Etiennedup Posted May 28, 2020 Share Posted May 28, 2020 (edited) The angled lines on the fuselage of the H S 126 has always been puzzling me........ I know it had something to do with the dive angle, but how did it benefit the pilot because he could not see them from his position. Any experts please............. Edited May 28, 2020 by Etiennedup Include pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted May 28, 2020 Share Posted May 28, 2020 Hello Not an expert, but I do not think those lines were intended to help Hs 126 pilots to asses dive angles. Probably they had been used by observers who could, given the known height over terrain, determine approximate distances to objects at which the lines pointed and perhaps to assist them when taking photos with hand-held cameras. Cheers Jure 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted May 28, 2020 Share Posted May 28, 2020 I think I remember reading somewhere that the lines had something to do with determining attack heights by the observer. I will try to find the reference. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornet133 Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 I'm aghast at the thought of the Hs-126 attempting to emulate a dive bombing attack 😃 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernandocouto Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 (edited) Lines for observer, but I cannot remember.. Searched a photo, with numbers 50, 100, 500, 1000 (I asuume not 7000, cause it cannot be so high....) There truly have few Hs126 with bomb racks...only in Spain? Edited May 29, 2020 by fernandocouto add photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilneBay Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 4 minutes ago, Hornet133 said: I'm aghast at the thought of the Hs-126 attempting to emulate a dive bombing attack 😃 Apparently the proposed tactic to be used was a version of the kamikaze method, except that at a certain point when the pilot pulled up, the fuselage detached from the wing. Obviously this was a feature that did not survive the first pre-flight briefing of the test pilot. 😄 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard502 Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 1 hour ago, MilneBay said: except that at a certain point when the pilot pulled up, the fuselage detached from the wing Was that the inspiration for the Mistel composite? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 10 hours ago, Etiennedup said: The angled lines on the fuselage of the H S 126 has always been puzzling me........ On this the observer has to lean out over the side to take his photos. His aerial camera has no viewfinder as you know it, just a wire 'sports frame', a more basic form but like the cross-hairs and ball early gun sights The lines are to help him to line up his camera on the subject he has to photograph a bit like this viewfinder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etiennedup Posted May 29, 2020 Author Share Posted May 29, 2020 Thanks for the great input chaps.........especially fernandocouto for the very nice photo as well as Black Night. Your info makes perfect sense. Now my soul can rest............ Cheers. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimpyboy Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 (edited) In addition to providing an aiming aid for the observer, I wonder if the lines are used as: 1. a reference to record the obliquity of photographs and mitigate the effects of angular distortion. If the crew only use a specific series of angles for oblique photography (particularly if an area target is taken from a series of different angles) it makes the image analysis a lot simpler - that way, the image analyst is not trying to guess size and spatial positioning from what would otherwise a random set of angles and distances. 2. a reference to perform calculations for artillery spotting and correction. Also, I was fooled into thinking the larger figure was 7000, but now I see it's just a different style for 1000: https://www.alamyimages.fr/photo-image-evenements-seconde-guerre-mondiale-seconde-guerre-mondiale-guerre-aerienne-personnes-equipage-d-un-avion-allemand-de-reconnaissance-etroite-henschel-hs-126-avant-le-decollage-vers-1940-28086531.html and https://www.alamyimages.fr/photo-image-un-observateur-et-le-pilote-d-un-hs-126-au-cours-d-un-exercice-en-1939-122549715.html Edited May 29, 2020 by Blimpyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 (edited) 12 hours ago, fernandocouto said: Lines for observer, but I cannot remember.. Searched a photo, with numbers 50, 100, 500, 1000 (I asuume not 7000, cause it cannot be so high....) There truly have few Hs126 with bomb racks...only in Spain? It is a guide to dropping *something*, possibly a bomb but possibly something else in the army co-op role. And from the level, not from a dive. Not intended for the pilot's benefit as the rear-seater drops the whatever-it-is. Numbers are height above target level in metres. When the target is at the appropriate angle denoted by the line for the relevant height AGL, that's when the arc of the bomb / package will reach the target. Edited May 29, 2020 by Work In Progress 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 10 hours ago, Hornet133 said: I'm aghast at the thought of the Hs-126 attempting to emulate a dive bombing attack I think maybe the observer threw large empty bottles of Hofbrau over the side in an attempt to hit enemy troops; bottles made a nice whistling sound reminiscent of a Stuka, thus striking panic into the foe; bottles were most likely emptied first by the observer in an attempt to work up enough courage to go through with the low-level attack! Mike 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochen Barett Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 4 hours ago, Work In Progress said: It is a guide to dropping *something*, possibly a bomb but possibly something else in the army co-op role. And from the level, not from a dive. Not intended for the pilot's benefit as the rear-seater drops the whatever-it-is. Numbers are height above target level in metres. When the target is at the appropriate angle denoted by the line for the relevant height AGL, that's when the arc of the bomb / package will reach the target. Message bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimpyboy Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 (edited) 11 hours ago, Work In Progress said: t is a guide to dropping *something*, possibly a bomb but possibly something else in the army co-op role. And from the level, not from a dive. Not intended for the pilot's benefit as the rear-seater drops the whatever-it-is. Numbers are height above target level in metres. When the target is at the appropriate angle denoted by the line for the relevant height AGL, that's when the arc of the bomb / package will reach the target. If it's a guide to dropping something, wouldn't the altitude figures need to be reversed? If we assume a constant velocity, the lowest drop altitude requires a lesser offset (or lead angle, call it what you will) - therefore, the numbers on the Hs 126 fuselage lines would need to run in the opposite direction. Unless, of course, each line is calibrated against a different airspeed... Edited May 30, 2020 by Blimpyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimpyboy Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 (edited) On 5/30/2020 at 9:53 AM, Blimpyboy said: If it's a guide to dropping something, wouldn't the altitude figures need to be reversed? If we assume a constant velocity, the lowest drop altitude requires a lesser offset (or lead angle, call it what you will) - therefore, the numbers on the Hs 126 fuselage lines would need to run in the opposite direction. Sigh... Belay all of my previous statement, it's just plain wrong! Kids, let this be a clear example of senility at work (apologies to Work In Progress)... Time to start doing more crosswords and Sudoku, methinks... Sigh. I think I'm leaning toward the lines being used to drop messages, as per Jochen Barett's post, in addition to being an aid for oblique photography (post #10). To my mind, that seems more in keeping with the Hs 126's original design role. I don't want to think about blast damage from a bomb dropped at 50 metres... Edited June 16, 2020 by Blimpyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 They are reference sighting lines for the observer in use with the hand held camera. Means for orienting fixed or moving beam in predetermined relationship to aircraft to allow for various parameters such as altitude, speed, trajectories, etc. colours vary from: yellow red black white yellow black white white white red white white Some colour: Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Can anyone enhance this image and make out what the observer is holding close to the aft-most line ? It looks like an aerial camera to me, with the type of view finder I mentioned, on its top To show the hand held camera and frame view finder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Yep, a camera. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochen Barett Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 7 hours ago, Black Knight said: Can anyone enhance this image and make out what the observer is holding close to the aft-most line ? It looks like an aerial camera to me, with the type of view finder I mentioned, on its top To show the hand held camera and frame view finder Relying on this source http://www.luftarchiv.de/index.htm?/bordgerate/kamera.htm it is a "Handkammer HK 13x18cm". "Hand" like "hand", "Kammer" like "chamber" or the Italian "camera". 13x18cm being the size of the negative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tango98 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Regarding those lines on the Hs 126 :- The Hs126 handbook of 1939, L.Dv. 575/2, identifies these markings as sight lines for dropping bombs and goes on to say that the pilot is to attempt to ensure that the aircraft has a ground speed of 255 kph. For dropping from a higher altitude there are lines for 1,000 and 500m at 42 and 52 degrees while for lower altitude there are lines for 100 and 50m set at 71 and 77 degrees. They were in line with the observer's cockpit because the observer was responsible for dropping the bombs. These markings were all for level bombing. The Hs 126 could carry 10 x 10kg bombs of various types for a normal bomb load of 100kg. HTH Dave 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 The Hs 126 could carry a single large bomb. Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimpyboy Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 (edited) Apparently, several small bombs could also be carried in the empty camera bay. The last photo on this page: https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/henschel-hs126.42944/page-6 shows ordnance being loaded into said bay. This page has a photo of bombs being dropped: http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/pictures_hs_126_bombing.html Seems like a dud way to accurately aim bombs! P.S. Just 'cause, here's a photo I found of a Greek Hs 126, with bombs on the side bay and the bottom of the fuselage: https://postlmg.cc/PpwtW1CF Edited June 2, 2020 by Blimpyboy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimpyboy Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 Continuing with the 'Hs 126 as bomber' theme, here is an interesting chart showing different loads for Greek-operated aircraft: https://postlmg.cc/bDWJX0v6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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