Spotter Chair Analysis

SPOTTER CHAIR
Description

The spotter chair was a simple design but with multiple uses like, a mini table, adjustable arm rest, and for those who want to rest their heads there was a leather head rest that was also adjustable. The arm rest had built in wooden cradles for holding binoculars. It was a steel famed canvas chair, which laid horizontal for more comfort. The canvas body for the chair rested tight onto four medium green spiked feet that rested on the floor. Like the supporting legs the whole steel frame was green, and over time the pain has chipped as well and the leather starts to wear and tear. This device from the World War 2 was used by groups like VAOC (Volunteer air observer corps) and ROC (British Royal Observer Corps).

Uses.
Though this was not the main tool used during WW2, it was a life
saver as well a big killer. If you were a VAOC (Volunteer Air Observer Corps) you would be sitting on this chair out in the fields looking up in the sky, but this time not to star gaze but to spot aircrafts flying by, allies and enemies too. Many types of roles in society worked in this area like, anti-aircraft batteries, specialist observers from Australian women’s army service (AWAS), sailors at shore bases, British Royal Observer corps (ROC), Australian VAOC (Volunteer air observer corps) and air men protecting rasa installations and airfields. From VAOC there were tens of thousands of volunteers working on this job. Many Australians volunteered for VAOC which was created 31st of December 1941, this group was created to support ROC (British Royal Observer corps) and provided info for RAAF (Royal Air Control Post) Though most of the time they didn’t see Japanese planes but rather saved many allied planes, it could be said that this device was more of a life saver than a killer. Over time the roles of VAOC expended, to jobs like Coast watching, assisting air traffic and weather reporting.

Were the volunteers praised?

Like going to war, being a VAOC, AWAS, ROC or anything like was praised, narrowing it down to VAOC, they were rewarded with badges, thank you and certificates, each badge has VAOC’s logo, their logo was a round steel badge.
With 3 circles each a different colour, outer ring blue, middle ring white and inner ring red. The colours themselves stood for the union jack. In the outer blue ring it said “Volunteer Air Observer Corps” each white badge said something different depending on the Volunteer’s level. From lowest rank to highest rank it said” commandant, observer then the highest rank being Chief Observer. At the back of the badge it said “This badge is the property of the depth of air”. In the middle, spanning its wing across the badge was a bird in gold. Though it sounds like an already impressing thank you, it wasn’t the only thing. They also received a certificate, which said presented to ‘name’. Under that was “Royal Australian Air Force” The top emblem is the Royal Australian Air Force. And the bottom emblem was a picture of the badge that they were awarded. Over all they were sincerely and truly thanked and appreciated for they have save many
lives.