Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)
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Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO) (which was sometimes referred to as "Fog Intense Dispersal Operation" or "Fog Intense Dispersal Of") was a system used for dispersing fog from an airfield so that aircraft could land safely.
The FIDO system was developed at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom in the department of chemical engineering during the Second World War. The device was used by the British for the dispersal of fog from around the runways of RAF bomber stations allowing the landing of aircraft returning from raids over Germany in poor visibility.
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[edit] The System
The device consisted of two pipleines situated along both sides of the runway and through which a fuel (usually the petrol from the airfield's own fuel dump) was pumped along and then out through burner jets positioned at intervals along the pipelines. The vapours were lit from a series of burners, producing walls of flame.
When fog prevented returning Allied aircraft from locating and seeing their runways to land, they would be diverted to FIDO equipped airdromes. RAF night bombers which were damaged on their missions were also diverted to FIDO airfields due to the need to make certain they could land when they arrived. When FIDO was needed, the fuel pumps were started to pour flammable liquid into the pipe system and a jeep with a flaming brand lashed to its rear drove fast down both sides of the runway to ignite the fuel at the outlets in the pipes. The result was a row of burning flame along the side of the runway that could be seen for a great distance from the air. The resultant heat from the flames dispersed the fog so that the allied airplanes could have suitable visibility to find the airfield and land. In addition, the flare of the burning fuel was visible from a considerable distance which assisted the aircrews in locating the airfield. Once landed the crews would find shelter where they could, and their planes would be refueled and if needed repaired before flying back to their normal bases the next day.
[edit] The Procedure for aircrew before the introduction of FIDO
Prior to the introduction of FIDO, fog had been responsible for losses of a number of aircraft returning from operations. Often large areas of the UK would be simultaneously fog-bound and it was recommended procedure in these situations for the pilot to point the aircraft towards the sea and then, while still over land, for the crew to bail-out by parachute, leaving the aircraft to subsequently crash in the sea. With raids often consisting of several-hundred aircraft this could amount to a large loss of bombers.
[edit] The use of FIDO
FIDO used huge quantities of fuel, as much as 100,000 gallons [125,000 US gallons, 450,000 litres] per hour. Over twice this amount was used by airfields with longer runways such as RAF Carnaby. Large fuel storage tanks filled with low grade petrol and possibly kero and other fuel were connected by pumps to provide this fuel to the runway pipes. Although extravagant in the use of fuel consumed, the device more than made up for the costs involved in the reduction in aircraft losses.
When lit these FIDO runways could be seen for a great distance by the 'planes returning and a very welcome sight they were too, as described by an RAF airman of the time.
FIDO systems were used at many airbases in England during World War II. Among the RAF fields equipped with FIDO were RAF Carnaby, RAF Manston, and RAF emergency fields at Tilstock and Skipton, and have been used to bring commercial planes into fog-covered airports in the United States.
[edit] References
- "FIDO at Work", TIME News Magazine, April 11, 1949. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. and Biography of Reg Miles, RAF Flight Engineer, 432 and 420 Squadrons RCAF, Bomber Command, Justin Museum of Military History
