Military Reels
Military Reels In conjunction with the Armed Services, View-Master produced self-study military reels for distribution to the men in uniform for Plane and Ship recognition and range estimation. Study and Test Military Reels exemplify the amazing contributions View-Master played in so many aspects of everyday life even in days that were far from everyday. Â The U.S. Army and Navy contracted View-Master and several model making companies to produce accurate models of actual military aircraft and ships belonging to every belligerent nation to be photographed and made into 3D View-Master reels. Â Pilots and Gunners: Mainly for use by pilots and anti-aircraft/ships' gunners, these reels were to be used in self-teaching -recognition and range estimation- of planes and ships. Sets of varying sizes were boxed and accompanied by black Model B viewers, and were readily available for individual study. These sets were produced in great quantities, but only a fraction of the sets found their way into one's homeward bound sack. Three Classifications of Reels: There were basically three types of reels:
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Study Reels for (Aircraft) S# |
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Test Reels for Pilots (Aircraft) Test Reels for Pilots (Aircraft) T# |
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Study Reels for Gunners (Aircraft)
An Anti-Aircraft Study Reel features one plane in seven different attitudes (tilt/angle) and ranges for study of plane recognition. These reels are numbered:Â AA-S#Â |
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Test Reels for Gunners (Aircraft)
An Anti-Aircraft Test Reel features 7 different planes on each reel, often mixed nationalities, and at different ranges and attitudes to test recognition. These reels are numbered: AA-T#
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Study Reels for Gunners (Ship to Ship)
A Ship to Ship Study Reel features one ship. Each image shows that ship at a different range so that the viewer can learn both recognition and range by examples. These reels are numbered:Â STS-S# |
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Test Reels for Gunners (Ship to Ship)
A Ship to Ship Test Reel places 7 different ships on each reel often mixed nationalities,and at different ranges to test recognition and range estimationThese reels are numbered: STS-T#
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