Alan, I sense you think that is a bad thing? But ultimately, why would it be – surely we should be completely informed of the real consequences of actions so that we can all make an informed moral choice as to whether we agree with it or not? If we see the pictures of the horror that is area bombing and still say ‘yes, but on balance it is worth it’ then that is fine as a moral choice – and possibly/probably one that would have been made by many in the case of WWII, and might be made by many in the case of IS.

However I do not see the logic of ‘We can’t trust them with the facts, it’s better the public don’t know, because if they did their informed moral choice might interfere with the bombing’ – or rather, it does have a curious logic, but not a particularly pleasant one.

It seems that only a few Spit V’s destined specifically for foreign parts had the Hydromatic.. please see this (from another forum – apologies to Feropete and GingerBob):

O7 to DDAP1, etc 26/5/42 (O.3326)

48 Mk.Vb Spits required packed for new special destination not connected with any previous special commitments. A/C are to be packed on highest priority. Request 53 wing HQ signal at which packing depot work will be undertaken. These to be trop fitted Merlin 46 VHF (TR.1133), IFF, Long range 90 gallon tanks and Rotol (RX 5/10) props. TR9D wireless and 2 30 gal jettison tanks to be included in packing case of each a/c. Crystals will be supplied on arrival at overseas destination. A/C are required packed by 16/6/42.

Qty 15 similar Trop Spits will be required each month starting in July. To ensure supply to beginning of ’43 last 75 trop Spit V’s due off production in Sept/Oct should be earmarked against Sept/Oct quotas of 15 with balance of 45 covering Nov-Jan quotas

O7 to DDAP1 etc 29/5/42 (O.4196)

The qty 48 Spits for new special destination must now be Mk.Vc. Other requirements identical except prop will be Hydromatic instead of Rotol.

Also, this picture:http://s150.photobucket.com/user/feropete/media/ZZ-Britmodeller/A58-142_03_zps77d91677.jpg.html

I know nowt about Mosquitoes though.

Folks, what was the difference between a 4500 and a 5000?

And hats off to you (again) Anneorac. Now, what makes it a 4500 not a 5000? Not a different shaft for those types, surely? Or are we really talking 45000 series, with the 4 at the front signifying Hydromatic?

Then it is either not a size 4 as described or they have bought the wrong thing.

Ah. Hmm…

Is it worth thinking about radials as well? Anything roughly in the 750-950HP range would have a No4 spline?

Not known by me, but a guess – I do remember reading that a lot of Luftwaffe Anti-Aircraft units were re-tasked with anti-tank duties during the desperate defence of the Eastern front – maybe the ones already stationed for the air defence of Eastern cities would be the first candidates to be re-assigned?

I know one Lancaster Captain personally who remembers the silence on the way back from Dresden, broken by the rear gunner, still looking at the glow: “What the **** are we doing”?

And I am also not of the ‘bleeding heart’ persuasion. On the contrary, I feel we have to look at things as they were, and sometimes they were ugly. I do know that we were fighting a war, but not being a fan of mass death does not make me a revisionist or give me an ‘agenda’.