Clouds Start Dancing About ... lost 5 to 7K feet turning gently with nose to the ground 1940

[Observer1940]

I have been looking at some 1940 to early 1941 Accident Cards and anything I can find in relation to accident reports and publications, for RAF aircraft descending out of cloud and striking the ground or hill, or descending into the ground or hill.

The attached report appears to have a reference to turbulence in the clouds, which must have been a problem for flyers in 1940, but there is little reference to turbulence elsewhere in A.M. and other files.

Surely the RAF were aware of the affects of turbulence on aircraft in 1940? Anyone else come across any 1940 references to turbulence?

Thanks
Mark

[Revi16]

The report seems to point to either oxygen deprivation or pilot error. Flying through a big thunderhead will get you a lot of turbulence, but your typical puffy white clouds won't be a problem.

[Observer1940]

Revi, thank you for your reply.

It is possible the pilot who gave the account could be oxygen deprived when flying at a significant height, after a set period.

One thing, is that the RAE were asking the DTD (Director of Technical Development) to arrange an interview with the pilot who made the account.

Pilot error was not even being considered by the RAE, despite a few RAF reports suggesting low flying or aerobatics.

Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft had crashed in 1940 / 1941 after an unexplained dive, some pulling out but then seen to dive again and MAP it seems were requesting the RAE to review a number of crashed Hurricane and Spitfires reports to discover why.

The RAE had got RAF via the Accidents Investigation Branch (the odd one was only an Air Ministry Casualty Signal) and it seems some 1941 reports they got from the RAF.

I searched out a post war extract to turbulence buffeting read in 1952 and at high speed it would be impossible to fly for any length of time.

Mark