Here & Now Anytime The story behind the WWI fighter plane that inspired Snoopy's Flying Ace
Nov 27, 2025
Roger Connor, a curator at the National Air and Space Museum, shares fascinating insights about the Sopwith Camel, a fighter plane that dominated WWI with its speed and agility. He highlights its intriguing design and nickname origin, while also detailing the unexpected challenges pilots faced. Additionally, Yomi Young pays tribute to the late Alice Wong, a disability rights advocate, reflecting on her legacy, values, and the importance of community. Young encourages activism in Wong's spirit, emphasizing the need to uplift disabled voices.
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Agility Over Speed Defined The Camel
- The Sopwith Camel sacrificed speed for extreme agility and became the dominant Allied dogfighter in WWI.
- Roger Connor explains the Camel could outturn nearly every opponent despite a top speed just above 100 mph.
Castor Oil Made Pilots Sick
- Pilots inhaled castor oil spray from their engines during flights, causing nausea and gastrointestinal distress.
- Roger Connor describes thousands of acres of castor beans grown to produce engine lubricant that could land on pilots' goggles and faces.
Eyes In The Sky Shaped Ground Battles
- Most WWI aircraft were primarily reconnaissance platforms, not fighters, and their cameras shaped battlefield outcomes.
- Roger Connor emphasizes that aerial observation and camera work were lethal for directing ground artillery.
