Edward
Bartender
- Messages
- 25,074
- Location
- London, UK
Easy access i the air to a pistol was certainly essential in those early biplanes, as it was the only available weapon. Those planes weren't fitted with guns as they were, originally, spy vehicles - the early dogfights came when two enemy spyplanes spotted each other. Not that that's why they had the guns.... at least, the RFC in England originally issued the guns as a quick method of suicide for a pilot going down in flames. Parachutes were considered to encourage cowardice, and thus not issued in those days.