80 years ago today...!

[Vortex Hoop]

The Battle of Britain started with Kanalkampf 80 years ago.

Per ardua!

[jolihokistix]

Thanks for the reminder!

[Chugalug2]

Turns out we weren't saved from invasion by the Royal Navy after all, but by a 13 year old school girl :-

https://twnews.co.uk/uk-news/london-...tle-of-britain

Story on the Beeb News 11/07/2020 at 1330, 1730, and 2030 :-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000kzx7

[Fortissimo]

And a 5-year old Lester May would have been writing to the papers demanding that the RAF be disbanded immediately...

[rolling20]

By rights we should have lost the BoB. I mean where were the diversity targets and the inclusivity? Let's not forget that GLM!

[Lou Scannon]

Was it really a thirteen year old schoolgirl who is to be thanked for the Spitfire having eight Brownings instead of four? I'm afraid a family myth has been given credence by journos who know nothing of the development of aircraft in the thirties.
My bet would be that it was all worked out by a chap called RJ Mitchell and his team to meet the Air Ministry specification for a new eight gun monoplane fighter to compete with the Hurricane.

[Herod]

I can't find a reference, but I once heard that Mitchell said "I designed the Spitfire as the smallest possible aircraft around a Merlin, eight guns and a pilot".

[GeeRam]

And by the start of the Battle of Britain most realised the days of 8 x .303's were already over, and cannon's were the future, but the Hispano Mk.1 was just not suitable for wing mounting in fighters with the 60 rd drum mag feed, and thus the Beaufighter was the only real use of it at the time, as the RO could change the drum mags on the floor mounted cannon's from racking in the fuselage.

It wasn't until Martin Baker created a successful belt fed system for them by early '41 that they worked for wing mounted, single engine, single seat fighter applications.

[ExAscoteer2]

Surely the 60 round drum fed Hispano is what was fitted to the Mk Ib (unsuccessful), Mk 2b (unsuccessful) and Mk Vb (successful)?

[slfie]

Apropos of this, poignant moment on the South Downs today. Looking down at Ditchling as two Spitfires paid tribute at Vera Lynn's funeral, lots of people up there being very quiet.

[MightyGem]

Was it really a thirteen year old schoolgirl who is to be thanked for the Spitfire having eight Brownings instead of four? I'm afraid a family myth has been given credence by journos who know nothing of the development of aircraft in the thirties.

Programme on the BBC News Channel tomorrow at 13:30.

[POBJOY]

Making less mistakes

Originally Posted by rolling20

By rights we should have lost the BoB. I mean where were the diversity targets and the inclusivity? Let's not forget that GLM!

Everything else being equal and accepting that it was always was going to be a close call (especially after losing so many Hurricanes in France) as with most battles it is about who makes the least mistakes. Dowding and Park certainly won that bit.

[POBJOY]

Making less mistakes

Originally Posted by rolling20

By rights we should have lost the BoB. I mean where were the diversity targets and the inclusivity? Let's not forget that GLM!

Everything else being equal and accepting that it was always was going to be a close call (especially after losing so many Hurricanes in France) as with most battles it is about who makes the least mistakes. Dowding and Park certainly won that bit.
Hitler really thought we would sue for peace (and we would have done without Churchill)
Churchill had a few blunders in his cupboard,but with the most important decision he got it spot on.
MAY 28th was the all important date for this country because that is when Churchill won over the Cabinet and told H to B.......Off.
Dowding and Park kept their cool, and ably assisted by Sydneys hunchbacked knuckleduster,and Reggies Racer, plus an assortment of international drivers the Luftwaffe got a hiding they never expected. If we had had canons it would have been even better.

[rolling20]

Originally Posted by POBJOY

Everything else being equal and accepting that it was always was going to be a close call (especially after losing so many Hurricanes in France) as with most battles it is about who makes the least mistakes. Dowding and Park certainly won that bit.
Hitler really thought we would sue for peace (and we would have done without Churchill)
Churchill had a few blunders in his cupboard,but with the most important decision he got it spot on.
MAY 28th was the all important date for this country because that is when Churchill won over the Cabinet and told H to B.......Off.
Dowding and Park kept their cool, and ably assisted by Sydneys hunchbacked knuckleduster,and Reggies Racer, plus an assortment of international drivers the Luftwaffe got a hiding they never expected. If we had had canons it would have been even better.

19 Squadron with Mk1b had cannon, although not very effective and led to much frustration due to stoppages. 151 at North Weald had one Hurricane cannon equipped, affectionately known as the 'old cow'.

[POBJOY]

Originally Posted by rolling20

19 Squadron with Mk1b had cannon, although not very effective and led to much frustration due to stoppages. 151 at North Weald had one Hurricane cannon equipped, affectionately known as the 'old cow'.

The Germans had hundreds in their machines and they worked. Lots of accounts of German bombers limping back to base full of holes .303 ones. Mind you this may well have had a very negative impact on the morale factor.

[chopper2004]

Spitfire Cambs

Hot on the heels of wishing the Blue Angels New Fat Albert would take off from EGSC for it’s flight test (never happened), went to Duxford to see the Aircraft Restoration Company Spitfire PR9 Thankypu NHS Start it’s flypast over NHS Hospitals ..so here are my photos

[RAFEngO74to09]

1940 Air Ops Bunker documentary by a young German chap - commissioned by the RAF !

You Tube

[rolling20]

Originally Posted by POBJOY

The Germans had hundreds in their machines and they worked. Lots of accounts of German bombers limping back to base full of holes .303 ones. Mind you this may well have had a very negative impact on the morale factor.

I believe the 109E had 2 cannons Intially, then the F had one through the nose. The 110 had 2. I can't find any German aeroplane that had hundreds however.

[VictorGolf]

I caught the programme on Hazel Hill and her "8 gun" mathematics and I thought it was nicely presented by Sophie Rayworth.. She's becoming the BBC's "go-to" presenter for aviation programmes having fronted shows from Duxford Stow Maries and the Mall in the recent past. Oh and "Chopper", I think the blue PR Spitfire is a PR11 not a 9. Just saying.

[ihoharv]

Originally Posted by rolling20

By rights we should have lost the BoB. I mean where were the diversity targets and the inclusivity? Let's not forget that GLM!

It has been previously pointed out that if the RAF was overly concerned about gays in the military in WW2 we'd have lost the BoB...