My father joined the RAF as a Brat in 1927. Somehow he was elected for aircrew training in 1942 or thereabouts and was sent to the States, Pensacola to be exact, to be trained by the US Navy. He was taught to fly both planes and boats and also to dance which surprised my mother somewhat. In his possessions before he died were two Dalton type computers. One of these was mechanical. There was a long strip of metal with calibration marks that was pivoted at the top of the instrument. It had a groove in it so that a peg on the wheel would swing it from side to side dependent on what wind you were using. I tried this once and it would give you, with a fair amount of grunt an accurate drift/groundspeed product. The other was similar to the Dalton I was used to but was like a box with handles top and bottom that would motor the paper background to cater for for anything from PBY2s or B29s. Both disappeared in his last days, probably by a relative who has since died.
Has anybody seen any others like that?
Last edited by Fareastdriver; 18th Apr 2021 at 08:22.