Here is a description of the BOAC Mosquitos’ bomb bays.

The bomb-bays of the Mosquitos were lined with plywood and padded with felt, petrol pipes diverted, and equipped with safety-belts to prevent the unfortunate inmate being thrown about too much.

Passengers accommodated in the bomb bay were wearing a lined flying suit to protect them from the cold temperature of the higher stratum of air, and they were equipped with an oxygen flask. There was no direct connection between the pilots in the cockpit and the passenger. The communication link was through the crew’s intercom system. In some occasions the passenger, not familiar with how to operate this system, failed to receive messages from the pilot such as using the oxygen mask at high altitude. An electric light was been rigged inside the bomb-bays which provided for light so that they could do some reading during the flight. Each passenger was given a packet of sandwiches and a thermos flask with coffee or tea, and told to hope for the best.

This compartment was barely large enough for a man to lie down inside, and not high enough for him to sit upright. The hydraulic jacks for closing the bomb doors were inside the bay, and folded into the compartment as they closed the doors. In order to avoid having his legs trapped, the long-suffering passenger had to perform further gymnastics by raising his knees right up under his chin. When the bomb doors were shut on him, he could stretch out his legs underneath the jacks and “relax”.

Nils