Recent content by NiallC

I do wonder where this idea that the Peregrine was “unreliable” first started. There’s zero evidence to support it - although it would be true to say that the installation of the engine in the Whirlwind was pretty unsound in terms of cooling (and induction efficiency). As others have noted the...

Hmm. I wonder whether this would be the first time a designer has played a little fast and loose with the facts when defending his creation? 13 Group organised a conference, attended by Westland, at Drem on September 25th 1940 to discuss 263 Squadron’s problems with the Whirlwind, the report...

Sorry to disagree Edgar, but the record says otherwise. You’re absolutely correct that the second prototype did not physically go to A&AEE until late August 1939, but that was not the first opportunity that A&AEE pilots had been given to express an opinion of the aircraft. 4 pilots from A&AEE...

I’m afraid that the "exhaust ran through the fuel tank" is among the top 10 Whirlwind myths. Sadly, I think it originates with the memoirs of Westland test pilot Hal Penrose and, even more sadly, it’s now been repeated so many times it’s become “true”. At no point in its development did the...

Specification F4/35 was for an interception fighter rather than a Zone Fighter (such as F7/30 which led to the Gladiator). As such it had considerably shorter range, endurance being around 1.67 hours compared with 3 for the Gladiator. (You have to be a little careful making direct comparisons...

Smokey The article you mention is actually in Aeroplane (Feb 2006) not Flypast. I know this because I wrote it:-) The gist of the story (as you'll know, but others might not) is that in December 1940 the Air Attache in Sofia was duped by a man claiming to be Baur's father-in-law into...

In answer to your questions 1. I'm not at all sure that the F8F is slower than the Corsair, but, in any event, weight is not of great importance in maximum speed. A Tiger Moth is rather lighter than either the F8F or an F4U, but also somewhat slower. Power(and the efficiency of converting that...

Deliveries of the first batch of 100 Tomahawks for the RAF - taken over from a French order - did not start to arrive (by sea) in the UK until November 1940, by which time the Battle of Britain was over (officially at least, even if no-one seems to have informed the Luftwaffe of this fact)...

I think the unit involved is not 419 Squadron but 419 (Special Duties) Flight, formed August 40 with Lysanders and Whitleys at North Weald. As with all the 400 series flights it was renumbered in March 41 (to avoid confusion with the new 400 series Squadrons then being formed) as 1419 (Special...

In total the RAF received 520 Marauders (less a few that crashed pre-delivery) made up of 70 Marauder 1 (B26A), 100 Marauder II (B26C) and 350 Marauder III (200 B26F and 150 B26G). Major users were 14 and 39 Sqns RAF and 12 and 24 Sqns SAAF - all in Mediterranean/North Africa theatre. As...