De Havilland DH-98 Mosquito

This is not to doubt the story in any way, but just to correct my belief regarding metric vs. SAE. I thought the British used some other standard, but not metric.

They used BSF/BSW (British Standard Fine, Whitworth), BA (British Association)
IIRC, the main difference is British thread angle is 55 deg, while American is 60 degrees.
 
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What a great plane. 633 Squadron was a good old movie, always love Cliff Robertson.
 
The Dam Busters are famous, but many people don't know about "Highball".

While the bouncing bomb "Upkeep" was developed in 1943, to be dropped from Lancasters onto the German dams by 617 Squadron, designers were also working on a smaller version code-named "Highball".

This was intended to use the same bouncing action, but used to attack moored enemy ships protected by torpedo nets and other means. The prime target was the battleship Tirpitz, hiding in the Norwegian fjords. Highball was scaled to deploy from specially converted Mosquitoes of 618 Squadron.


They never worked out the kinks. The project was abandoned and Tirpitz ultimately sunk by conventional bombs from Lancasters.

Actually Tirpitz was capsized by Tallboy bombs and I think that 617 squadron was also involved amongst other squadrons. Dave_n
 
This is not to doubt the story in any way, but just to correct my belief regarding metric vs. SAE. I thought the British used some other standard, but not metric.

My uncle is no longer with us to clear that up. There may have been a misunderstanding of that point on my part. I do remember him telling me about the delay of assembly until the proper tools, etc. were delivered. Maybe you can visit WPAFB to see if they will let you check it out.
 
Judging from the way he is wearing his cap they were a cocky group of pilots weren't they?

Wearing the hat cocked to one side or back on the head was the almost mandatory style in those days. There's a picture of Jeff Cooper during WWII wearing a cocked hat, and as I recall he mentioned that was pretty standard practice back in the day.

My uncle was a lieutenant in the Army during WWII, but the only picture I have of his hat was when he put it on my head for this picture with him!

John



P.S. Before his wedding to a really nice lady during the war, he showed her this picture, and with his puckish sense of humor, he said that I was his son. He told me she blew up and almost canceled their engagement before he owned up to the truth and told her it was just a joke!
 
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