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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 0144.PDF
54 Fighter Command published for the efficiency of this scheme was in connec- tion with the air exercises held shortly before the out- break ef hostilities. Eighty-five per cent, of the raids were intercepted despite the confusion or fog of war caused by the use of approximately 1,300 aircraft. This last number is a figure hardly likely to be exceeded, how- ever Blitz the Germans may try to make the war. During the visit we were treated to a show in the stop butts by the armament of a Spitfire. The rate of fire of the Brownings is such that the separate explo- sions overlap into one elongated crash. Standing ahead of the line of muzzles makes it impossible to keep even one's eyes open, while the ear drums feel as if they will be torn asunder^ Next we were shown a dunjrny strafe of the ground defences by Blenheim fighters, which are giving excellent service as night fighters, and, finally, with the Blenheims acting as enemy, an interception and shoot-up by Spitfires. The flying programme showed a quality of handling amounting to sheer artistry. Back in the mess with " a little wine for the stomach's sake " brought us in contact with one of our hosts, whose ribbons showed that he was equally familiar with Sop- with Pups and Camels as he was with Hawker Hurricanes and Spitfires. We asked him to make comparisons. As flying machines, the outstanding difference is in ihe present-day controls being much "nicer," but at the same time a good deal heavier, which is easily understood JANUARY 18, 1940. A fighter Blenheim : A battery of fixed machine guns is situated under the fuselage. when one remembers the speeds at which the modern single-seat fighter travels. Absence of forced landings was another instance quoted. In the 1914-18 war, engine reliability was not expected, and most of one's training and spare time was taken up practising "dead-stick"' landings to cope with any emergency. Nowadays, there are plenty of cases where a pilot has served his complete term of service and never had to " plant'' his machine unintentionally. Multiplicity and reliability of instru- ments was another obvious difference. Looked at in retrospect, the World War fighters, despite their two Vickers guns, were gentle knights in comparison with to-day's eight-gun job, which, accord- ing to our comparer, depresses its nose somewhat and loses some 30 m.p.h. on account of gun recoil alone. So ended an interesting visit. By the way, while we were there a flight went off on a real job over the North Sea. That is just how it went; quietly so as not to dis- turb the party, so to speak. J. Y. A home defence Blenheim fighter simulates the enemy to provide practice for the National Defence Corps, who man the ground defences seen below. Auxiliary Spitfires treat the visitors to a little fancy work.
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