"(iii) Unlock the bearing plate and rotate it to set
“red on red”, i.e., the red marked north point on the bearing plate vertically over the red compass filament."
(Course Setting Bomb Sight Mk. IX page 15).
"...in this position my hands were free to adjust the bombsight levels and compass (
red on red) and obtain a good line of sight in order to track the target."
(S/Ldr John (Ian) Blair, awarded wiht DFM as Sergeant, following the incidente over Derna in 4th September 1940, when the pilot of the Blenheim of No 113 Squadron in what he fly as navigator was mortally wounded during an attack of a Fiat CR-42, and he - without formal flight training; take the controls and manage do landing the aircraft back in Mersa Matruh).
"First on with a cockpit light, for night flying I never used the cockpit lights to ensure my night vision wasn't upset and did everything by feel, and check the
reflector gun sight was set to 250 yard range and 60ft span (60ft was about right for heavy stuff and made sure that for 109s I'd be a lot closer than 250 yards). Helmet placed over gun sight, with the oxygen tube plugged into the socket just below the ident switch control box on the right hand side (the socket was a bayonet), and the radio lead jack into the socket just in front of the seat. Check mixture lever right back, propeller pitch lever at fully fine, throttle right back, brakes on, gun button set to ‘safe’, both fuel levers up to off, and tail and rudder trims set for take-off. Align compass grid lines with needle ensuring
'red on red' so as not to fly in the opposite direction to that desired and then uncage (unlock) the D.I. (directional gyro) and set it to agree with the compass and regauge it."
Sgt. Herbert David Denchfield Spitfire Mk.I cockpit drill).
Bookmarks