Google Earth and WWI Aviation

[GMU]

Most of you have used Google Earth before. If you haven't, then you are missing an excellent research tool. It is free and easy to use. Here are some examples ....


This is the exact location of Manfred von Richthofen's original burial place at Bertangles Cemetery. You can plug these coordinates into your GPS device and visit this spot in the future.


http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5176/mvrgrave.jpg

[GMU]

Manfred von Richthofen landed on this spot after being wounded on the head on July 6, 1917.

There is an excellent article by Jim Miller (Over the Front Journal, Vol. 23 # 3) which examines the events leading to this landing, and determines the exact spot where it occurred.




http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4839/mvr6july.jpg

[GMU]

This is the aerodrome at Lechelle. One can superimpose an old photo of the aerodrome on the satellite map, and one can adjust its degree of transparency. One can determine the exact location of the hangars, and also use a ruler tool to determine that these hangars spanned over approximately 325 feet.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6491/lechelle.jpg

[GMU]

We can superimpose an old photo over the satellite picture, and then we can rotate it any way we want. Here we see the exact location of KG2´s airfield located between Mont Bonvillers and Murville. Manfred von Richthofen crash landed here in a Fokker Eindecker.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2636/kg2atmont.jpg

[crankcase]

Interesting the application of advanced technology to antiquarian passion...but of course in 1914-18, aviation was advanced technolgy and a wonder to behold by people back then.
marc

[FliegerJG1]

Almost as good as being there! Thank you so much for sharing some fascinating samples of this technology! I always enjoy the perspective of places as seen from the air.

:goggles: FliegerJG1

[GMU]

Thanks, here is another one.

Auxi le Chateau. Exact coordinates of the location of the hangars. James McCudden fatally crashed into the forest behind, or to the left, of the hangars on July 9, 1918.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9193/auxilechateau.jpg

[Willi Von Klugerman]

I would love to see a superimposed image of WW1 battlefields.That would be quite interesting!:cool:

[GMU]

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7448/ypres2.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4631/ypres1915.jpg




In 1917 Werner Voss fell down near the town of Frezenberg (to the north of it)

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2124/ypres3.jpg

[frontflieger]

Hi all,

I am a real fan of this coordinates-stuff. Can't we start a project? A project to collect coordinates of aerodromes, quarters, losses, victories etc.?

Does anyone of you have the technical knowledge (or application) to start such an online collection? Or have you already started?

Thorsten - willing to help :)