FORWARD OBSERVATION COMBINED OPERATIONS BOMBARDMENT UNIT. War Establishment XII/140/1. October 1943. This is a War Establishment for landings in Italy but from secondary sources it seems identical to that used in NW Europe. Major 9 X Captain, Bombardment Liaison Officers. (includes one as troop intelligence officer) Liaison officers were carried aboard the ships assigned to a bombardment role. 7 X Observation Party each Captain, Forward Observation Officer observation post assistant 2 X telegraphist RN 1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 One troop of seven observation parties was usually assigned to each assault division. On D Day artillery surveyors were also landed with the leading elements. They were to erect marker beacons so that bombardment ships could fix their position and accurately engage targets on shore. FIRE LIAISON PARTY In November 1944 Fire Liaison Parties were formed. There were four of these, similar in organisation, personnel and function to the forward observation teams. It was the function of these parties to co ordinate fire of artillery units outside the Airborne Division. In the Rhine Crossing in particular the airborne drops were within range of RA units on the near side of the Rhine and could call on them for fire support. The following is from War Establishment I/166/2 with an effective date of February 1945. 2 X Captain, Forward Observer 2 X technical assistant 3 X signaller 3 X driver operator driver IC 1 X motorcycle 3 X car 5cwt 4 X 4 2 X 10cwt trailer Motorcycle signaller 5cwt car 4 X 4 (jeep) 1 Captain Forward Observer, signaller, driver operator Carries 2 X wireless set Tows a tailer. 5cwt car 4 X 4 (jeep) 2 Captain Forward Observer, signaller, driver operator Carries 2 X wireless set Tows a tailer. 5cwt car 4 X 4 (jeep) 3 driver operator, 2 X technical assistants RA, driver IC Carries a hand cable layer. Carries signal stores. Carries a Bren lmg AIR OBSERVATION POST SQUADRON. AIR OBSERVATION POST SQUADRON (ARMY PERSONNEL). War Establishment III/126/4. October 1943 Air Observation Post Squadrons (AOP) were provided on the basis on one per corps plus one per army. This gave the equivalent of one flight per forward division and one flight for each Army Group Royal Artillery. The squadron had mixed Royal Artillery and Royal Air Force personnel. The Commanding Officer and all the pilots were Royal Artillery officers. 55% of the other ranks were also Royal Artillery. The Royal Air Force provided three officers and the servicing personnel. Each squadron had twelve aircraft and 23 pilots (including first reserves). There were three flights of four aircraft each. Each aircraft had its own ground crew and could operate independently if required. The following squadrons were deployed in 21 Army Group. 622 Squadron 83 Group 2 Army 652 Squadron 83 Group 2 Army 653 Squadron 83 Group 2 Army 658 Squadron 83 Group 2 Army 659 Squadron 83 Group 2 Army 660 Squadron 84 Group 1 Canadian Army 661 Squadron 84 Group 1 Canadian Army Personnel Major RA Captain 3 X Captain Flight Commanders 12 X Captain Section Commander 2 X reserve pilots Note: All officers are qualified air observation post pilots. battery quartermaster serjeant signalling serjeant 4 X serjeant lance serjeant 5 X bombardier 7 X lance bombardier 39 X gunner Tradesmen bombardier clerk, RA clerks section 3 X clerk 22 X driver operator driver mechanic 4 X vehicle mechanic Note: One tradesman may be a lance serjeant and one a lance bombardier. Non tradesmen 3 X batman (including two to act as motor cyclists) 16 X batman driver 13 X driver IC 8 X motor cyclist sanitary dutyman 5 X signaller Attached from RAF 2 X officer (one to act as second in command) Warrant officer Engineer 60 X other ranks Total: 102 Vehicles 11 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 17 X car, 5cwt, 4 X 4 (jeep) 17 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt Office 5 X 15cwt Wireless 5 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS 4 X 3ton 4 X 4 Anti Tank Portee 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 machinery M 1 X water trailer Squadron Headquarters Major RA Captain 2 X reserve pilots battery quartermaster serjeant signalling serjeant serjeant lance serjeant 2 X bombardier 16 X gunner Tradesmen bombardier clerk, RA clerks section 4 X driver operator driver mechanic vehicle mechanic 3 X batman (including two to act as motorcyclists) batman driver 10 X driver IC 2 X motor cyclist sanitary dutyman signaller Attached from RAF 2 X officer Warrant Officer Engineer 24 X other ranks Vehicles 5 X motorcycle 1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 2 X jeep 2 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt Office 2 X 15cwt Wireless 2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS 4 X 3ton 4 X 4Anti Tank Portee 1 X 3ton 6 X 4 machinery M 1 X water trailer Flight X 3 Headquarters Captain, Flight Commander serjeant lance serjeant bombardier 4 X gunner Tradesmen clerk 2 X driver operator vehicle mechanic batman driver driver IC 2 X motor cyclist signaller Attached from RAF 4 X other ranks Vehicles 2 X motorcycle 1 X jeep 1 X 15cwt GS 1 X 15cwt Wireless 1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS Section X 4 Captain Section Commander driver operator batman driver flight mechanic RAF rigger RAF 1 X jeep 1 X 15cwt The RAF provided the Auster aircraft. Later the 15cwt was replaced by a 3ton 4 X 4 GS lorry. AUSTER When Air Observation Squadrons were introduced it was necessary to find an existing aircraft that could do the job. There was not time to design a new aircraft. The obvious choice was the US Grasshopper which was intended as a liaison aircraft rather than an observation aircraft but was readily available and well suited to the intended task. These were ordered but lost at sea so that the Auster was chosen instead. This was an older design, and again it was American. The Auster was based on the prewar Taylorcraft, a high winged monoplane which had been popular with private owners and flying cubs before the war. Some had been impressed in 1939 and some went to France with the BEF. They were well thought of and had the following basic requirements for observation work. A high wing to give good downward visibility A low stalling speed An ability to use unprepared grass landing strips An ability to land and take off in 250 yards. The basic design was improved to give good all round vision and more power. Auster MkIV and V were used in 21 Army Group. https://mail.google.com/mail/?name=d33be9805ff33117.jpg&attid=0.1&disp=vahi&view=att&th=133ea03574bb4c77 Wireless set No22 was fitted to AOPs. This was a standard set widely used by the Royal Artillery. It could be used with the standard wire aerial stretched between the cockpit and the top of the tail fin, and then back to the front spar of the main frame. A longer aerial was carried by some aircraft. This consisted of a 150 foot aerial on a winch drum. A length of aerial to suit the frequency being used could be paid out and streamed behind the aircraft. Throat microphones were used and communication between the pilot and observer could also be provided. BEDFORD QL PORTEE The anti tank portee is specified in the War Establishment. The 6pdr portee was obsolete and all unissued ones were converted to GS lorries. Those that had been issued to artillery units found other uses within the Royal Artillery. In the UK before D Day some were used as tractors for the 17 pdr anti tank gun. In AOP Squadrons the portee was held at headquarters in order to recover Austers that had suffered damage on landing, suffered battle damage or had been forced to land somewhere from where they could not take off. They could also be transported on the portee when deploying. The portee had a flat body. The Auster had readily removable wings and could easily fit on the flat bed, although there was some overhang. https://mail.google.com/mail/?name=d33be9805ff33117.jpg&attid=0.1&disp=vahi&view=att&th=133ea03574bb4c77