SIR – Saturday, May 9, sees the anniversary of The Battle of Aubers Ridge. After an initial failed attempt on 25 April, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) made the first concerted attempt to mount ‘contact patrols’, consisting of low-flying aircraft seeking to identify the exact whereabouts of friendly troops during an attack.

Three squadrons of First Wing of the RFC were attached to the First Army, to fly defensive patrols for four days before the attack, and to deter enemy reconnaissance. Three aircraft of No.16 Squadron attempted to fulfil this role during the assaults on the Aubers Ridge, sending down 42 wireless messages reporting on the progress of ground troops, who displayed white sheets (7 feet by 2 feet).

At this time troops did not have the benefit of portable radios, and could only send back information on their progress by means of runners.

Although perhaps better than nothing, Contact Patrols were never to prove a wholly reliable method of obtaining information on what would now be called the ‘Forward Line of Own Troops’.

During the attack they continued to conduct artillery observation and reconnaissance sorties and to bomb enemy rear areas, railway junctions and bridges further away.

Peter J Palmer, Buttermere Road, Bradford