Colour film of Great Patriotic War trophies

One of the great things about the internet is the access to film that would otherwise never get seen by anyone but researchers, if that. Some is interesting for illustrating an amazing event - even if the film itself isn't anything to write home about (we'll see an example of that here soon). Others are just interesting because they put you 'there' and in a period that's gone irretrievably.

The following film is a piece of W.W.II Soviet propaganda, and as partisan as you'd expect. However it's a colour film of a remarkable array of captured German materiel, and starts with slow passes over a now fascinating collection of Luftwaffe aircraft. (This includes a Focke Wulf Fw 189 'Uhu', Fw 200 Condor, Henschel Hs 129, Heinkel He 111, Junkers Ju 88, Dornier Do 217, and numerous Messerschmitt Me 109s, and Focke Wulf Fw 190s.). It then goes onto tanks, guns and some marine gear as well.


A translation of the introductory notes reads:

On June 22, 1943, exactly two years after the beginning of war*, an exhibition of captured armament, seized by the Red Army, was opened in Gorky Park, Moscow.

Obviously this was on show for triumphalist reasons - not unlike the Roman triumphs from their era (and this film serves a similar purpose for the technically interested historian as Trajan's column does).

The fascination for some today lies with the detail of the schemes and technology of some of this equipment. Of the aircraft types listed, only a couple survive into double figures, most in ones and twos and a couple are 'extinct' for all practical purposes. While most of the national markings are recreations by Russians over their red stars applied after capture, the other details - as well as in the correct context, the capture markings - potentially provide valuable data.

And there's more film of captured German (and Japanese) equipment here at the famous post-war American exhibition at Freeman Field, here.

*The date of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of Russia, and the start of what the Russians called The Great Patriotic War.

Modified Hurricane

On the blog of respected French author Jacques Moulin, he has posted a set of photographs of an extempore armament modification to a Hawker Hurricane, apparently in Egypt.


This mod is new to me, and we can assume it was not successful. While it is obviously undesirably draggy the detail work, particularly the teardrop fairing for the ammunition drums and the aft pillar mount is well developed.


The gun is the Hispano-Suiza HS.404, usually known as the Hispano 20mm, and widely used from about 1940 on British (and other nations') aircraft. The Hurricane went on to get a set of four of these cannon replacing the eight machine guns in the 'c' version of the Mk.II, probably one reason this version didn't prosper. What's not clear is if the eight guns on this machine were retained - the open wing ports imply that they were.


I can't help but wonder if the cannon mounts and set-up are actually a set of the made but rarely used Westland Lysander cannons. We had an interesting discussion of these here on the Key forum and the image shows how they were attached to the Lysander - and the mount similarity, although obviously rotated into a different position. Note the extra bracing on the cannon.


The early Hispano cannon had major problems with the drum feed when it was either moved from the dorsal position as seen here, or under high-g manoeuvring, as found on the first cannon-armed Spitfires in 1940.

(Hurricane photos via Jacques Moulin, credited 'RAF'. Thanks to Jacques for sharing these photos, as originally posted here.)

And the view from...

...the bombardier's post of a flying B-24. An educational experience.

Monday 16 May, 2011, California.

The RAAF's Balloons

My good friend Brett mentioned in his RAAF birthday blog post here on Airminded that on the formation of the RAAF in 1921:

"Interestingly, among the usual propeller makers, cooks, machinists and so on, the RAAF declared that it had need of airship riggers and balloon basket makers. As far as I know, the RAAF never operated any airships (or balloons), but I would guess the idea would have been to use them for maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare."

Certainly the RAAF never operated airships or balloons for warlike purposes back in the inter-war period, but while at the Antiquers airshow and fly in at Echuca last weekend, I bumped into a current RAAF balloon airman - who is one of the crew operating the RAAF's balloons. Details of the balloons, and their (recent) history is here. Serendipity!

As to the 1921 recruits, I'm sure anyone actually taken on for balloon work would have just found out that the old military axiom - 'If you can't take the joke you shouldn't have joined' certainly applied. However while hot air balloon canopies and power has certainly changed in materials since 1921 (if not principle) baskets are still woven from natural materials. So the (very old) basket maker would have a job.

Strike!

The RAAF Museum's new display, the 'Strike Hangar' is now open, in time for the local aeronautically interested influx for the forthcoming Avalon Airshow in the area. On show are the museum's General Dynamics F-111G A8-272, 'The Boneyard Wrangler', McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II 67-0237 and GAF Canberra A84-236 (above) and many other artefacts including two larger pieces of GAF Lincolns - the starboard tail of one see to the left above.

This tag won't be removed before flight ever again, and there won't be any F-111s at Avalon this year.

The tails of retarded bombs as not used in anger by RAAF F-111s.

I see a SE

I see an SE; S.E.5a on its way from the RAAF Museum to Avalon for the airshow.

Back to the 'Bushe

Sopwith Pup over Spitfire Mk.XVI - one of the many Spitfires Doug Arnold - the 'Big Man from Blackbushe' - traded over the years. [Peter Brown]

This great thread here (on the Farnborough Aviation Group forum) has a huge number of photos of the post-war era at Blackbushe airfield by one of the people - Peter Brown - who was clearly key to the airfield's operations. As well as a fascinating insight to general aviation of the era, there's a wonderful selection of (rarely seen) warbird ops.

A line of Sea Furies. [Peter Brown]

I'm presenting a selection of Peter's great images here, but for the full flavour grab a cup of tea (or a cocktail), sit back and run through the vast array of pictures (over nine pages at the time of writing) coupled with a wonderful insider's insight to the story of an often overlooked airfield.

Blackbushe was owned for a period by the remarkable Doug Arnold, and a selection of his aircraft - mainly warbirds - are seen in colour and black and white.

Neil Williams on the right with Peter Hoare. [Peter Brown]

There are also some featuring the late, great Neil Williams, one of the highest regarded aerobatic and display pilots of his (and I suspect) many other eras.

A beat up by B-17 'Sally B' [Peter Brown]

With thanks to Peter (no relation) Arnold for the 'heads up' on a forum for this, but most of all to Peter Brown for taking - and sharing - the pictures with his memories.

James