03.02.2010, 04:57
IMO, this concept is a bit unrealistic. With extremely limited visibility in foggy weather conditions, the mission would be scrubbed. They didn't risk the pilots' lives by forcing them to fly in conditions like that.
The vast majority of combat planes back then were not equipped to fly in "IFR" conditions. Some aircraft didn't even have proper attitude indicators or artificial horizons.
The biggest danger was if an aircraft had a mechanical or an engine failure shortly after takeoff. In such a situation where every foot of altitude is precious, you need to get the plane turned around and back down onto the field ASAP. If the airfield is blanketed in fog, you can't see it and you can't land. You'd end up crashing on some poor soul's house or something...not to mention probably killing yourself in the process.
The vast majority of combat planes back then were not equipped to fly in "IFR" conditions. Some aircraft didn't even have proper attitude indicators or artificial horizons.
The biggest danger was if an aircraft had a mechanical or an engine failure shortly after takeoff. In such a situation where every foot of altitude is precious, you need to get the plane turned around and back down onto the field ASAP. If the airfield is blanketed in fog, you can't see it and you can't land. You'd end up crashing on some poor soul's house or something...not to mention probably killing yourself in the process.