null
1-855-215-2914
Free Shipping on orders $75+ (Shipping Details Here)
loginLogin
Cart Cart

Aviation Oil Outlet Aviation Oil Outlet

  • CUSTOMER SERVICE
    • Contact Us
    • Credit App
    • Quote Request
    • Shipping Info
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Products
    • About Us
    • Mission
    • FAQ
  • RESOURCES
    • Videos
    • Articles
    • Email Sign-up
  • login
    Login
  • cart
    Cart
    • Aviation Lubricants By Application
      • All Aviation Lubricants By Application
      • Aviation Piston Engine Oils
        • Straight Grade Mineral Oil for Engine Break-in
        • Straight Grade Ashless Engine Oil for Normal Use
        • Multi-Viscosity Mineral Oil for Engine Break-in
        • Multi-Viscosity Ashless Engine Oil for Normal Use
        • Multi-Viscosity Grade Oil for Light Sport Aircraft
        • Aviation Oil with Lycoming LW 16702 Additives
      • Aviation Turbine Oil
      • Aviation Hydraulic Oil
      • Aerobatic Smoke Oil
      • Aviation Greases
    • Aviation Lubricants By Weight
      • All Aviation Lubricants By Weight
      • Aviation Grade 65, SAE 30
        • Straight 65 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
      • Aviation Grade 80, SAE 40
        • Straight 80 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
        • Straight 80 Grade, Normal Operation Ashless
      • Aviation Grade 100, SAE 50
        • Straight 100 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
        • Straight 100 Grade, Normal Operation Ashless
        • Grade 100 with Lycoming LW 16702 Additives
      • Aviation Grade 120, SAE 60
        • Grade 120 Mineral, Break-in Oil
        • Grade 120 Ashless for Normal Operation
      • Aviation Oil SAE 10w-40
      • Aviation Oil SAE 15w-50
        • Multi-Grade 15w-50 Ashless for Normal Use
      • Aviation Oil SAE 20w-50
        • Multi-Grade 20w-50 Break-In Oil
        • Multi-Grade 20W-50 Ashless for Normal Use
      • Aviation Oil SAE 25w-60
        • Multi-Grade 25w-60 for Engine Break-In
        • Multi-Grade 25w-60 Ashless for Normal Use
    • Lubricant Accessories
    • Shop By Brand
      • AeroShell
      • BlueSky Lubricants
      • Mobil
      • Phillips 66 Aviation
    • About Us
      • Our Products
      • About Us
      • Mission
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Online Sales
      • Online Shopping Security
      • Terms Of Use
    • Resources
      • Videos
      • Articles
      • Email Sign-up
      • Bookmark Our Site
      • Get Our Free Web App
      • Site Map
    • Customer Service
      • Customer Service
      • Return Policy
      • Contact Us
      • Credit App
      • Quote Request
      • Shipping Info
      • FAQ
      • Paypal Resource Page
    • Login Create an Account


    1-855-215-2914
    The Flight Blog - Read Articles The Flight Blog - Read Articles
    Back to Blog Homepage
    The Gremlins of Aviation- Yes, You Read That Right

    The Gremlins of Aviation- Yes, You Read That Right

    By Kayleigh DeMace on Mar 6th 2017

    I think it's safe to say that most everyone above the age of 20 conjures the same image when they hear the word "gremlin."

    That popular movie defines gremlins for many, but did you know that gremlins are a part of WWII history? In fact, gremlins are typically characterized as having a particular interest in aircraft and modern machinery. Furthermore, their interest is believed to lie in dismantling said machinery.

    I know. The thought is a little- unsettling to say the least. But many pilots have reported sightings, and it's a little too much to ignore. 

    And that's just what they're believed to do: cause chaos and annoyance. Specifically, in machinery and airplanes.

    Some believe that the gremlins helped boost morale during the war and that, rather than point the blame at each other when something went wrong in the air, they would blame the gremlins.



    So how did stories spread outside of the Royal Air Force (RAF)? Author Roald Dahl, having served in the 80 Squadron of the RAF, wrote about the creatures in his first children's novel titled "The Gremlins."

    Recognize the author's name? This is the same man who wrote "James and the Giant Peach," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and "Fantastic Mr Fox."

    In "The Gremlins," Dahl wrote of creatures that lived with their families on RAF fighter planes. The book was sold to Walt Disney and was published in December of 1942 in Cosmopolitan. The book was printed with Random House the following year at an initial print run of 50,000. It was widely successful and spread the gremlin tales around the world.

    The RAF, WWII, and Gremlins

    Remember when we said these creatures caused chaos and annoyance? Well, they are said to have applied those tendencies to the sky during WWII.

    The first reporting surfaced in the 1900s. A British newspaper, the Spectator, reported:

    The old Royal Naval Air Service in 1917 and the newly constituted Royal Air Force in 1918 appear to have detected the existence of a horde of mysterious and malicious sprites whose whole purpose in life was- to bring about as many as possible of the inexplicable mishaps which, in those days as now, trouble an airman's life.


    It took off from there. Many pilots reported seeing creatures both in and on the planes. One pilot reported that creatures followed him onto his plane and toyed with the engine and flight controls, which caused him to crash into the ocean.

    Most reports surfaced around the time of the Battle of Britain and a service manual was written up with instructions on how to avoid and counteract the gremlins' pranks. There were even posters made that warned people of the gremlins.

    Physically, the descriptions of these aerial gremlins vary. Some describe them as ghost-like creatures and others as more menacing with red, glowing eyes and horns. The height of these creatures ranges between a few inches and a few feet, while their skin is sometimes furry and other times reptile-like.

    It kind of reminds me of that one Twilight Zone episode, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet...

    Yup. This is another Hollywood take on the gremlin.

    Charles Lindbergh also reported having seen the creatures 9 hours into his historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean; he wrote about it in his memoir, "The Spirit of St. Louis."

    These "spirits," as he called them, reassured him that he was going to be alright and helped with navigation.

    Other pilots have reported similar incidents; hearing voices that helped them avoid collisions or mechanical failures and issues. However, by the 1950s, talk of gremlins died down a bit, possibly because the military discouraged it.

    Was it a lack of cabin pressure and/or sleep that cause these sightings (hallucinations)? We can all come to our own conclusions here regarding whether or not this actually happened. But I stand by my earlier statement: there's just too much here to ignore.


    Sources:


    http://www.lorepodcast.com/episodes/32
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gremlin
    http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2015/07/the-real-gremlins-of-wwii/
    http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1997/09/28/ent_215251.shtml#.WKrjUVUrJhE

    • #Aviation History
    • #ancient mysteries
    • #are gremlins real?
    • #Author Roald Dahl
    • #aviation mysteries
    • #Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author
    • #Cosmopolitan children's stories
    • #Fantastic Mr Fox author
    • #gremlins
    • #gremlins in aircraft
    • #James and the Giant Peach author
    • #orig

    You might also be interested in:


    Newsletter | January 2023
    by Aviation Oil Outlet on Jan 12th 2023

    Do You Use Our FREE Web App? Now you can save our website as an app on your
    monthly newsletter
    Newsletter | November 2022
    by Aviation Oil Outlet on Nov 22nd 2022

    Other Smoke Oils Pail in Comparison to Bluesky Bluesky White Lightning Smok
    monthly newsletter
    Newsletter | October 2022
    by Aviation Oil Outlet on Oct 28th 2022

    Shop One of Our Most Popular Products - In Stock While Supplies Last One of
    monthly newsletter
    !

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales

    aoo logo
    Aviation Oil Outlet
    454 South Main Street
    Wilkes Barre, PA 18703
    United States of America

    1-855-215-2914

    E-mail:
    sales@aviationoiloutlet.com

    Follow us on Social:

    Customer Service

    • Contact
    • Credit Application
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Quote Request
    • Returns
    • Shipping Information
    • Sitemap

    Resources

    • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Brands
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Online Shopping Security
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions of Online Sales
    • Terms of Use
    • Video Library

    Account

    • Account
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • Order History

    © 2023 Aviation Oil Outlet

    payment method icons Bizrate
    ​