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Spitfire guns and cannons.


P.o Prune

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There's a discussion in another forum whether it was possible for the pilot to fire cannons and guns simultanously, or did he have to make a choice which to fire?

When I look at old photos of the firing button the button is worn on the top or the bottom suggesting that the pilot had to choose.

If he could fire all at once, how was the mechanism set up?

 

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Yes, it was.

 

The gun "button" was a rocker switch. Press the top and you fire the Brownings, press the bottom and you fire the cannons, press the middle and you fire both.

 

My Dad told me the way to remember it is "BBC": "Brownings, Both, Cannons". It was useful in ground attack, as for firing at soft-skinned vehicles like trucks, the cannon shells were a waste - would go through without exploding - while for locomotives, .303 would just bounce off, while 20mm cannon shells were very effective.

 

Kevin

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