2nd pilot in a hampden

[brewerjerry]

Hi All
I have seen mentioned a few times now the term ' second pilot ' in hampden crews
even 2nd pilot hours being quoted in some cases

any ideas where the second pilot sat ?

i thought hampdens were single seaters
and not dual control
cheers
jerry

[Alex Smart]

This thread from RAF Commands Forum may shed a little light on the subject of "2nd Pilot".

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...Jan-1942/page2

[bearoutwest]

Interesting comparison with the "second-pilot" position on the similar narrow layout Martin B-10 /export W139 aircraft. The relief pilot was located in the dorsal-gun position, with rudimentary instruments. His task was to take over the controls to spell the pilot during longer patrols, and to take over if the pilot was hit by enemy action. There was no intent to land the Martin bomber from the rear seat, just to get it to a safer location for the crew to bale out. The Dutch East Indies crew were forced to utilise this feature on a number of missions in 1941/42. The Dutch actually referred to the crew member as the "gunner-pilot" if suitably qualified.


Hello Alex, I seem to be following you around the past few days. Nothing intended... purely coincidental... not stalking...


...geoff

[brewerjerry]

Hi
Thanks for the info
cheers
jerry

[gedburke3]

Dear all,
I have attached a couple of pictures relating to a Hampden Navigator / 2nd pilot.

Sergeant Vic Baker served with 61 Squadron and flew on Hampdens.
All of the Navigator logs I have relating to him show him as Navigator, however, he was a qualified pilot and the Squadrons group photograph show him wearing a pilots brevet.

In the group picture he is in the back row where the crease in the photograph is.

Regards
gerry

[Dennis Peschier]

The procedure is described in “The Hampden File” by Harry Moyle. Page 66.

The difficulty experienced by a second pilot in taking over the controls was described by Robin Hooper, who practiced the change – over drill with Len Ratcliff at 16 OUT in 1941. “After letting down the hinged back of the pilot’s seat, the first pilot lay back while the second pilot took hold of the control column, then, sitting astride the prostrate body of his comrade, carried out the trickiest part of the exercise – that of moving the first pilots feet from the rudder pedals and inserting his own in their place. The final act was the removal of the original pilot by dragging him out from under the posterior of his replacement. The exercise was later removed from the syllabus because it was too dangerous.