Part 8/12:
Gallery items included the Mark VI Webley service revolver, a standard sidearm for officers. Pilots meticulously acquired their gear, often paying for personal items like watches, holsters, and protective clothing. The clothing’s primary purpose was to keep pilots warm, preventing blood from flowing away from extremities—a vital factor when flying in unpressurized, open-cockpit aircraft at high altitudes.
Operational Realities