I've had days like that.
Must have run out of fuel as it did not explode on impact.
Yikes. Wiki says the war ended in Nov of that year. I wonder if it was shot down?
Ah, good point, Mark.
Is that a machine gun sticking out of the window just below the plane? Scott
Mark, A empty tank will explode a lot easier than a full tank. My brother in law had a storage shed burn down a few years back. It had 2 metal five gallon cans of gas in it. One was full and the other was about 3/4 full. Neither one exploded. The shed had totally burnt down and went out when we saw the gas cans. The gaskets had burned out of the lids and the cans were burning like a lamp with a small flame coming from the caps. We used an extinqusher to put them out and they were still almost full of fuel. I believe on fuel tank explosions it is a matter of luck, faith, or mercy of god, whichever one you believe in.
While an empty tank will explode, a tank with gas in it in this case would have spelt out on to the hot metal or just sparks from the crash would/could have ignited it and burnt the whole place to the ground.
Robert,
It could be a machine gun. It would be pretty ironic if what happened was a gunner in the house shot down the plane and that's where it ended up.
"Rumpelstoss, order another flying machine!"
-Count Manfred Von Holstein.
"Missed it by that -- much" !!!
Looking at the direction they were headed, could be what appears to be a seawall or dyke just beyond the steeple they tagged !
What a photo !
...Ran out of speed, altitude and ideas all at the same time.
Interesting comment about a seawall or dyke Steve. The aircraft was equipped with pontoons.
Too Steve's first comment.
You're on it Buddy !!!!!!
Daniel, wiki is wrong, WWI ended in June 1919, November 11, 1918 was just a cease fire agreement, the blockade of Germany continued until the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
Perhaps he just dropped in for a visit
I think it would make a cool weather vane
German classifieds 1918:
Loft apartment for rent for free. First person to respond gets it!
Now comes the hard part.