TALESPINNERS - September, 2002
Hangar Flying
with Stu Faber
WARNING. Going flying ?
First, you better know where the President is. A "no fly" circle travels
with him where ever he goes. A number of people have been arrested and
questioned after being escorted to a landing by jet fighters or
helicopters. Licenses have been suspended for as much as 60 days and fines
up to $3,300 imposed. Some areas are permanent and are on charts but
others change from time to time. The Texas ranch has a permanent 6 mile
circle but when the President is there is may expand to what ever the
Secret Service thinks is best, usually 20 miles. A canopy of fighters is
over the area at all times. Check notams?, briefings, AOPA or FAA web
sites for the latest.
BOOK REVIEW. DARK SKIES-DEEP WATER by Norman
Franks (Hamilton County Library) is a detailed account of the WW II battle
between the U-boats and the air patrols sent out to stop them in the North
Atlantic. Early on, the planes, mostly, Wellingtons, and Halifaxes, did
not have the range to cover the mid Atlantic gap and the U-boats were
sinking thousands of tons of shipping causing a real problem getting
supplies to the embattled British. As the B-24s (or were they LB-30s too?)
and PBYs became available the gap was closed and life got much more
difficult for the U-boats most of which were based in occupied France.
With its two bomb bays the B-24 could put two extra gas tanks in the front
bay and have room for bombs or depth charges in the other bay plus under
the wings. The extra tanks added several hours and much distance to B-24
patrols. With extra fuel and low power settings B-24s had a range of
around 3300 miles. Subs weren't easy to spot on the tossing ocean so that
when better radar became available in 1942 the planes got much more
effective. The subs were ordered not to just submerge but to say on the
surface and use a battery of guns to fight off the planes. Air attacks
were usually a dive to 1 or 2 hundred feet above the surface then a level
high speed pass with the depth charges dropped by the pilot on the pass.
The subs were equipped with 50 cal machine guns, 40 mm quad cannons, and
even 88 mm antiaircraft cannon and often hunted in packs of three. A
number of planes were shot down and the book carries a number of first
person stories by survivors, if any, from both sides. As leaving and
returning to France brought the subs close to England they were easier
targets. Germany built a number of submarines which were used only as
supply ships to service other combat subs with fuel and supplies so that
they could stay at sea. Most of those were eventually sunk. Germany lost
well more than 2/3 of its submarines. Without the air patrols England
might not have made it.
ANOTHER BOOK. THE FIGHTING GRASSHOPPERS, US
Liaison Aircraft Operations in Europe 1942 - 1945, by Ken Wakefield, (Ham.
Co. Library) tells how they got started, how they were used, and what it
was like to fly them. In the late 1930s T-Crafts, Cubs, and Aeroncas, were
tried during some army maneuvers. Some thought they were very useful
others could see no use although they were used for reconnaissance,
artillery spotting and liaison work. When it was decided to procure some,
the Ground Forces thought it should be totally under their control but the
Air Force objected. So Ground controlled operations and AF controlled
training and licensing. Some were ordered for trials from most light plane
companies. The 65 HP (L-3C-65) 500# pay load, L-4 Cubs, first called 0-49,
were most maneuverable at low speed and were about 2/3 of those used
overall. Most of the other 1/3 were L-5s derived from Stinson Voyagers
(first 0-62) with O-435 185 HP engines and a payload of 750#. A number
were equipped as ambulances. The Aeroncas and T-crafts phased out early
and few saw theater action. Pilots were taught all kinds of off field
operations like hedge hopping, one wheel landings on curved roads, and
even some field maintenance. After landing in an open field an irritated
bull bulldozed an L-4 and pilot into a creek after ripping up the fabric
with his horns. Usually a battalion was assigned two planes, two or three
pilots, a mechanic and helper, and a shop truck. Higher Hq.s got several
for taxi and courier work. Mobile heavier maintenance units handled every
thing from routine service to complete rebuilds. Well over 10,000 L types
were used over all. When I joined 174 in 1980 there was a member who had
been a liaison pilot in Europe. I don' t remember his name. He flew L-5s
during the bulge.
Copyright © 2002 by Stu Faber. All rights
reserved.
