Ok a few more books bought today...
'633 squadron' by Frederick E. Smith about a mosquito raid depicted in the film of the same name
'Me 410 in combat' by Krzysztof Janowicz all about the combat exploits of the me210 and 410.
'Combat Legend Spitfire Mks 1-V' by Peter Caygill. another in the 'combat legend' series, I highly recommend thesseries of books, a nice mix of technical and war stories/histories.
And a new series for me but it looks like its been running for years:
'WarbirdTech series: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt' volume 23 by Frederick A Johnsen.
This really is a seemingly superb series with many rare drawings from manuals and historical documents reproduced inside.Also great battle damage photos, constructions and repair details, cockpit photos etc.
A really nice book.heres something for frenchy :
Page 15
'check 6:
the classic fighter pilots warning " check six" means look to the rear, to the six oclock position, for a possible threat. During 1943 a P47 participated in tests of a 20 pound AN/APS-13 radar set that did just that.Visible as three quarter inch metal rods piercing the vertical fin, and extending out for about five and a quarter inches on either side, the radar provided warning of the approach of aircraft behind the equipped thunderbolts.Within a cone of space behind the P47, any aircraft approaching closer than 800 yards was announced.The cone radiated through about 60 degrees horizintally and 90 degrees vertically behind the thunderbolt.The cone of coverage was slightly skewed upward, to enhance detection of diving aircraft.Given liitations on radar technology the system was useless at altitudes below 800 yards, an AAF test sumary explained, "since it is practically impossible to prevent spurious radiation from returning from the earth's surface".
Upon detection of an aircraft in the rear cone of space, a brilliant red jeweled light in a sheild beside the P47's gunsight illuminated letting the pilot know instantly of the presence of an aircraft which might pose a threat.The tail-warning radar was tested initially mounted in a twin-engined Beech AT-11 followed by installation in a P47.
Following encouraging tests with one P47, six follow-on AN/APS-13 tail warning radars were installed at Orlando, Florida, in thunderbolts of squadron F of the 904th AAF base unit stationed at Kissimmee Army Air Base Florida. An AAF paper explained " The position and arrangement of the antenna on the stabiliser determines the tilt of the cone with respect to the airplane".The six sets installed in Orlando also featured an alarm bell that sounded when the warning light was illuminated.
A staple of cold war jet fighters, tail warning radar proved its utility on a handfull of P-47s during world war two."
hehe how about that!?
