Indeed, why did you get into the bomber? To fly to carry out a combat mission or to correct physiological needs?
It is clear that the first, but sometimes without the second in any way. If we talk about front-line dive bombers and attack aircraft, it is really easier there not to load the body with anything, because by diving on the anti-aircraft guns spewing lead into your carcass, you can spontaneously create anything you want.
Long-range aviation is another matter. Everything will be more decent there. We climbed 10,000 meters and brought down. An hour, two, three … Either enemy fighters will climb to such a height, or not. And we have our own, if that. And nobody canceled the trunks on the planes …
But the most important thing is that when you fly "only" for four or five thousand kilometers, you like it or not, but you will have to think about the questions of physiology.
Very often "ehsperts" criticized the Soviet Il-4 and Pe-8, for the fact that there were no toilets. On the one hand, yes, it was not. This is true.
On the other hand, the practice of using the IL-4 (it is easy to check from numerous memoirs) as a long-range bomber was reduced to isolated cases such as the raids on Berlin, of which there were only nine and which had rather a psychological effect.
Basically, the Il-4 worked as conventional bombers, and the main part was used as torpedo bombers. Here torpedo bombers had long flights, but about them a little below.
The Pe-8 looked more dignified as a long-range bomber, but alas, it was not used as such either. In addition to the raids on Berlin in 1941, there were also the bombings of Konigsberg in 1943 and Helsinki in 1944. In general, the operation was also more of a psychological nature.
So, as such, the toilets in long-range bombers, which did not function as long-range bombers, were probably not particularly needed. And evidence that a bucket in the tail of the plane played the role of a toilet in the Pe-8 is quite normal.
It is worth noting that there were constructive nuances here. On the planes of that time (at least of Soviet production), there was no talk of any tightness. The crew at high altitudes worked in oxygen masks at altitudes over 6,000 meters.
And what is the air temperature at this altitude? Based on the above table, then at 15 degrees Celsius on the surface at an altitude of 6,000 meters it will be -24.
No wonder fur jumpsuits, woolen underwear and so on. And a bucket in the tail of the plane as a toilet. There was no need to invent anything at all, everything was freezing anyway. The main thing is to generally manage to perform this difficult action.
They say that during his flight on the Pe-8 to America, Molotov retained memories for the rest of his life …
But the Americans …
And what exactly do the Americans have?
As the "ehsperts" say, the Americans had everything simply luxurious. Well, as it should be for a technically advanced country. So the American crews used …
In general, they had this from the Elsan company:
In general, very similar to the tail bucket of the Pe-8, but with an attached seat. But no!
This is actually one of the first dry closets, since it is not only a container for storing waste. It is also a device for neutralizing odor by placing certain capsules in the tray. That is, it actually smelled of both waste products and capsules with a cheerful raspberry smell.
Recall that in the 40s, chemistry was not what it is today. Even today it often wins over smells … And then we don't even speak at all.
In addition, there was another nuance: for the speed of servicing the aircraft on the ground, these crimson capsules did not allow the contents of this device to freeze.
It is clear that at an altitude of 10 thousand meters everything will freeze not only safely, but in stone. The plane landed, it is necessary to change the container, and there everything froze along with the container.
It is clear that the plane now and the plane then are two different things. If you read the reviews of airline passengers today, for some it is a problem to get in warm, without a fur overalls … And even then, and even in a bumpy environment …
I don’t know which is better. But for the sake of laughter, I can imagine the situation: the formation of planes at a height goes to the goal, the air defense of the Germans begins to work from below. At 10 km, the projectile (albeit not very effective) was thrown even by a FlaK 37, that is, an 88-mm anti-aircraft gun. What about the more serious 105mm and 128mm? Plus guidance on the Würzburg radar, which determined the altitude quite well?
The plane lands on the wing, leaving the fired sector, and here, over Berlin, everything that was accumulated by the Elsan device spills out onto the plane's floor with an ominous gurgle …
Of course, at a negative temperature, spilling on the floor, the substance will freeze sooner or later. Regardless of the chemicals. But closer to the end of the flight, the wonders of physics begin. In the meantime, the plane is refueling, bombs are suspended, machine guns are charged, everything begins to thaw …
To be honest, just a bucket of smelly ice is clearly preferable here.
Moreover, one could get into a spicy situation altogether. This is when the plane began to maneuver while you are sitting on the Elsan. After 4-5 hours of flight in a crew of 10 people (B-17 is taken as an example), the contents of the device could easily not only slightly wet you, but also spill (oh horror!) Onto your fur jumpsuit …
The prospect of spending all the way back (another 4-5 hours) in a jumpsuit that smells like …
Probably worth thinking about which is better. The Japanese, for example, thought about it, and in their performance it looked like some kind of aerodynamic device with the exhaust of everything falling outside. They somehow managed to solve the main problem - freezing.
Ours did not solve the problem, and if necessary, the frozen bucket could simply be thrown over the territory occupied by the enemy. By the way, the Americans and the British also sinned the same way. Yes, the British in their "Wellington" and "Lancaster" also used American miracle devices.
But if you believe the testimonies of those who used these "Elsans", it was easier to go on a flight as empty as possible in physiological terms.
The pilots were even worse. The planes of that time were not equipped with the same autopilots as their modern counterparts. Therefore, the pilot had to spend all the time at the helm. And about long-range fighters you just have to keep silent.
Therefore, long-range fighters and bombers in the cockpit were equipped with a "urinal tube" or urinal. Pokryshkin in Iran was surprised by the presence of a tube with a funnel in the cockpit of the Airacobra, since such flights were unusual for our Air Force. And the Cobra was planned precisely as an escort fighter, so a few hours of flight for the P-39 pilot is normal.
The Japanese, whose fighters spent 6-7 hours in the air, solved their problems in about the same way.
In general, during the war, some paid attention to physiological problems, and some did not. In any case, the crew got on the plane in order to carry out a combat mission. Of course, for this it was worth creating at least minimal conveniences.
But to give such examples as evidence of the backwardness of Soviet aircraft … Yes, our aviation industry in some positions did not shine at all. But I raised this question precisely because in some publications I read several times about the imperfection of Soviet aircraft, since there were no toilets in them.
Well, who got into the bomber for what, if so. And judge for yourself how wonderful the overseas creations of "Elsan" were.
