Recognition models – also called spotter models - were
miniature versions of big aircraft, and used during the war to train people to
recognise the aircraft they saw flying above them in the sky. Every town and village had ‘Spotters’ who
were tasked with watching the sky.
Whenever they saw an aircraft they had to determine whether it was one
of their own or belonged to the enemy.
If it was a friendly aircraft, the Spotters sounded the All-clear; but
if it was an enemy aircraft, they sounded the Alarm. Everyone went to hide in safe places, except
the sharp-shooters who tried to shoot the enemy aircraft down. And sometimes their own bombers went up into
the air, specifically to shoot and destroy the enemy aircraft!
“So you see,” Fatty concluded, “they are using us to destroy
the big aircraft! We have got to do
something!”
This was a new concept to them. Do something?
They were just tiny toy models, only a few centimetres across and unable
even to fly unaided - what could they possibly do?
The bombers had been considering this problem for some time. For them the issue was very pressing; every
day they heard of bombers being shot down, both their own and enemy airplanes.
“If we all disappeared, they could no longer distinguish
between their own and the enemy aircraft, and would have to stop shooting them
down,” said a He 111.
“Easy to say, but how can we possibly ‘disappear’,” asked a
sturdy Horsa. “Do you suggest we set
fire to ourselves and commit mass suicide?”
“We could fly,” said the He 111.
“Speak for yourself,” replied the Horsa. “Us transport gliders can’t fly, and even the
model sports gliders have never done it.”
The other transport glider models all nodded in agreement.
A sleek Spitfire cast an arrogant eye across the transport glider
models. “Well, learn it, then! Miserable collection of lumbering oafs! You think us bomber models can fly just like
that? We will all have to learn it!”
But how?
