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''ELSA'' AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION BOOK

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1943

Overview

Buff coloured stiff cover with blue text opens up to allow the pages with the aircraft silhouettes and other identifying information to be extended to provide three double sheets.
The cover has hand printed information relating to the owner [WF 91282 SAPPER MARSH], Sapper has been crossed out and [BOMBADIER] written above it. Under Marsh is [SORRY] below this [GUNNER NOW] with an arrow down to [NOW A/BAR] all written in pencil.
The printed text is [''ELSA'' / AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION / CARD] and then [Instructions for Use: / 1. Learn to note the main features of / aircraft in sequence from front to rear. / Note also any peculiarities such as / obvious gun turret, fuselage projecting / behind the tail, etc. / 2. It is not necessary to be able to see all / the features in order to deduce the type / of aircraft. / 3. Beginning, if possible, at the front of / the aircraft, apply the features noted to the relevent section of the card. The / group of possibles will lessen as each / feature is applied. The Silhoutte amd / remarks will finalise the answer. / Australia, May, 1942. / CROWN COPYRIGHT RESERVED.].
The back cover has the Abbreviations Monoplanes and Biplanes with information by Columns 1 to 7. In bottom right corner, it also has text [S & McD -- 15M 8/42].

Historical information

It was used by Merle Marsh in WWII as part of her duties as a member of the 66th Australian Ack Ack Search Light Battery. Enlisted 27th December 1942 and discharged 13 May 1946, Merle was stationed at Naval Base Western Australia during this time.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2010.42A

Item type

Books

Material

Card

Paper

Width

15 cm

Height or length

11.9000 cm

Themes

People

War and Conflict

Social History

Inscriptions and markings

S & McD

Keywords

Commonwealth of Australia

NAVAL BASE Western Australia

MARSH Elvie Merle Miss

66th Australian Anti Aircraft Search Light Battery

Year

1943

Statement of significance

HIGH
Provenance: It was used by Merle Marsh during WWII as part of her military duties. Includes lists of plane outlines.
Historic: Women were enlisted in the armed forces during WWII to assist with the defence of Australia. Merle Marsh of Armadale enlisted in the Australian Army from 1942 to 1946 and served as a member of the 66th Australian Ack Ack Search Light Battery.
Scientific: Book containing the outlines of numerous allied and enemy planes to assist with their identification.

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Rare or representative

City of Armadale - History House

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