Quote:
Originally posted by Gregvan@Apr 6 2004, 09:57 PM
[b]
Immo, are you sure it was Gontermann who experimented with rockets? I have read somewhere that the "Gontermann method" occasionally included use of a flare pistol to try to set a balloon ablaze, but never rockets - I'd like to hear more.
|
Hi Greg,
well, that's why I put the word "rocket" in quotation marks
In a report from his diary from 8 Apr 1917 Gontermann states that he had an unsuccessfull attack on a balloon around 6 p.m . The balloon did not burn and because of the accurate AAA, Gontermann decided to break off the attack. At the end of his report he said that he will try to attack the balloons the next time with selfmade
"Leuchtkugelpfeile". I think these are the so called "stick-stabilized signal light-rockets". Gontermann was still with Jasta 5 at this time, so perhaps he had copied the method by Nebel or perhaps they cooperated in fiddling these things togeteher...
In a letter home to his parents, dated 15 Apr 1917 he wrote that a balloon attack with these rockets had been successfull on 13 April when he flamed a french balloon at 7.40 p.m near St.Quentin.
Greg, do you have any dates for Nebel's experiments with the signal-rockets ?
Immo