Le Prieur Rockets

[MilesC]

This site has an article and small photo of a le Prieur rocket arrangement, they appear to be on the inside of the outboard struts.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/leprieur.htm

This is a bigger version of the same image:


"Invented by Frenchman Lieutenant Yves Le Prieur the solid-fuel stick-guided rocket was first deployed during the Battle of Verdun in April 1916 when four rockets were attached to each strut of a Nieuport fighter aircraft and fired through steel tubes."

[gregoire]

about the first use of le prieur rocket it happens "over" verdun the 22nd may 16 and involved 8 pilot that were to attack 8 balloon
the pilot were:
de beauchamps (4 vic)
dubois de gene
chaput (ace with 16 vic)
Nungesser (yes that Nugesser)
Guiget (4 vic)
de Boutigny
Reservat
baurault
the planes used were nieuport 10 or 11
6 dracken were destroyed
after the mission Reservat was forced to land (he will escape in 17) and barrault claimed his victory (Barrault was one of the two pilots that did not score that day) after the escap the victory was given back to Reversat

[Tim West]

Rosebud has a picture of a French plane firing le prieur rockets at a observation balloon.

http://204.83.160.230/archive/b/archive3.htm#kites