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B-N,Hey Biff,
Surely the point in WW2 is getting out of visual range, regardless of whether you're flying at night or in daytime? Or at least getting far enough away so that, coupled with acceleration/speed, the enemy fighter can't get to you?
I'd be absolutely astounded if Blenheim navigators weren't trained during the OTU phase in determining whether or not a gaggle of EA constituted a threat. As you point out, failure to train to that would result in even worse loss rates. By the time the Mossie entered service, the RAF had 3 years of operational experience in Blenheims and I just don't think it's realistic to assume the navigators were incapable of accurately reporting threats to the pilot.
Again, I'm not suggesting it's smart for a Mossie to tangle with a SE fighter. However, given the operational areas, particularly for the anti-shipping strikes, and given the operational experience of the RAF at the time, I find it really hard to believe that the navs weren't capable of working with the pilot to spot and report threats.
Going back to the F-15E for a second, I was at RAF Honington when the first Strike Eagles arrived just up the road at Lakenheath. At that time, the UK's low flying areas were something of a wild west. Any military aircraft flying in the LFAs was deemed a suitable target to be bounced by any other military aircraft in the area. This was not pre-coordinated but simply arranged on the fly with the appropriate ATC. After the F-15Es arrived, several RAF squadrons attempted to bounce them only to be told "knock it off". Shortly after, we had a liaison visit from some Strike Eagle crews. When asked why they refused to engage with the bounce, they responded that they were still trying to figure out how to fight the aircraft...apparently the MFDs had so many levels and configurations that the WSOs were getting "lost" in the software...and doing that at 250ft altitude was a BAAAAD thing! Happy days....
Cheers,
B-N
but afaik, and came from this forum, the german safe moltiplicator was 1.85x1.5 = 7.5 < 8
How about the DH Hornet?Greg's right, you can't really compare the Mosquito and P-38, the latter was designed specifically as a fighter interceptor, whereas the Mosquito wasn't.
How about the DH Hornet?
I can only imagine the poor bastard kneeling in the seat when he suddenly spots an Me262 tearing out of the overcast and closing fast, forcing the pilot to break hard.Vision to the rear was not great.
So much so that sometimes the navigator/radio operator would turn around and kneel on his seat to look back.
Then it is kneeling in prayer.I can only imagine the poor bastard kneeling in the seat when he suddenly spots an Me262 tearing out of the overcast and closing fast, forcing the pilot to break hard.
You deserve bacon on that as well!Then it is kneeling in prayer.
Hard to kneel in prayer when you're bouncing all over like a pachinko ball!Then it is kneeling in prayer.
How about the DH Hornet?
The DH Hornet didn't make WWII, so it really isn't a good comparison with the P-38. It was introduced in 1946 and the P-38 was all but retired by 1946. A very few hung around until about 1949 in the USAF, but they weren't front-line airplanes after WWII. We were all into jets after 1945.How about the DH Hornet?
Well, the resident contrarians are having trouble with Mossies showing up over England in 1941, let alone having them show up the Far East.Not intending to trigger our resident contrarians but just imagine this Mossie over Malaya, Burma and the South Pacific in 1941-42.
I read an article interviewing a Skyraider pilot in VietNam talking about sometimes having to fly the two-seater alone and that it was always a problem trying to see over the co-pilot position. We're Mossies always flown with the navigator?Plus having two pairs of eyes with the canopy affording (essentially) all-round visibility is something of an advantage. I'm not saying the Mossie was a dogfighter but I think the 2-man crew was more of an advantage than a disadvantage if it did have to engage.
Thanks for posting.Mossie link DH home
No groundhog?Thanks for posting.
Mosquito, Lancaster and Spitfire. With this trio in numbers Britain is set.