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The aircraft was equipped with twin synchronized machine guns, standard by the war’s later stages. Interestingly, it lacked brakes, relying on a bungee cord suspension and a tail skid to slow down on landing—challenging in open-field conditions since it couldn’t land on asphalt or concrete runways. Pilots had to adapt their approach to landing strips or open fields and contend with weathercocking—where wind could sway the aircraft sideways during landing.
Pilots, Missions, and Mechanical Challenges
One vivid story recounted involves a sortie where Captain "Chuck" Call, a Canadian pilot, returned with a full load of ammunition, took a last look at the front, and inadvertently shot down four enemy aircraft—an anecdote highlighting the aircraft’s fiery nature and the pilot’s bravery.