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Temple Press War Planes

Published June 21, 2016 Updated July 02, 2024

“War Planes” aircraft recognition playing cards published by Temple Press Limited, c.1940.

1940 United Kingdom Aviation Education Wartime Card Games

Aircraft recognition was first developed between the First and Second World wars when aerial warfare was first recognised as a future threat. “War Planes” card game as an aid for aircraft spotting was published by Temple Press Limited at the start of WW2, c.1940. The set contains 65 cards illustrating five different views of British RAF and German Luftwaffe aircraft, including technical specifications, plus two flag key cards making a total of 67 cards. In addition to being used to learn aircraft recognition, fifty-two of the cards have standard suit symbols and indices enabling the pack to be used for playing most card games.

“War Planes” card game for aircraft spotters published by Temple Press Limited, c.1940 “War Planes” card game for aircraft spotters published by Temple Press Limited, c.1940 “War Planes” card game for aircraft spotters published by Temple Press Limited, c.1940

Above: “War Planes” card game for aircraft spotters published by Temple Press Limited, c.1940. 67 cards + rules booklet in box.

“War Planes” card game for aircraft spotters published by Temple Press Limited, c.1940

Note from Roddy Somerville

Here are scans of the booklet which accompanies the War Planes set from Temple Press.

“War Planes” card game for aircraft spotters published by Temple Press Limited, c.1940
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By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many.

His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service.

Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.


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