Urinating in a fighter

A serious question: on a 6 hour flight to Berlin and back sitting in a cramped cockpit, how did a US fighter pilot relieve himself? Did they wear an absorptive nappy or towel?

[Tony Williams]

Probably just let it go, as Formula 1 racing drivers still do to this day.


Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

[markjsheppard]

Hi

The Bell P39 Airacobra recovered last year had a funnel and pipe which lead out of the aircraft.

regards

MS

[Ruy Horta]

I believe the correct name is "relief tube" and the function is quite logical

Just try a Google search.

Looks like most US fighters were fitted with such a system, probably a case of aircraft endurance outlasting human endurance!

Quick glance through my Bf 109 and Fw 190 manuals does not show any such system, but I could easily have missed it (although I do not remember ever reading about such either).

[ssg keay]

Yes the relief tube....what a joy. I read a book a while back when a P-51 pilot was taking a leak and didn't see the Me109 creeping up on his 6. Problem was the German pilot was a novice and in his eagerness, got to close and rammed the Mustang with the result of the Mustang loosing the tail. The pilot said he, "dropped everthing, and in the initial shock got his you know what stuck to the aluminum funnel". Now he had two options, either rip some skin and bail, or if he crashes, have his corpse found with to much showing. What an option!! Still have the book if anyone wants to know the titel. Danny

[Artist]

I have a good friend who flew P-51,s in the CBI. Yes they had a relief tube, but the problem many of them had it could not be used for. Bob