BMEWS
 

Unites States ‘helped win Battle of Britain through American super-fuel’ Oh boy. Here we go.

 
 


Posted by peiper    United Kingdom   on 05/13/2009 at 11:15 AM   
 
  1. My mother worked for an American company in the war, they were importing (this is a distant memory so bear with me) tetra-ethel lead that boosted octane levels, you know that evil substance that made our cars go well and be fuel efficient untill the catalitic converter was invented, the great device that makes your car produce heaps more CO2, but dies if you use real petrol. (by the way unleaded is not it just has a lot less)
    This might be for real.

    Posted by Chris Edwards    Canada   05/13/2009  at  06:39 PM  

  2. A quick flip through Air Cdre Rod Banks’ fascinating book (I Kept No Diary) reveals (p.111) that we were importing both 87 and 100 0ctane fuel from America from about 1937 onwards.  He doesn’t say whether part of the 100 octane rating was obtained by a development of the cracking process, but it is perfectly clear that a large part of it came from liberal use of tetra-ethyl lead.  As we were reliant on imported fuel for just about the whole war (Atlantic convoys, anyone?) it is entirely plausible that the burden of this story is correct, though I think it’s rather overhyped (surprise, surprise).

    Posted by formernavalperson    United States   05/15/2009  at  11:26 AM  

  3. I can’t say I’m surprised, we did support the Western Allies almost whole hog in both WWI and WWII FAR before we actually sent men in, after all.

    Still, it is fascinating to read the memories of a time when a Democrat President actually had enough honor and common sense to FIGHT his constituency to defend Democracy from tyranny.

    I miss those times.

    Posted by Turtler    United States   05/15/2009  at  10:58 PM  

  4. Shh dont tell the Nu demoncrats or this will be another bit of history needing correction, also there is a good argument that FDR used it to strip England of several empiric possesions!

    Posted by Chris Edwards    Canada   05/16/2009  at  10:27 AM  

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

Next entry: Gay rights campaigner led a double life as leader of paedophile ring.

Previous entry: Stealth bomber photographed breaking sound barrier .

<< BMEWS Main Page >>