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sink-me
Snapshots of the War
Slow and solid - but sound. The old British Armstrong-Whitworth (Ack-W, as the
boys called her) was used mainly for camera and artillery observation work, where
speed wasn't so necessary. It mounted the old Sunbeam engine and saw considerable
service between '16 and '18.
(Puglisi photo.)
Here's one of those Jerry Albatross C-V's which attempted to compete with the
Bristol Fighters during '17. A splendid job, but not smart enough to take the "Brisfit"
on even terms. The Halberstadt later replaced the. C-V. (Puglisi photo.)
One of the best photographs we have ever offered on this page. It shows in rare
detail the Clerget rotary engine as it was mounted in the Sopwith Camel. The cowling
has been removed, of course. Note also the arrangement of the two fixed Vickers
machine guns, the nose of the Aldis telescopic sight, and the ring sight. That small
propeller fitted on the center-section strut to the left ran a tiny generator which
provided current: for the electrically-heated Sidcot suits the British pilots wore
in the last year of the War. A darned good picture, and no mistake! (Williams Aerophoto.)
Left: Another unusual "shot" - this time of a German Dornier flying boat built
late in 1915 for North Sea patrol work. Observe the structure of the lower stub
wing, a feature still used by the Dornier firm. And also note the steel tubing used
in the tail booms. The question is: "Where are the motors?" The propellers are there,
sure enough. Well, from what we can make out they were actuated by chain gears running
up from somewhere in the aft section of the hull. Anyhow, you might sit down some
night and try to figure it all out - which is probably just what the Heinies did.
(R. C. Hare photo.)
Right: This crash must have got somebody on the carpet for a lot of explaining.
The D.H.4 shown at the left - that is, what's left of it - was being stunted by
an American airman over Trier aerodrome a short time after the Armistice just when
another Yank pilot was taking off in a captured German Fokker. In their mutual excitement,
they crashed together, and both fliers were seriously injured. You wouldn't have
cared to be mixed up in that mess, you say? Well, brother, neither would we! Incidentally,
that wasn't the only post-Armistice crack-up. Yep, the cocarde on that upturned
D.H. wing was the early form of American insignia.
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