Wolf of Badenoch
Donor
As a relative newbie I hope you will forgive me if this deviation from OTL has already been explored elsewhere - I have tried various search strings with no luck.
Whittle's early experiments with jet propulsion (1929-1936) were promising but inconclusive and he lost effective financing from the RAF. This meant that even with the impetus of war the first successful jet turbine flight did not take place until May 1941.
May I postulate a scenario in which Churchill hears of the struggling, impecunious pioneer and takes him under his wing? With the support of C's great friend Sir Max Beaverbrook and his equally air minded son, Max jr, more than enough money is raised to fund Power Jets Ltd. The first prototype of the Gloster Whittle E28/39 flies in October 1937 and is an immediate success. The RAF is pressurised by Churchill with grudging support from still-appeaser Beaverbrook to order 8 aircraft. These are so successful not only in flight performance but also a stable gun platform which can mount both 2 x 20 mm cannon and 4 x Browning .303 machine guns that a further 50 aircraft, now named the Gloster Meteor are ordered, the first machines coming into squadron service in June 1939.
The question is, ladies and gentlemen, what impact will the arrival of this new weapon have on succeeding events. Given that Germany is probably too far down the line with its preparations to abandon the invasion of Poland, what impact will the Meteors have in 1939-40? Indeed, will the Luftwaffe still be committed in support of Sealion? If so, what will happen? Will the losses likely to be incurred have an impact of air support for Barbarossa?
What would be the impact of the early adoption of jet propulsion for a heavy bomber?
Whittle's early experiments with jet propulsion (1929-1936) were promising but inconclusive and he lost effective financing from the RAF. This meant that even with the impetus of war the first successful jet turbine flight did not take place until May 1941.
May I postulate a scenario in which Churchill hears of the struggling, impecunious pioneer and takes him under his wing? With the support of C's great friend Sir Max Beaverbrook and his equally air minded son, Max jr, more than enough money is raised to fund Power Jets Ltd. The first prototype of the Gloster Whittle E28/39 flies in October 1937 and is an immediate success. The RAF is pressurised by Churchill with grudging support from still-appeaser Beaverbrook to order 8 aircraft. These are so successful not only in flight performance but also a stable gun platform which can mount both 2 x 20 mm cannon and 4 x Browning .303 machine guns that a further 50 aircraft, now named the Gloster Meteor are ordered, the first machines coming into squadron service in June 1939.
The question is, ladies and gentlemen, what impact will the arrival of this new weapon have on succeeding events. Given that Germany is probably too far down the line with its preparations to abandon the invasion of Poland, what impact will the Meteors have in 1939-40? Indeed, will the Luftwaffe still be committed in support of Sealion? If so, what will happen? Will the losses likely to be incurred have an impact of air support for Barbarossa?
What would be the impact of the early adoption of jet propulsion for a heavy bomber?
