Was there any chance a stronger glass canopy have been developed by 1940 that could have given the pilots greater protection from bullets? I hope someone can help.
Thank You
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By the time of the Battle of Britain, British fighters did have bullet-proof windscreens.
shareThe front screen was bullet-proof - but I guess not against the Germans' 20mm cannon shells. The fighters also had an armour plate behind the pilot's seat. But the canopy itself was only thin perspex.
And to sum up the hazards the pilots were 'protected' by a fuel tank of some 85 gallons (almost 400 liters) - and if that's not enough a pilot really could get roasted because behind him he had another 60 gallons.
The BF-109 pilots were sitting upon their fuel!