[J Harris]

Dear all

The Luftwaffe engine date sheet for the DB601N states that oil usuage was between 5 and 9 litres of oil per hour.

When an auxiliary oil tank was fitted the operator (in the rear of the cabin) was instructed to pump oil at a rate of 7.5 litres per hour, presumably being an approximation to use.

We also know that at times during the flight (take off, approach to English coast and whilst over Scotland) Hess was operating the engine at its dauerleistung (maximum continuous power) setting.

Therefore the question that we pose is simply that a prudent pilot, expecting a 5 hour 24 minutes flight would surely utilise an auxiliary oil tank?

At 7.5 litres per hour the engine tanks would be empty at 4 hours 40 minutes, at 9 litres per hour even shorter.

We have established that the Duxford fuselage does not have the auxiliary oil pipeline - it has been blanked off and wired. I will try and post a photograph of the same.

So, if there was no tank, we think it likely that a Northern German landing was sensible. It certainly 'de risked' the flight and got overt the problem of Hess having to perform the pumping task. The downside was that if discovered, the 'solo flight' story would collapse and Stalin wonder why Hess was flying to Britain, backed by the Luftwaffe.

We also have other information that certainly infers a landing - apparently after 370 -410 kms from Augsberg. Hence the original question.