unusual cockpit additions?

[sheppo]

As its a really *busy* day at work... does anyone have any insight on field mods like this? On a close Zoom in, it appears to actually be quite thick and wrap around the longeron, perhaps leather in nature. My thought was that it may support a pouch or storage bag, due to the fact it is a DV I thought that it was too early to be a parachute bag attachment or similar.

The idea that you would cut through the skin to attach a bag rather than just screw it on struck me as a little unusual, but it is WW1.

Any thoughts? I know there are people here who spend a lot more time and effort focussing on such trifling details, but things out of the ordinary raise my eyebrows.

Chris