BoB spitfire MK1 gun loading

[Selwyn]

When loading or reloading the Brownings on a spitfire I was lead to believe by an old RAF armourer that you did not have to remove the upper wing gun panels. Apparently the armourers had worked out a way to reload ammo and cock the gun mechanism by just accessing through though the bottom wing panels.

Doing it this way apparently considerably increased the speed of reloading. All the (few) pictures of reloading I have seen are taken from such a position that the top of the wing is not in view.

can anyone out there confirm that this was the case?

Selwyn

[Miggers]

Not personally heard that Selwyn,but I wouldn't be at all surprised

if some wily "erks" had figured it out.

They all wanted "their" kite to be the first to be ready to go so that "their" pilot could borrow

it for a while.

Mark

[rs2man]

Sounds rather unlikely , since as far as I recall you have tolift up the top of a .303 Browning's receiver to fit & locate the ammunition belt in the weapon , which I can't see being possible with the upper access panel in place . That said , however , if the aircraft came back without having used all the ammunition , don't see why you couldn't clip the new ammo belt onto the remnants of the old one . They were disintegrating link belts , so it should be easy enough .

[Steven Eisenman]

Is this what you are referring to? Not sure what they are actually doing.

[Tailwheel]

Selwyn you are corect !! I would urge all Spitfire buffs to watch the IWM DVD 'Spitfire -Frontline fighter '.It follows a DI of a 604 Sqdn. Spit Mk1 filmed at Abingdon in May 1940 ..and will answer many other questions beside .Not sure though but some may be available on Youtube.

Have fun

Dave

[Selwyn]

Selwyn you are corect !! I would urge all Spitfire buffs to watch the IWM DVD 'Spitfire -Frontline fighter '.It follows a DI of a 604 Sqdn. Spit Mk1 filmed at Abingdon in May 1940 ..and will answer many other questions beside .Not sure though but some may be available on Youtube.

Have fun

Dave

many thanks!.

Selwyn

[Mentalguru]

Is this what you are referring to? Not sure what they are actually doing.

It's quite obvious what they are doing- the Aircraft is a GORGEOUS ENGLISH BRITISH Sptfire Mk1, which has just taken out at least 20 jerries in one sortie, being rearmed ready to take out another couple of dozen.

I would imagine the pilot is having a quick, fag, wag and moustache tweak, before the humdrum tedious business of knocking the hun out of the sky resumes for the rest of the day..