Light up a Lucky. US Navy in the Pacific 1944.

[General Savage]

[Larry]

I seem to remember that smoking onboard USAAFand USN aircraft was considered OK, whereas RAF crews were warned against such practises in the air!

I even read a theory that the Martin PBM Mariner that was lost while hunting for the Grumman Avengers lost off Florida post war. actually blew up as someone was smoking and that set off fuel vapours from the overload tanks!

[General Savage]

I remember when I read Paul Brickhill's "Reach for the Sky, about Douglas Bader.
On the way home from sorties Bader was known to slide back the canopy on his Spitfire and light up his pipe.
The rest of the squadron would sheer off in semi mock alarm.

[gilles collaveri]

GREAT add,

thanks

GC