Originally Posted by Banana Boy
What was the RAF policy regarding aircrew sidearms during WW2? The movies would certainly indicate that German aircrew flying over England carried a Luger. I have not seen any sign that our crews carried a personal weapon.
Early part of the BoB, some Luftwaffe pilots carried sidearms, usually Walther PP's, as a Luger/P38 were too big and bulky for the confines of a Me109 cockpit, with everything else to be carried.
Was a lot more common, for Luftwaffe pilots to carry sidearm on Eastern Front, and then later on the Channel Front after D-Day.
I think it was more common for RAF pilots to carry sidearms out in the Far east on ops.
I think most USAAF fighter pilots in the MTO/ETO/PTO carried their Colt Officers .45 in the M7 shoulder holster.