Pilot experience, Battle of Britain
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: near Edinburgh, Scotland
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pilot experience, Battle of Britain
A question came up regarding the experience of the main character in the novel I'm writing about the Battle of Britain.
He is sent to a Spitfire squadron with no hours on Spits whatsoever.
Would that be possible, or indeed likely?
I'm pretty sure, but confirmation would be a nice thing!
He is sent to a Spitfire squadron with no hours on Spits whatsoever.
Would that be possible, or indeed likely?
I'm pretty sure, but confirmation would be a nice thing!
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,636
Received 300 Likes
on
168 Posts
Reading "Fly For Your Life", Robert Stanford Tuck was posted to command a Hurri Sqn (257?) with no experience on Hurricanes... but then again he had plenty on Spitfires, Gladiators, Gauntlets, etc...
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Covering the Commonwealth
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The author of 'First Light', Geoffrey Wellum, was 18 years 10 months old when posted to 92 Sqn Spitfires with no Spitfire Hours at all. He was the second pilot to be posted at that point. It's a good read too.
Hope this helps
James
Hope this helps
James
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: England
Age: 40
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think it was pretty common, at least at the start of the war for pilots to receive their training on their operational type only when they actually got to their squadron. The same thing is true of Roald Dahl who was posted to a Gladiator squadron after training without having flown Gladiators.
