That step has an interesting story
The navy pilots found that the designed size of the foot hold were made in a much different humidity level then where they were actually used.
Needless to say, when trying to work the boots that swelled from the humidity on the carrier decks, the pilots often stepped up onto thin air, sending them bellybutton over teakettle and in the process smashing their face on the end of the wing (which is why Navy pilots never smiled
)
To rememdy the situations, a boarding manual specifcally designed for the F4U was designed and distrubuted. Unfortunately, the US Navy hadn't learned their lesseon and let Vought write the manual (again, not taking into account the situations in the pacific)
This new manual stated that, before disembarking the plane, to leave the flaps up one notch from fully deployed. This created a gap small enough in the flaps along the bend in the wing to wedge a boot into for a secure foot hold. The only problem was that this was a little far from the hand hold on the fuselage, not a problem back in the States, but on a rolling, windy, pitching carrier deck with often wet wing surfaces, the pilots tended to get a leg up, only to slip backwards off the wing, with the boot still lodged in the flap. A very unpleasant expierence.
Yet another problem was discovered with this method...crew members stepping up on the wing of the plane while someone was in the cockpit provided a serious problem. On many noted occassions, the flaps were accidently triggered in the hangers, loping off the toe of the crew member's boot, and invaribly leaving him sprawled out on the ground. While hilarious to the witnesses, the pain from the fall and explaining why his boot had new air conditioning to his superior was rather bad.
But from this, the solution was derived. A inventive pilot armed with a pair of the toe-less boots discovered he could make good use of the old toe holds in the flaps. He then set out to modify a normal pair to have a removeable toe, via a surround zipper. This design was accepted and widely distributed throughout the Navy, implemented in a host of other jobs that required climbing tall ladder and riggings. It is rarely seen outside of a Naval vessel at see, in fear of the Navy bringing embarressment upon itself for such a silly (and practical) solution. They even went as far as to conceal the zipper assembly.
It was also said that this pilot apparently developed the "shooting mitten" form his boot design, a mitten with a foldable finger cover that did not interfer with shooting, but when in place provided exceptional warmth.
A fabrication of course
- Jig
[This message has been edited by Jigster (edited 10-11-2000).]
