I would appreciate an explanation of I.F.F. by forum members.
Please find below a page from 50 Squadron Orbs pertinent to 20 September 1941. I have also attached the relevant page as an atachment that hopefully will be easier to view.
The Orbs make mention that “The I.F.F. proved very successful against active searchlights.”
My understanding of I.F.F. is that it stands for “Identification Friend Or Foe” and was swithced on when approaching the English coast. I cannot understand its use in combating German defences and would appreciate the forums thoughts on this Orb entry.
With thanks, David Layne.
By: David Layne - 21st October 2010 at 13:31
Thanks smirky, that explains it.
By: smirky - 21st October 2010 at 13:21
There was an opinion among the aircrew that the IFF jammed the searchlight radar. This was described by R.V. Jones in his account of scientific intelligence ‘Most Secret War’. The IFF was equipped with a special switch causing it to transmit continuously. This was a silly thing to do since it gave away the aircraft’s position at night and is not now believed to have had any protective effect.
By: David Layne - 21st October 2010 at 13:21
Thanks for your input salad fingers. What you are descibing sounds like a transponder but I fail to understand the context in which it was mentioned in the squaron orbs,
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st October 2010 at 13:14
IFF
David
Hi- IFF is in indeed Intenfication Friend or Foe. I cant tell you about 1940 – before my time – However IFF is a 4 digit code say 5421 this is set in the cockpit. The ground station can interrogate this could to see if you have the correct friendly squawk ( code) . By gulf war 2 we had to change the code every thirty minutes so say 1200 it was 1265 then at 1230 3786 etc etc. Modern aircraft such as Typhoon can see this displayed on radar so say the time is 1225 and i lock onto a target and its not squawking 3786 chances are its hostile and i pull the trigger! – simple! hope this helps rgds SF
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October 21, 2010 at 12:20 pm