Air Crew: Combat Crew, 1943/44 - The Navigator
"Navigators in the 2nd Air Force, especially during the early stages of training have a tough problem-but it isn't a fraction as tough as some they'll buck in combat." That's the frank admission made by a Captain, now instructing, who navigated a B-17 around the world, with bomb-dropping side excursions in the Solomons, Burma, Near East, North Africa, and Italy.
"Their headache is that in flying the short legs-a navigator easily gets in the habit of 'going along for the ride.' He can-but he does not have to. Every short routine flight can be turned into a navigational problem.
"A navigator, with the cooperation of his pilot, can ignore the fact that he is as familiar with the terrain below as lover's lane back home. Pretend you're exploring new territory, chart a course, set an ETA (estimated time of arrival), and navigate.
"Any casual flight, out to a gunnery or bombardment range, gives plenty of opportunities for checking on celestial fixes. Another good stunt is to climb into plane, ignore the direction of its flight, maybe read a couple of chapters of the hook-of-the-month-and then see how quickly you can get a fix. Navigate by hook or crook-and you'll be tuned up to tackle the real navigational problems that will be tossed at you in advanced training-not to mention actual combat."
No navigator ever knows instruments too well. Constant drill on the astro-compass, radio compass, and drift meter, should be held until their operation becomes an automatic process.
Heavy bombardment battle tests have proven it a sound idea for at least one man, and the navigator is the logical candidate, in addition to the bombardier, to be able to operate the bombsight. The navigator isn't expected to become the pinpoint expert the bombardier is-but with a little practice he should learn to lay an egg reasonably close to the target.
"Unless the navigator is to be the weak link in the defense of the ship he must be able, not only to shoot straight, but break down his gun, and identify enemy planes. lt is worth remembering that on a combat mission probably 5% of his time will be spent navigating-95% behind a gun. The first time a Messerschmitt or a Zero blasts towards you, I can guarantee you will definitely decide gunnery is not an incidental part of the job of navigating."
Successful navigation depends on pre-flight planning, a sound basic plan, plus the ability to assess the value of each available navigational aid in order to utilize the most appropriate at each stage of the flight.
A combat navigator must he able to make snap judgments-on the course --maps, weather conditions. Make a habit of looking at the stars and sun scores of times daily-know your position subconsciously whether you are riding in a bomber or a taxi. Incidentally, put in some extra time and learn the star fields in all possible theaters of operation. Keep your log completely up-to-date at all times-somebody else may have to bring the plane home. And here are two last tips. Don't forget to keep on navigating the first time you are actually under fire. That's one time when you want to know exactly where you are. And get the habit of checking and re-checking-use every possible navigational aid, plus common sense. lt is quite embarrassing to be lost over enemy territory, or the Pacific Ocean, with the gas gauge wavering toward zero.
