The Work of Army Co-operation Command , 1941

Abstract

This chapter highlights the initial difficulties Barratt faced in trying to run Army Co-operation Command due to the difficulties of his subordinates in carrying out their roles. This issue was not resolved by Barratt himself, despite the suggestions he put forward, but by an RAF officer of a lower rank. This demonstrated the status of Army Co-operation Command within the wider RAF Command framework. 1941 also saw the development of the Air Observation Post (Air OP) concept to improve the artillery reconnaissance abilities of the RAF. These developments occurred through co-operation between Army Co-operation Command and the School of Artillery and resulted in an artillery reconnaissance procedure that was utilised in several theatres of the Second World War. It also looks at the developments taking place for the application of tactical air power in the Western Desert in order to provide the context for what was happening in Britain and to highlight the importance of operational experience to test theoretical ideas. It also looks at the army’s perceived aircraft requirements for successfully conducting tactical air power and the exercises conducted to train forces for anti-invasion missions.