What is that outside the cockpit?
- Thread starter Olham54
- Start date
Cameljockey
Flame On!
A spare change holder?
W
womenfly2
Guest
Flare cartridges. Were use to signal with, i.e other planes in flight and such. In some pictures you can see the barrel of the flair pistol that was fixed and mounted inside the cockpit sticking out.
I believe the DH-2 or one of the planes in BHaH has the ability of fire flares.
Cheers,
WF2
I believe the DH-2 or one of the planes in BHaH has the ability of fire flares.
Cheers,
WF2
Always coming up with a good explanation for the technical underdeveloped, CAMELJOCKEY, thank you. Yes, it might be French or English coins, a pilot would like to have at hand, when coming down on the other side of the mud; so he could draw him a package of Lucky Strike from the nearest automat.
And if they were flares - why are they outside the cockpit. Were they so dangerous / easy aflamable?
Oops - posts came in together. Thank you, WomenFly2. So I assume, they were easily aflamable, and for that reason outside mounted?
And if they were flares - why are they outside the cockpit. Were they so dangerous / easy aflamable?
Oops - posts came in together. Thank you, WomenFly2. So I assume, they were easily aflamable, and for that reason outside mounted?
Just had an additional thought for the use of flares.
I have sometimes wished, my wings could have told me, that we got attacked from behind. Having no radio, I would imagine it a good idea, to fire a flare forward, so the leader would notice? (But maybe, that's all in the books, I haven't read yet...Shame on me.)
I have sometimes wished, my wings could have told me, that we got attacked from behind. Having no radio, I would imagine it a good idea, to fire a flare forward, so the leader would notice? (But maybe, that's all in the books, I haven't read yet...Shame on me.)
O
ovs
Guest
Flares my a$$... they're shot glass holders. Come on, this is WWI!!
OvS
OvS
S
Schwarzer Baron von Chlum
Guest
Olham, this is the cartridge rack for a flare pistol.
In the picture is Bruno Loerzer´s (commanded Jasta 26 and later Jagdgeschwader III) Albatros D.V D.2299/17 (fuselage decorated with white and black bands of Jasta 26, clear visible is Loerzer´s personal emblem- six-pointed star.
Salute, von Chlum.
In the picture is Bruno Loerzer´s (commanded Jasta 26 and later Jagdgeschwader III) Albatros D.V D.2299/17 (fuselage decorated with white and black bands of Jasta 26, clear visible is Loerzer´s personal emblem- six-pointed star.
Salute, von Chlum.
P
paarma
Guest
Mr. von Chlum, im not sure was it that simple. I think both pilots flyed that same (d.2299/17). The Loerzer flyed later with same six-pointed star dva (d.5602/17) with lozenge wings. Both are in the p3...
Cheers
Arto
Cheers
Arto
OvS, have a look at "Flyboys". Not that I liked the film much, but an Allied pilot fires flares at a balloon (or even a Zeppelin? You Americans must always go over the top a bit (lol!) Yes, I think, when they could build something to fly, plus tanks, submarines and gigantic cannons, they should have been able to make a flare pistol?
Thanks, Baron von Chlum and Arto - wouldn't Arto be right here, as the writing on the postcard says "Leutnant Dannhuber"? But may well be, that Loerzer took the whole plane + design over?
Anyway, thanks for your interest.
Thanks, Baron von Chlum and Arto - wouldn't Arto be right here, as the writing on the postcard says "Leutnant Dannhuber"? But may well be, that Loerzer took the whole plane + design over?
Anyway, thanks for your interest.
P
Polovski
Guest
DH2's
Bristol F2b,
Bristol Scout
Strutters
FE2b
Hannover
Re8
DFW
Can all use flares in BHaH if you select them as part of your loadout.
Bristol F2b,
Bristol Scout
Strutters
FE2b
Hannover
Re8
DFW
Can all use flares in BHaH if you select them as part of your loadout.
P
Polovski
Guest
S
Schwarzer Baron von Chlum
Guest
I have not said, that in cockpit is Bruno Loerzer, but that is Loerzer´s Albatros.
Paarma he is all right, i forgot Loerzer´s D.Va 5602/17.
B
Bullethead
Guest
I've got a photo lying around somewhere of a Halberstadt gunner preparing for a flight. He's standing in his seat playing with his Parabellum. Completely surrounding his postion, on the fuselage sides and even on top behind the gun mount, are mounts like this. The photo caption says they're flare cartridges, so I figure those in the pic above are, too.
As I understand things, the Halberstadts used them for many purposes, mostly for communicating with ground units. They could drop them over the forward troops so the generals in the rear would know how far they'd advanced. They could use them to spot artillery, using different colors to specify the direction and distance needed for a correction. They could mark targets, both for themselves, other planes, and ground troops. And I suppose they could use them for talking to other flight members, too.
I remember in RB3D, if you were on an escort mission, when the 2-seaters showed up and were satisfied you were in position, their leader would fire a flare to tell you it was time to head toward the target.
As I understand things, the Halberstadts used them for many purposes, mostly for communicating with ground units. They could drop them over the forward troops so the generals in the rear would know how far they'd advanced. They could use them to spot artillery, using different colors to specify the direction and distance needed for a correction. They could mark targets, both for themselves, other planes, and ground troops. And I suppose they could use them for talking to other flight members, too.
I remember in RB3D, if you were on an escort mission, when the 2-seaters showed up and were satisfied you were in position, their leader would fire a flare to tell you it was time to head toward the target.
P
paarma
Guest
Well as useally it was hard to tell whos a/c and markings those were becourse often pilots borrowed their craft to wingmates or give it away to rookie pilot if there were new a/c arrived. I think in this case too its hard to say was the Dannhuber just sitting his plane or Loezer´s when photo was taken.
Anyway interesting to do research and find out info. Example jasta 11 changed colors and a/c with other wingmates in albatros dv/dva era.
Ltn. von der Osten is sayd one book that the plane colors was changed so many times that he didnt even remember his own a/c´s colors, so thats why there is so little information today that would tell aces personal markings. I think this happened other jastas too.
Thats why there also have to use imagination in skinning but not forgot history facts and details that those aces or squadrons might had usead.
All the best
Arto
C
Catfish
Guest
Hello,
for what it's worth i also think this is ammunition for a signaling pistol, however i have yet nowhere read, how and when this was used, during a mission.
Flyboys, well - i have not yet seen the film, it was not even in the german cinemas back then, and i have not seen the recent von Richthofen film as well, where this pilot fires at a balloon, setting it on fire with such a gun, or pistol (?).
According to some other reports balloons were indeed set ablaze with signal guns now and then, but according to a friend hopefully to become, who is an authority in all things lighter-than-air, it was not easy at all to set a ballon ablaze, or a Zeppelin. Even the later incendiary ammunition would not ignite a hydrogenium bag, instead it was a time consuming task, and that is why so much pilots were killed during such missions - they had to stay on the scene and wait for some minutes until the final "kill".
Gretings,
Catfish
for what it's worth i also think this is ammunition for a signaling pistol, however i have yet nowhere read, how and when this was used, during a mission.
Flyboys, well - i have not yet seen the film, it was not even in the german cinemas back then, and i have not seen the recent von Richthofen film as well, where this pilot fires at a balloon, setting it on fire with such a gun, or pistol (?).
According to some other reports balloons were indeed set ablaze with signal guns now and then, but according to a friend hopefully to become, who is an authority in all things lighter-than-air, it was not easy at all to set a ballon ablaze, or a Zeppelin. Even the later incendiary ammunition would not ignite a hydrogenium bag, instead it was a time consuming task, and that is why so much pilots were killed during such missions - they had to stay on the scene and wait for some minutes until the final "kill".
Gretings,
Catfish
O
ovs
Guest
Ever see 'Hell's Angels'? One of the pilots actually whips out a flask of booze and takes a swing from it. Not far from the truth I'm sure. Charles Nungesser was often found to be flying intoxicated from partying the night before. What the hell, I would too.
But yes... without much debate needed, they are flares. Not to shoot at balloons, but to call attention to the flight leader during flight, or to give and attack signal. Which lends even more that this was Bruno Loerzer crate, probably loaned out.
That went on more than you can imagine. And can be seen in OFF... just thought I'd toss that in...
Josef Mai's 'All Seeing Eye' Albatros D.III went on to be loaned to another Jasta 5 pilot once he received the D.V. Mai was also the recepiant of Jasta 11's von Conta's Dr.1, who was a much lesser pilot than Mai. Go figure.