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I do not know of any use of N2O in WW1 but it was used in WWII by both the allies and the Axis powers. ME 109's had the GM1 system with auto fuel enrichment and it was supposedly good for about 300 hp. The FW 190's with their radial BMW engines had a similar sytem by all accounts but this needed the pilot to add the extra fuel. After WWII was over it seems that investigations by who ever it was supposedly found that better than 25% of the FW190 accredited with being shot down were infact downed due to an engine melt down because the pilot, in the heat of battle, had overlooked fuel enrichment! For at least the first year or so of it's use the Germans thought they were the only ones using it and figured it to be one of their secret weapons. The allies also thought the same!
The allies used nitrous on those occasions when it was obvious that there was no alternative. For instance the Germans started flying high altitude and perssurized recon flights over England. In response to this DeHaviland rebuilt a Mosquito to a special spec. I am not 100% sure of the exact details but this is how I remenmber it:
Added 6 feet into each wing. Stripped all the guns out except for one 20 mm cannon with aboit 20 rounds. Made a simple pressurized cockpit for one man crew (usually two). Upped the suppercharger gear ratios on the twin Merlins. (could make about 1500 hp a piece at 35,000 ft)Carried three 80 lb. N2O bottles to gas feed the Merlins at altitudes above about 45,000.
This Mosquito got to 55,000 ft - that's some 7000 above the enemy aircraft. It dived in and at near point blank range blew up the intruder.
No more came over!
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