhangelsk). QRE = Estimated time of arrival at XUMO (Ostafyevo) is 1255. QBD = Fuel / Endurance.
The following link contains information on the Russian Naval Air Transport communications network.
Naval Air Transport Units
List of Q-Codes
Ralf D. Kloth DL4TA - List of Q-codes
Some links of interest reference use of Q codes and memories of training.
Ex-Air Gunners: Short Bursts
Advanced Morse - Tony Cunnane's Life and Times
The Q Code
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
TEEEJ refers to traffic analysis by the Luftwaffe. I read a book a number of years ago of the History of the RAF Y-Service. I can't find details of the book but I did find some text by Peggy West and the wording was very similar.
IIRC the book sort of slipped in to publication and I seem to recall that there was dismay about it at the time. One feature was how the Y-Service in Malta was able to ensure that the defending fighters were on CAP at the extreme range of radar cover before the enemy bombers penetrated. Rather than a ground alert and late interception the bombers were harried all the way in.
IIRC the book sort of slipped in to publication and I seem to recall that there was dismay about it at the time. One feature was how the Y-Service in Malta was able to ensure that the defending fighters were on CAP at the extreme range of radar cover before the enemy bombers penetrated. Rather than a ground alert and late interception the bombers were harried all the way in.
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TEEEJ Thanks for those links, interesting & very readable morse but was expecting a higher sending speed from the Russians. Notice in groups they use shorthand for zero, T rather than 5 dashes. We did much the same when sending Met coded messages to shore.
Aplologies for the late reply.
Ricardian,
Thanks for that link.
Pontius Navigator,
Possibly the book was The Enemy is Listening by Aileen Clayton?
Mike744,
No problem. I'm glad that you were able to follow the recordings.
Ricardian,
Thanks for that link.
Pontius Navigator,
Possibly the book was The Enemy is Listening by Aileen Clayton?
Mike744,
No problem. I'm glad that you were able to follow the recordings.
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Radio meter
I have inherrited a plug box with details of a square search technique which seem to improve the method bya using a radio signal strength meter I suppose it was used in coinjunction with an early type of emergency beacon
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TEEJ, that was indeed pedestrian morse. I haven't taken morse in 20 years, but I got most of that. I'd guess no faster than 5wpm.
Interesting that the Russian telegraphists use the Roman alphabet. I wonder if they actually learn English, or whether they learn the "di-dar-dit" for the appropriate Russian phrase. In other words, they don't say "INT QRK" in their logs, they say "допрос проверку радио". Well, according to Google translation anyway.
Interesting that the Russian telegraphists use the Roman alphabet. I wonder if they actually learn English, or whether they learn the "di-dar-dit" for the appropriate Russian phrase. In other words, they don't say "INT QRK" in their logs, they say "допрос проверку радио". Well, according to Google translation anyway.
Hi Roadster,
It is fairly slow, but a bit faster than 5 wpm. Up around 10-12 wpm. I would imagine the easiest method would be "di-dar-dit" for the appropriate Russian phrase.
It is fairly slow, but a bit faster than 5 wpm. Up around 10-12 wpm. I would imagine the easiest method would be "di-dar-dit" for the appropriate Russian phrase.
