[Glider]

Those who doubt the Previous Posting

Their arguments seem to be based on the following

The Phrase the Units concerned and Certain Units

It’s my belief that these words were used to refer to bases/units which had not yet been converted to 100 Octane. We know that the roll out had already started, as proved by the Station / Combat reports we have from February 1940. This view is supported I believe by:-
• the number of combat records we have from over 30 squadrons
• the report in the May meeting where the appreciation of the work of the Petroleum Board was expressed and that the Air Ministry had been impressed with the manner in which the work had been executed
• The total lack of any conversion records of any FC station or squadron after May 1940 which were checked until May/June 1941

The belief is expressed by some that the use of Certain or concerned proves that the roll out was limited and some have said that this is clearly a continuation of the pre war Feb 1939 plan.
We have the 21 stations identified as being in the first instance, clearly there was going to be a second instance, clearly this is more than 16 Squadrons. We know that units in France were equipped with 100 octane and those in Norway, so the 21 stations was built on, this could easily be defined as a second instance.
There is absolutely no evidence that says that the roll out was limited. As a minimum the Oil Co ordination committee would have been involved as they were responsible for the purchase, storage and distribution of all fuel.
Those who believe this to be the case are invited to provide some evidence. I have stated what I believe to be the definition of Certain and Concerned with what evidence I can find. Its not perfect but I have tried and have shown what I found. I invite the doubters to do the same

The view that it didn’t mean 16 squadrons it meant no more than 16 Squadrons using 100 Octane at the same time
This is totally new and no one has even tried to support it. Those who propose it are encouraged to support this view with some evidence.

Pips Views
This paper has never been seen but more importantly there is no evidence to support any of the statements made in it. The War Cabinet didn’t make the decisions he said it did. There was no shortage of 100 Octane, nothing. Again those who believe this view are encouraged to find some evidence to support any part of it.

Pips Didn’t Mean the War Cabinet
This view that the War Cabinet was actually a much bigger thing with hundreds of component parts is fanciful. The War Cabinet was the War Cabinet, it had a structure, it had members, it had minutes and it was chaired by the Prime Minister. A lot of parties reported to it, including the Air Ministry and the Oil Committee, but the War Cabinet was the War Cabinet and the minutes are available on line.
People who believe this are invited to find out who made these decisions, it wasn’t the Air Ministry and it wasn’t the War Cabinet.

Pilots Notes I and IIB
This has been done in some detail recently. The only thing I can add is that I would expect to find Spit I Pilots notes to have 100 octane and 87 Octane because:-
a) it was in service before 100 Octane was available
b) Spit I’s were in the training Units and they didn’t have 100 Octane

Important Note
I invite anyone to look at the evidence put forward to support each side of the case and make their own minds up