The Armaments Officer 05

…... it was obvious that the pilots must be even more handicapped in this respect.


My own opinion is that a pilot in those days could hardly be expected to do more than use the sights correctly, fire and re-cock. To expect him to clear jambs in the air, hampered by heavy clothing, thick gloves and other circumstances

which demanded his keenest attention, was unreasonable. The guns were in an almost inaccessible position for him, anyway.


But most of the No. 8 pilots took a keen interest in the working of their guns, and gave me every help in their power and many valuable suggestions. And gun failure might mean more than an unsuccessful action-it might well entail the death of the man who was trying to use it. But it was not only vital to get the guns firing. There were numerous improvements crying out to be made in the position of the guns and the sights, the accessibility of the cocking handles and triggers, and the strength and tension of their springs. I found pilots immensely grateful for any changes which contributed to their ease in these respects. Every little point which made for their comfort and convenience rendered their job easier and more successful.


Every pilot was entitled to have his guns and sights and triggers just as they best suited him. After all, the gentlemen who undertake the intriguing job of shooting birds give Messrs. Purdey and other gun makers quite a little trouble in getting things as they like them. The pilots were willing to make the best of things as they found them, but delighted with any small improvements. As often as not a gun which had failed appeared to be in perfect condition when the machine landed. No jamb was left in position, the gear was functioning, and a ground trial produced a splendid burst of fire whenever the triggers were pressed. In that case the only thing to do was to give the gun a minute overhaul at the earliest opportunity, and ascertain as soon as possible from the pilot what was actually happening when the jamb occurred, the position of the machine, the angle and speed of dive, the temperature, whether any trial shots had been fired to warm the gun, and at what altitude.


I do not know whether it would be of any use to-day, but when on leave I acquired a couple of dental mirrors from my dentist, and found that I could easily examine some of the more awkward corners of the gun with them; on one or two occasions they proved exceedingly serviceable.

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