Squadron Scramble

Published July 02, 2016 • Updated March 13, 2022

“Squadron Scramble” card games for identifying military planes, Whitman Publishing Co., Racine, Wisconsin, 1942.

‘Squadron Scramble’ card game no.1 was designed for learning to identify American, British, German and Japanese WW2 military planes, manufactured by Whitman Publishing Co., Racine, Wisconsin, 1942. Each card has an authentic scale drawing of a military airplane plus recognition tips. The names of bomber aircraft are printed in red, fighters in blue. See the Instruction card►

Above: “Squadron Scramble” card game no.1 for identifying military planes, © copyright National Aeronautic Association of the USA, printed by Whitman Publishing Co., Racine, Wisconsin, 1942. 52 cards, including 3 “Keep ’em Flying” cards and one “Victory” card, plus instructions card in box. Images courtesy Rex Pitts.

‘Squadron Scramble’ card game no.1 for identifying military planes, Whitman Publishing Co., Racine, Wisconsin, 1942

Squadron Scramble No.2

‘Squadron Scramble’ card game no.2 was of similar design for learning to identify American, British, German, Russian, Italian and Japanese WW2 military planes, manufactured by Whitman Publishing Co., Racine, Wisconsin, 1942. See the Instruction card►

Above: ‘Squadron Scramble’ card game no.2, of similar design to game no.1, but with green backs.

FURTHER REFERENCE

“Squadron Scramble” Card Games (R112-8A & R112-8B)►

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By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

United Kingdom • 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.