Quote:
Originally Posted by camber
Although the gate can only give any benefit at low level, the second report re-inforces my idea that pilots might use it "just in case" at any level. In this case the pilot pulled his boost tab, gated the throttle at maximum rpm, and felt re-assured that he was getting maximum performance!
Very interesting that a Spit pilot would refer to pushing the red boost override tab as "pressing the tit" (second report). Although the Hurricane boost cutout is much more, err, breast like I guess it was just too enjoyable a reference for Spit pilots to not take up too. It starts to explain how those terms get so jumbled up in combat reports.
Lastly, the second report suggests that he can only just keep up with his leader using all boost enhancements available in his MkII. What is blue leader flying if Blue 2 is writing "performance notes on the MkII" and suggesting he had to go all out to keep up? A MkI +12psi? This seems rather intriguing to me!
Cheers, camber
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Hi camber,
I don't know what the benefit would be of operating the boost cut-out above full throttle height. I wouldn't think there would be any benefit, but this is far from being the only instance where I've heard of it - beats me.
Blue I in this instance was also operating a Spitfire II. The notable thing, I think, is that the engagement opened with the Spitfires climbing from 29,000 ft. up to 34,000 ft. to attack the Me 109s. Blue 1 was certainly aggressive and confident in his abilities as well as the capabilities of his aircraft as he initiated combat, disadvantaged both in numbers and altitude. I could well imagine Blue I giving the Spitfire everything it had, with Blue 2 doing his best to keep up. Pretty good team work it seems to me and nicely done.
F/Lt. J. C. Mungo-Park, Spitfire II, 74 Squadron, 30 November 1940
As an aside, I've encountered a number of Battle of Britain accounts where the pilots would engage the boost cut-out as part of a routine preparation for the possibility of combat, for example:
Geoffrey Wellum, 92 Squadron:
Things are starting to get rough. Automatically I have followed my self-imposed drill that I always do at times like this. Reflector sight on; gun button to fire; airscrew pitch to 2,650 revs; better response. Press the emergency boost override. Lower my seat a notch and strap tight. Ok men, I’m all set. Let battle commence.
P/O David Crook, 609 Squadron :
It was now obviously a matter of moments only before we were in the thick of it. I turned my trigger on to 'Fire', increased the engine revs. to 3000 r.p.m. by slipping the constant speed control fully forward, and 'pulled the plug', i.e. pushed the small handle on the throttle quadrant that cuts out the automatic boost control thus allowing one to use emergency power.
Bob Doe, 234 Squadron
Once we were in the vicinity of the enemy, I would 'pull the plug', which was the release so that we could get extra boost, but I wouldn't use it, and would start my search.
Tom Neil, 249 Squadron
The familiar stomach-clenching tension and surging wave of excitement. Another check around. Gun-sight on? Gun-button to 'Fire'? Plug pulled and 2,850 revs?
K. W. McKenzie, 501 Squadron
Climbing to gain some height we 'bustered' with the sun behind us and spotted the formations. With the tit pulled for absolute full power we broke formation to attack, sights 'on', guns to 'fire', harness tight, attacking individually.