[David Ransome]

Hi,

Yes, I believe that the leather was part of the self sealing system. Whilst I have found leather 'binding' on fuel tanks I have also found man made heavy duty fabric used on similar tanks, but generally from a later aircraft.

I think that the leather/fabric was possibly used to retain the shape and integrity of the rubber? I've got a copy of a British report on German self sealing tanks somewhere but regrettably would have great difficulty in trying to locate it in the foreseeable future - possibly from a 1940 aircraft magazine?

Regards

David