Re: Unofficial carrying of people RAF aircraft

[Danny152]

Hi all,

Not going into the realms of history but regarding unofficial passengers onboard flights, did the Air Ministry produce any official paperwork - orders regarding this matter, if so can anyone please provide me the location?


Thanks

Danny

[Chris Goss]

Danny: Not sure what you are asking. Are you talking about bombers, fighters or transport? Transport would be subject to weight and balance considerations and therefore an accurate manifest. I know of 2 fighters pilots who took up someone on their lap; one got into trouble; one got killed

[Adriano Baumgartner]

If memory does not fail me, Douglas Bader was one of those who was in trouble...do need to check onto his biographies where the passage is...

But guess you are asking for the A.M.O. number isn't it?

[Adriano Baumgartner]

The same do apply for "Low level flying"....there was an Air Ministry Order about that...but do not remember the "official number"....

[Bruce Lander]

Roland Beaumont noted in "Against The Sun" was reprimanded when he took a WAAF on his knee in a Hurricane in 1941

[edwest2]

Unofficial and agents to be dropped into enemy occupied territory. I doubt word got out at the time about any agents to be dropped.

[Chris Goss]

Bea Beamont (not Beaumont) was one to whom I was referring-I seem to remember he told me about it!

[MW Giles]

Low flying is covered by Kings Regulations for the RAF (I have the 1941 edition)

Para 717 (7) Flying at altitudes of less than 2000ft over land or water is prohibited unless specifically authorised by the air or other officer commanding or for the purpose of training over areas duly authorised by him, except
a) when taking off
b) when landing or preparing to do so
c) when necessitated by the weather
d) when required in connection with exercises or missions involving co-operation with the ground or sea

Low flying practices must be ordered in every instance by a flight commander or instructor

Regarding passengers, Para 797 covers who may be a passenger. There is a general rule that all flights must be authorised (Paras 693 and 725)

There is also a general requirement about ensuring a/c is air worthy (change in CoG for two people in a single seater might be problematic)

However I cannot find a rule that the number of passengers (including pilot) must be less than or equal to the number of seats in the aircraft

Martin

[MW Giles]

You may find the following link interesting

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documen...t%20Safety.pdf

Martin

[harryurz]

I seem to recall reading one of the older 'Eagle Squadrons' histories that F/L Gordon Brettell (133 Sqn. and later executed in aftermath of the Great Escape) was reprimanded for carrying a WAAF passenger in his Spitfire.