Us Official Photographs

Rover Joes in Mediterranean

"Rover Joe" -- a ground-air tactical method used by Mediterranean Allied Air Forces to coordinate fighter-bombers and infantry action in the mountain approaches. "Rover Joes" (usually former pilots) spot enemy targets and by radio, relay locations to MAAF fighter-bombers, who knock them out. Here, after an attack is over, "Rover Joe" interrogates the flight leader by radio, to find out if the target was well hit. He must have this information in order to decide whether or not to assign another flight to the same target. Results of that on-the-spot interrogation are flashed back to Army long before the planes get back to their Group. Italy. 1 December 1944.