Quote:
Originally Posted by 156Squadron
Thanks Martin for a comprehensive and amusing response....
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I can update and amend this thread because I got the real 'gen' today from the horse's mouth....
I made use of my day at the Mosquito Museum by buttonholing our resident veteran, Reg Davey, and asking him the question direct.
He smiled at the thought of the navigator not having much to do and was straightaway able to put me straight - the navigator did NOT in fact have to worry about the radio and all monitoring of engine controls and settings was left to the pilot.
Reg stressed that PFF Mosquito navigation was a very demanding task, requiring a spot position check every two minutes, the main item needing constant attention being wind speed and direction. On main force bombers, checks were only needed every five minutes or so but the much higher speed of the Mosquito meant that the slightest error or deviation could put the aircraft far off course. Reg told me that PFF Mossies didn't really have an ETA over the target - they simply had a
time of arrival with only four minutes' latitude.
Reg also said with real pride that PFF Navigators were the best, and PFF Mosquito Navigators were the best of the best. His main concern was 'not to let Bennett down' and that his greatest dread was to fall short of the required standard and be sent back to an 'ordinary' Squadron - something which was unthinkable. He also said that the tiny navigators table and anglepoise lamp with dim bulb in the Mosquito cockpit made the job even more difficult. Also, when over enemy territory, he had also to constantly check the H2S screen to try to identify coastlines, lakes, etc as navigation landmarks.
As always with Reg, he then smiled and said : 'It was fun, though....'
Reg Davey flew two tours with 218 and 514 Squadrons ( including the Nuremburg Raid and the 'Night of the Big Winds' ) before going on to Mossies with 139 and 627 Squadrons.
He's feeling his years, now, and we're very fortunate that he makes such an effort to be at the Museum regularly where he patiently answers all questions before Bomber Command's war passes into the history books.