World War II Navigation

[Scorpiоn]

Quite simply, how did the combat pilots navigate in World War II?  I'd like to fly in CFS3 the real way, without that tacky radar in the corner using only my pencil, compass, ruler and map!  I tried it before but...  you know what happened!

[ozzy72]

Most seem to have had a map, the aircraft compass and a good watch (or a clock in the panel).
They worked out their routes and timing beforehand, try reading First Light by Geoffery Wellum, it'll give you an incredible insight. Brave men on both sides doing what they did, and how.

Ozzy

[Crumbso]

almost exactly as most light aircraft pilots have to. As has been mentioned is that you need a map, pencil, watch and a radio. Its not as hard as it looks unless you want to start trying to calculate winds that may affect the timings which in turn means to change your heading. For this you would need a flight computer which is not actually modern its just a piece of plastic. Like a complicated protractor.

[Hogans_Alley]

Aircraft flying off carriers are generally vectored to the target by the ships radar. That's while they're in formation. Heading back is something else as by that time the planes are scattered. Patrol planes often help. Long range bombers on the other hand have navigators on board. Much like the ships they do celestial navigation to keep on course. Radio navigation is a no-no because of radio silence. In between "fixes" they go DR (Dead Reckoning) whereby they select a course based on the last "fix" keeping in mind the drift and change in speed.

Hogans Alley

[BFMF]

For this you would need a flight computer which is not actually modern its just a piece of plastic. Like a complicated protractor.

You can get Flight Computers, which are actually small handheld computers that do all the computations for you

But i've got an old fashioned Flight Computer that's all metal

[Scorpiоn]

Where can you get flight compters?

[Craig.]

any aviation store:)
search online you should be able to find one pretty easly

[visitor]

I asked my Dad about this, He was there!
Dead reckoning was the main way, they used
landmarks, bridges railroad tracks, rivers,
and roads, later on they had a crude radio
direction finder that kept them on course
and they had to calculate their range. It was
very important that the pilot held the plane at
the same speed, any change would have to be
refigured using pencil and paper!!! Also the French
under ground would set fires to aid the planes at
night!


X  

[packercolinl]

The comp. I've got is a KANE DEAD RECKONING COMPUTER model mk-6b if that's a help at all for a search.

[ozzy72]

X the firelighting by the resistance was only for parachute drops, or agent delivery/collection.
It wasn't a general navigation tool, and on a number of occassions the DZ/LZs were betrayed to the Germans allowing the soldiers/agents to be captured.

Ozzy

[Scorpiоn]

Bah, this seems a bit too complicated.  My dad won't buy anything over the internet because of identity theft, and I also forgot about where I'd be getting this money.  The only times I can ever get anything without working is my birthday and Christmas.  I think I'll just whip out the tacky tactical display for now.

[Hogans_Alley]

I did'nt know they had computers during WWII. I believe they used slide rules and/or Abacus to do their calculations. I tend to agree with Visitor AKA-X. Visual land fixes were used extensively such as rivers, railroads, etc. Ships use the Pelorus but this device is not applicable to aircraft over water since they can't see the horizon. Ships also use depth finder comparing reading with the chart.

Hogans Alley

[Ivan]

They used astronavigation when flying at night

[BFMF]

I did'nt know they had computers during WWII.

Of Course, but only one that I know of. It was called the E.N.I.A.C which was used by the military

[Hagar]

I did'nt know they had computers during WWII.

Not computers as we know them. The Dalton Dead Reckoning Computer is basically a circular slide rule. http://richard.newell.org/hobbies/KE-E-6B.html
They're still used today but the modern versions are made of plastic.