Quote:
Originally Posted by winny
The history of trimpnell oil refinery says that according to their records there were over 300 converted spitfires and hurricanes by the end of July. They supplied the fuel, at the time. Surely their account is more reliable.
|
Close but not quite Winny:
"Bulk supply contracts for higher octane fuel were placed by the Air Ministry and it was put into widespread use in the RAF in March 1940 when Spitfires' Rolls Royce Merlin engines were converted to use the 100 octane fuel.
By May 1940, reconnaissance Spitfires had begun flying combat missions using the 100 octane fuel. By 31 July 1940, there were 384 Spitfires serving in 19 squadrons using the 100 octane fuel."
Heysham Heritage Association, The Trimpell Oil Refinery
Heysham’s position is not unique, rather it’s very much in keeping with the conventional view:
Alec Harvey-Bailey,
The Merlin in Perspective, (Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, Derby, 1983)
Alfred Price,
The Spitfire Story, (Arms and Armour Press Ltd., London, 1986)
David Ross,
The Greatest Squadron of Them All, The Definitive History of 603 Squadron, RAauxAF, (Grub Street, London, 2003)
W.G. Dudek and D. R. Winans,
AIAA Paper No. 69-779, Milestones in Aviation Fuels, (Esso Research and Engineering Company, New York 1969.)
A. R. Ogston,
History of Aircraft Lubricants, (Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. Warrendale, PA USA), p. 12.
