And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
The airplane is a Halberstadt CL II, according to Wiki the gun is an Parabellum MG14 which used a 250rd cloth-belt which is enclosed in the drum. Anybody have any idea what the ordnance is on the top of the fuselage?
The rounds in large loops on top of the aircraft are various coloured flare shells for the observer's LeuchtPistole (Verey gun), to quickly send signals to the ground or other aeroplanes.
I think those are too small for mortar rounds of the era. I think those might be aircraft flares for night reconnaissance photography or for communicating with artillery if it's a spotter plane. They could carry a wireless set for communication, but I don't know how reliable they were.
The war to end all wars, turned out to be the beginning of modern warfare.
ReplyDeleteThey were naming their bombers even back then. Brunhilde is a "strong" name!!
ReplyDeletepotatoe mashers as bombs. Early days.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many rounds that drum mag holds?
ReplyDeleteThe airplane is a Halberstadt CL II, according to Wiki the gun is an Parabellum MG14 which used a 250rd cloth-belt which is enclosed in the drum. Anybody have any idea what the ordnance is on the top of the fuselage?
DeleteAl_in_Ottawa
The rounds in large loops on top of the aircraft are various coloured flare shells for the observer's LeuchtPistole (Verey gun), to quickly send signals to the ground or other aeroplanes.
DeleteLooks like those are mortar rounds strapped atop the fuselage, perfect for littering and creating a nuisance......
ReplyDeleteI think those are too small for mortar rounds of the era. I think those might be aircraft flares for night reconnaissance photography or for communicating with artillery if it's a spotter plane. They could carry a wireless set for communication, but I don't know how reliable they were.
ReplyDeleteThat lozenge camouflage was fairly effective.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a plane named Brunhilde, I'd have a Victrola hand crank, playing "Ride of the Valkyries" on the bomb run.
ReplyDeleteBayouwulf