Observer Corps

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The Observer Corps was a British civilian organization that visually tracked and reported aircraft movements to support the country’s air defense, especially during World War II.

Aliases (1)

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf aircraft observation organisation
civilian defence organisation
awarded Royal Air Force Ensign defaced with ROC badge
Royal title by King George VI
badge Royal Observer Corps crest
commandStructure group and post organisation
commemoratedBy memorials in the United Kingdom
country United Kingdom
disestablishmentReason reduced need for visual aircraft observation and nuclear reporting
dissolved 1995
duty aircraft direction reporting
aircraft height reporting
aircraft identification
aircraft position reporting
fullName Royal Observer Corps
governedBy Royal Warrant (for royal title and status)
hasHeadquartersLocation United Kingdom
heritage part of British civil defence history
inception 1925
insignia ROC shoulder titles
locationCountry United Kingdom
motto Forewarned is Forearmed
nickname ROC
notableConflict Battle of Britain
notableFor contribution to early warning of air raids on Britain
operatedDuring Cold War
Second World War
operationalMethod plotting of aircraft tracks on maps
telephone reporting network
parentOrganisation Air Ministry
partOf British air defence system
peakStrength tens of thousands of volunteers
primaryRole reporting aircraft movements
visual tracking of aircraft
receivedRoyalTitle 1941
scopeOfCoverage United Kingdom airspace
serviceBranchAssociation Royal Air Force (for operational purposes)
subordinateTo Royal Air Force Fighter Command
supported Ground-controlled interception system
fighter direction operations
trainingFocus aircraft recognition
reporting procedures
transitionedRole nuclear blast and fallout reporting in Cold War
typeOfVolunteerService part-time
uniform Royal Observer Corps battledress in later years
used control centres
observation posts
workforce civilian volunteers

Referenced by (7)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Battle of Britain
airDefenseSystemComponent
Observer Corps ("Royal Observer Corps")
fullName
Dowding system ("Royal Observer Corps")
hasComponent
Royal Air Force Ensign defaced with ROC badge ("Royal Observer Corps")
honours
Royal Observer Corps Ensign ("Royal Observer Corps")
serviceBranch
Chain Home ("Royal Observer Corps")
supportedBy
Royal Observer Corps Ensign ("Royal Observer Corps")
usedBy

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