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WW1 Middle East air war

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by TonyG (U1830405) on Tuesday, 15th February 2011

  Bit of a strange question but this has puzzled me for a while and I hope someone can shed some light on it for me.
  
  The RFC had several squadrons in service in Mesopotamia and other parts of the Middle East during World War 1. Given the open cockpits and general lack of protectionth epilots had, I have oftenwondered what they wore when flying. On the ground,the temperature in summer would have been oppressive but were they able to fly without wearing thick flying jackets or Sidcot suits? I suspect their operational flying may have been at relatively low altitudes compared to the Western Front but cold they have flown in lightweight clothing?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by lolbeeble (U1662865) on Tuesday, 15th February 2011

  I would have thought that despite the warmer ambient temperatures during the day as well as the heat form the close proximity of the plane's engine, the wind chill factor at speeds upwards of fifty miles an hour would make quite a difference. It would have felt as if it was around thirty degrees colder than the actual temperature at these speeds. More to the point the evaporation of moisture on exposed skin would lead to potential frostbite within an hours worth of flying so wrapping up well was the the order of the day. Being in loose clothing would only expose more of the body to windchill and sweating in such a warm environment would have further accelerated the rate at which the pilot's temperature dropped.
  
  There is photo of several Turkish pilots taken during the First World War on the Wikipedia page about the Ottoman air force and they have taken the same precautions against wind as their counterparts on the western front.
  
  

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