Spending Day with BoB Spitfire Pilot - Questions Please

[PeterPanPan]

I'm spending the day with Flt Lt Ken Wilkinson tomorrow and Friday. He flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain with 19 Squadron.

Anyone want me to ask him any particular questions?

PPP

So he was one of the first to fly spitties?

My question would be:

- Was it attempted to hold formation when attacking an enemy formation or was it everybody by his own when attack order was given?

- Were standard defensive manoeuvres trained and executed when attacked?

- could you decide on what ammo was put into your belts?

- which were your prefered ammo types?

- What convergence did you prefer and could you select horizontal and vertical convergence separately?

- How long is the burst one needed to down/put out of fight a 109, a He111 a Bf110 (approximately)?

[pupo162]

Originally Posted by 41Sqn_Stormcrow

So he was one of the first to fly spitties?

My question would be:

- Was it attempted to hold formation when attacking an enemy formation or was it everybody by his own when attack order was given?



- could you decide on what ammo was put into your belts?

- which were your prefered ammo types?

- What convergence did you prefer and could you select horizontal and vertical convergence separately?

i like all of these

i would had

- from how far could you spot contacts?

- did the glass of cockpit made it harder to spot them?

- could you hear a plane you were flyingg formation with? or a 109 you were close too? how about 109 / spitfires firing near you?

[ElAurens]

I have no questions.

Just offer him my thanks.

[reflected]

- When did he throttle fully back on landing? Right before touchdown, or when turning on final/ over the hedge, etc...)

- What RPM setting did he use in combat (both on CSP and 2 speed prop Spits)

Thanks!

[blackmme]

How was his FPS and did he have to turn tree's and shadow's off?

The real question would be: 'Was there ever a point when he thought, we are winning, or we have won? Or was it just a daily fight to survive with no realisation of the bigger picture beyond that?'

I envy you your opportunity and I like the previous poster would want above all else to make clear my respect for those men both the now old and those who never got the opportunity to become old and my undying grattitude for their sacrifice.

EDIT: Just thought of a supplementary question given it's 19 Squadron! What was their reaction on being told they were getting cannon armed Spits and how long did it take them to realise they had been sold a pup? Did they get to do much, if any drogue or maneuvering shooting with them before being committed to combat?

Regards Mike

[senseispcc]

Originally Posted by pupo162

i like all of these



- did the glass of cockpit made it harder to spot them?

The cockpit was made of perpex a sort of plastic not glass. You can see an example of a Spitfire canopy at the London science museum.

now the question I should ask is;

Did you feel a change in quality in the german pilots from the begining of the Battle of britain until the end?

Thanks for this great idea.

Have a nice interview.

[Sutts]

Originally Posted by PeterPanPan

I'm spending the day with Flt Lt Ken Wilkinson tomorrow and Friday. He flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain with 19 Squadron.

Anyone want me to ask him any particular questions?

PPP

What an opportunity PPP, I really envy you.

Since he probably flew the very early spits I'd really like to hear his opinion on how quickly the engine cut on application of negative G, how quickly it came back to life when the stick was relaxed and just how much pressure was required on the stick to cause a cut......i.e. was it easy to unintentionally cut the engine through slight stick movements or did it require a decent amount of stick movement/force.

Appreciate you doing this. Please pass on our regards and make him aware of the huge interest, respect and admiration our community has for our veterens. I suspect many feel their deeds are long forgotten.

[winny]

Please ask him what physical effects were felt when the guns were fired. Airspeed, vibration, noise, that kind of thing.

Please ask also if he knows when 100 octane was introduced.

Thanks.

[Old-Banger]

How often, if ever, were he and his fellow pilots able to attack from above?

How clear or distinctive were messages over the RT? Was there a great deal of static or backround aircraft noise?

But more importantly, please thank him and let him know that I for one will be forever grateful and will never forget the efforts of him and all his colleagues.