WW1 aircraft

[Milosh]

Close up as mounted on a SE5a
http://c7.alamy.com/comp/GHK6K8/se5a-of-the-shuttleworth-collection-at-old-warden-GHK6K8.jpg

 

[gumbyk]

That Lewis gun may be within reach of the gunner. The pilot sits almost under the trailing edge of the wing, and the gunner only had a waist strap (if anything) so was a lot more mobile.

 

[buffnut453]

Close up as mounted on a SE5a
http://c7.alamy.com/comp/GHK6K8/se5a-of-the-shuttleworth-collection-at-old-warden-GHK6K8.jpg

Thanks for that great pic, Milosh. I'm planning on making a model of the Brisfit my relative flew, and that pic will really help detail that part of the model.

 

[Wurger]

RAF B.E. 12 no.1697

 

[Wurger]

RAF B.E.12

 

[tyrodtom]

I wonder how the pilot managed that rear firing Lewis on the B.E.12 ?
It had to be pretty hard to aim looking over your shoulder .

 

[nuuumannn]

Some of the early aircraft mounted the Lewis above the wing, before the Foster mount was thought of.
In those aircraft the pilot had to unstrap, stand up, while holding the stick somehow, and change that drum.
The double drum held over 90 rounds, so you didn't change it often.

Yep, it's also worth considering that the early (pre-interruptor gear mounted scouts) had the mount (as in the (Louis) Strange mount) as a means of not shooting off your own propeller, whereas in the Brisfit, 2F.1 Ship's Camel and S.E.5a it was more of a supplement to existing forward firing armament and meant that the pilot could fire at an aircraft above. Louis Strange recounted an episode whilst flying a Martinsyde S.1 where he had to hang on for dear life by the Lewis gun case as the aircraft inverted itself. Here's a wee link to a model of the episode in question:

Martinsyde S.1, Inverted, with Louis Strange by reducedAircraftFactory on Shapeways

Nice pics of B.E family too, Wojtek.

 

[Wurger]

THX. Here two next...

RAF B.E.12 no.A6303

RAF B.E.12b

 

[Wurger]

RAF B.E. 12 no.A586

RAF B.E. 12

 

[vikingBerserker]

I wonder how the pilot managed that rear firing Lewis on the B.E.12 ?
It had to be pretty hard to aim looking over your shoulder .

I was curious too and did a little research, that was the only pic I could find of the gun mounted like that and I don't see a rear view mirror. Perhaps it is mounted on a swivel that allowed the gun to be moved forwards and left their for storage.

 

[Wurger]

RAF F.B 5

 

[Wurger]

Sopwith Camel F.1 no. B6316 ...

 

[vikingBerserker]

Nice!

 

[Wurger]

RAF S.E.5a... no. C5430

 

[Gnomey]

Good shots guys!

 

[Wurger]

RAF S.E.5b no.A8947 ...

 

[Graeme]

Caudron G.III.

Caudron G.3 - Wikipedia

 

[Wurger]

RAF F.E.2

 

[parsifal]

wow, a four blade prop on the se5a!!!!!!

 

[Graeme]

wow, a four blade prop on the se5a!!!!!!

Can't find exact figures, but quite a few S.E.5a machines were fitted such...