Yes. “Observer” was a bit of an ironic term for the poor blighter in the front cockpit of a BE2. He couldn’t see very much forwards (engine) or upwards (top wing), he couldn’t even see that much downwards over the leading edge of the the bottom wing.

The normal procedure seems to have been for the pilot to do all the “observing”, while his colleague knelt on the front seat, looking backwards for enemy aircraft. I kid you not!!