How was fuel around the Swordfish observer supposed to return to the auxiliary tank?
Short answerIt should have drained back automatically; pooling and fumes were mainly the result of seal problems.
NotesA joking question asks whether the observer needed a funnel and bucket to return leaked fuel to the tank. The system was designed to drain fuel back without manual handling. The liquid and vapour described by Taranto crews resulted mainly from seal problems around the long-range installation. The vivid cockpit anecdote shows how a small sealing fault could create fumes, discomfort, and serious fire risk during a night strike.