Loading a Lewis machine gun

[willycoppens]

Hello,
Was it possible to safely reload a Lewis MG while in flight- without a Foster mount? ( as found on the Nieuport 11 ).
Thank you, willy

[Billy_Bishop]

Whether it was safe or not, is another question, but it was done.

[Barker]

Grasp the stick with your knees, stand bent kneed, pray like hell it releases from the gun, reach down or unlimber from under your arm the next drum, swap it out with the empty, roll the weapon back up the track and hope it catches, sit back down and grasp stick with hand, reapply feet to pedals and resume 'normal flight'.

Yeh, that'll do.

I'd reload just to strafe the armourer's hut.

[Rob_Owens]

'Pears that some Nieup pilots clearly recognized the "safety violation" factor, in standing up to grab the gun. Nieuport Fighters Datafile, Vol. 1 (pp 18 & 41) show a couple of methods (pullrings, grip extensions) by which the pilot could pull the Lewis down while remaining seated. But, then, after having swapped drums, how did they reposition the gun? Good old heave-ho to the back of the piece? Regards, Rob

[TonyWilliams]

Early Lewis top-wing mountings were fixed so the pilot had to stand up to change the magazines in situ. This was certainly not safe - this is from a forthcoming book:

"The early aircraft versions of the Lewis had only a 47-round drum (a double-stacked 97-round drum was introduced in 1916) which meant that the magazine had to be changed fairly often. In this first attempt at an top-wing mounting, this could only be achieved by the pilot undoing his seat belt, standing up in the cockpit and reaching up to unlatch and exchange the magazine. This process led to perhaps the most famous single incident involving aircraft guns in the entire War; while Strange was struggling to persuade a recalcitrant magazine to come off the gun, he lost control of his aeroplane, which promptly turned upside down, leaving the hapless Lieutenant dangling underneath the plane, hanging on only by his grip on the magazine. Fortunately the magazine remained obstinately attached and Strange managed to regain his seat, and control of his aeroplane. He returned to earth safe and well, but presumably somewhat older than when he took off!"

The Foster mounting solved the problem by mounting the gun on a curved track, together with a handle which allowed it to be pulled down until the gun was in front of the pilot, pointing upwards. The magazine could then be changed safely, although it wasn't easy because of the wind pressure against the big drum. This also meant that it could be fired vertically, an advantage in some situations.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum

[Frank_Olynyk]

Tony,
Louis Arbon Strange was in fact a Captain at the time of the incident, May 10, 1915, between 0830 and 0930, between Becelaere and Menin, while attempting to attack what he identified as an Otto at 8000 feet. He was assigned to 6 Squadron, and was flying a Martinsyde S.1 serial 2449. His combat report exists and can be found in the PRO in Air 1/1217/204/5/2634/6 Sqdn, frame 115 on the microfilm copy.

Frank.

[TonyWilliams]

Thanks Frank, just in time to correct the book!

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum