Circus, Ramrods, Rhubarbs & Sweeps July 1941

[timothy]

Yes, Franek - maybe I was a little flippant in my cups last night. We would have loved some creature comforts. On patrol at 30,000' in '41, my fingers were so numb I could not change to reserve fuel & had to return to base. I subsequently trialled the first pair of electrically heated gloves in service. Heaven!!

Yes - a floor would have been a joy, even to keep the grit out of your eyes when inverted! But we were unquestioning in the early days - just so thrilled to have such fine aircraft. And refinements? In part due to having our backs to the wall, & materials & capacity being short, whereas others had time to think & the capability to produce? And, as you suggest, lack of imagination?

Yes - I would have loved a cockpit like the P47 - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...4/RAF2/p47.jpg - but I still felt more of a passenger than the main cog. And how did we cope in our toy aircraft without all those switches??

190/Zeke? Most memorable was their rate of roll.

Y2? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...F2/y2Small.jpg

Fuel tanks? Perhaps something that was learned later through bitter experience.

= Tim