Which side would you fly for?.......

the lancaster kicks ass · Jun 23, 2004

not allot you can do about it though is there..........................

MP-Willow · Jun 24, 2004

now that you are all ready to go to war, just remember how you got there. ferry over the atlantic or risk the ride in a convoy! They were both bad. Why not stay home help train. You know some men were told they could not join because the skills they had were more important at home.

Now that we have a Canadian with us could you help me to understand if the RCAF flew on it's own or was part of the RAF?

Lightning Guy · Jun 24, 2004

Speaking of ferrying. You know there was only one type of fighter that actually ferried across the Atlantic during the war . . .

the lancaster kicks ass · Jun 24, 2004

the canadains used the lancaster Mk.X quite a bit didn't they??

Maestro · Jun 24, 2004

MP-Willow said:
Now that we have a Canadian with us could you help me to understand if the RCAF flew on it's own or was part of the RAF?

RCAF was not part of the RAF. I think they were under British command during WW II (like Canadian troops were under the command of General Dempsey on D-Day), but they were independant of the RAF.

Lightning Guy · Jun 24, 2004

As I understand it, Canadian pilots were generally assigned to their own squadrons and groups but were under the operational command of the RAF.

MP-Willow · Jun 25, 2004

Lightening yes I read about the P-38s lost in Greenlad! What a marketing name that was

Ok here is a bit for you all to read, it is an artical that helps to get the trueth about the French Airforce during the Battle of France. It is written by a USAF officer, retiered, and has good data. So the link is:www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1985/sep-oct/kirkland.html I know a lot of you reading this are not on the French side, but this talks of how the Army and government really tied the hands of te Airforce.

Lightning Guy · Jun 25, 2004

Operation Bolero ferrying the P-38s across the Atlantic was a phenomenal success. Out of 171 planes that attempted the journey, only 7 were lost and 6 of those on one mission! Pretty impressive for a single-seat fighter flying through some really rough weather.

MP-Willow · Jun 28, 2004

So I read! I am not shure I would have been up for that, what a lot of hours of nothing?

Maestro · Jun 28, 2004

Lightning Guy said:
As I understand it, Canadian pilots were generally assigned to their own squadrons and groups but were under the operational command of the RAF.

That's exactly what I meant, mate.

the lancaster kicks ass · Jun 28, 2004

what a lot of hours of nothing

i'm sure you could make up some fun games, spot the fish, count the waves, yellow plane.............................

Dan · Jun 28, 2004

well i surely would be on the allied side but i'm not sure this is true but i heard that most of the Caniadans got hanger work like mecanic and stuff
only the really really good canadians got to fly in the squadrons

Lightning Guy · Jun 28, 2004

Combat flying was alot of time spent doing nothing. In the Pacific, P-38 pilots often took along books to read or would write letters home. Over Europe, I have heard several pilots describe their missions as long hours of boredom interspersed with moments of sheer terror.

MP-Willow · Jun 29, 2004

Lightening Guy -that is what friends have said to me and what I was thinking of when I wrote last.

Lanc, I was talking of the Ferry missions from Maine to England. But combat could be the same.

Tarror and Bordome are companions in war. War as one friend said is Hurry up and wait.

the lancaster kicks ass · Jun 29, 2004

Lanc, I was talking of the Ferry missions from Maine to England

what makes you think I wasn't??

MP-Willow · Jun 30, 2004

ok sorry it wounded you were talking of combat.

You could come up with some games but stil all that time in a little seat. The P-38 is not that big.

Hot Space · Jun 30, 2004

Wales

Hot Space

Lightning Guy · Jun 30, 2004

I found it interesting when I was reading the tactics manual written by Maj. Tommy MacGuire that he emphasized the importance of making sure you were comfortable in that seat. Nine hour missions were common in the Pacific and that is a long time to sit in a bucket seat.