The 'Ronson' Legend

Was he definitely using the phrase in 48 when in service?

the thing is, if a phrase becomes popular now you will back date it's usage when reminiscing thus bluring when it's usage came into fashion.

This is what peeps feel about the "ronson" problem. Because there is significant post war evidence of it's usage peeps are back dating it's usage to the war period, despite the lack of further evidence.

FNG

 

i will double check the jug thing with my dad ,the fork tailed devil is what the lw pilots were said to have called the lightning , right ? i have my doubts ..most lw aces ive seen interviewed seem to think the lightning was about a formidable as the me110 was to spit pilots .cert6ainly all the sims i flown have the p38 with a very sedate roll and turn rate and it was not faster than the contemporery fw and 109s .

 

i wonder if the japs ever actually called the corsair "whispering death" ?

 

They called it the 'Whistling Death' because of the sound made in the air intakes as the wind rushed through them. I am pretty sure they did call it that name.

 

Don't think many Japanese spoke english for starters so Whistling Death is probably a myth (altough it sounds like a good nick for the Corsair or Beaufighter!).

Just found this (altough this doesn't proove anything either)!

"The Japanese nicknamed the Bristol Beaufighter, the 'Whispering Death'." - Invented by some over-imaginative journalist at a bar. In the middle of World War Two, the Japanese weren't likely to answering questions about aircraft nicknames. Similarly, the "Whistling Death" nickname allegedly given to the Chance Vought F4U Corsair by the Japanese is dubious.

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/misc/myths1.htm

 

I have always wondered about how they could have heard the whistling sound coming from the Corsair anyway. You would think the sound would be drowned out by the roar of the Corsair's huge engine!

 

You can hear the whistle that is for sure (not a myth!)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2U00WK20_U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnI6HVI1-bE

 

Thanks. I didn't realize.

 

joop, i didnt actually hear a whistle ,they sound like big radials ,the bearcats and sea furys sound pretty much the same ,and ive heard them all live many times at reno air races . then again i am not an engine man and my mechanic freinds can hear noises in cars that i do not percieve .did anyone else hear a whistle in joops clips?

 

I really don't agree that a Bearcat (R-2800 engine) sounds the same as a Sea Fury (Centaurus engine) but then again who am i?!

Still i definitely hear a whistle!

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=j3_9UfE8OMw
(Around 0:15)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG5o8MNI2lw
(around 01:55)

And these 2 definitely sound different!

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=4XXQoc4JvqQ
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=5UM-Tw_jc ... re=related

 

is this one of those whistles that only hounds can hear ? , ive asked my small brown mutt JASPER to have a listen but he neither confims nor denies the whistle but merely wags hiss tail when i querie him .

 

No.