Did you know an RAF superstition actually caused a real problem?

Soldiers’ superstitions have been with us for thousands of years. Lucky charms, taboos and little rituals give a soldier a sense of control over his destiny, and help him get through another day of mortal danger. In World War II, Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force (RAF) had the second highest casualty rate of all forces, only surpassed by Germany’s U-boat fleet; it is unsurprising that RAF crews had plenty of superstitions. What might be surprising is that one superstition became so widely practiced that it actually caused real problems.
 
Many superstitious practices were unique to an individual or a single crew. The crew of one bomber in 103 Squadron, for example, insisted that their navigator always board the plane in immaculate full officer’s uniform instead of a battledress. Other crews would circle their bomber in single file, or stand around it evenly spaced in a circle.

Other practices were widespread. New Zealand airmen often decorated their dogtags with traditional greenstone hei-tiki pendants. It was generally accepted that volunteering for an operational mission for the Fleet Air Arm was very unlucky (though simply being ordered to do it was fine). Civilian or WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) ladies who have lost more than one boyfriend in action were noted as “chop girls” and shunned. Sleeping in the bed of a dead crewman or wearing the clothes of one on a mission was right out.

One superstition was to urinate on the tailwheel for luck before climbing aboard, a practice that was so common it apparently caused corrosion problems. This particular good luck ritual was also shared by at least one British fighter pilot, Captain Joseph Summers, who was the first man to fly a Spitfire (Supermarine Spitfire) and who earned the nickname “Mutt” for the practice.

Save 22% until December 30!

We are offering all our available tours with a discount of 22% if you book and pay in full by December 30, 2024. Note that this offer applies only in case of new bookings, and it cannot be combined with other special promotions. As before, we will continue our mission of bringing history to life and sharing the stories of the Greatest Generation with our Passengers. Feel free to browse our website to find the right tour for you. We encourage our former Passengers to return and continue their journey with us on our tours meant for returning and new Passengers alike, such as our Channel Islands tours, War in Poland Tour, Britain at War Tour, World War I Tour, Italian Campaign Tour and the Third Reich Tour. 
If you have any questions related to this promotion or our tours, please contact our travel consultants at info@beachesofnormandy.com or by calling our toll-free number: +1 855-473-1999.