Did most British bombers at the time have only one pilot? If so, why?
Did the RAF decide throughout the war that an injured and/or overworked solo pilot would not jeopardize the mission or the crew's chances of making it home? It must have been a huge workload (autopilot almost always operational...), even in good weather with a fairly easy target. I don't know, maybe the four-engine bombers had relatively experienced pilots. It can be challenging for us to continue in our old twin-turbofan planes if the auto- pressurization fails, IF the FO volunteers to do it after I suggest on climbout that we could turn around, with his eyes and hands on the system for most of the flight: even in good weather, with no flak (Flieger Abwehr Kanone) or engines catching on fire while an electrical system is going out.
I read an excellent article on a very fast, heavily armed British twin-engine plane (not the Mosquito), which was at least once used against ships in Norway's steep fjords, but forgot the name. The plane was not the most attractive (similar to a smaller He-111), but what speed and firepower! The Beaufighter?!
Some very unique films are unearthed at times on the Discovery 'Wings' Channel over here.
