「海外紳士元ネタ解説/6話」の編集履歴(バックアップ)一覧に戻る
In 1943 the Luftwaffe was starting to deploy the powerful radar FuG 220 Lichtenstein
SN-2. operating on a longer-wavelength 90 MHz(lower end of the US VHF FM
broadcast band) frequency which was far less affected by electronic jamming, the
SN-2 had a maximum range 5km, with a minimum range 500m, but this required the
huge Hirschgeweih (stag‘s antlers) antennas.
Hirschgeweih antennas were used on: the fighter-bomber Messerschmitt Bf110 G-4,
Heinkel He 219 A- 5, Messerschmitt Me 262 B-1a...
The Junkers Ju 52 (nicknamed Tante Ju - "Auntie Ju" - and "lron Annie") was a
transport aircraft and bomber manufactured 1932 - 1945 by Junkers. It saw both
civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with
well over a dozen air carriers including Swissair and Lufthansa as an airliner and
freight hauler. In a military role, it flew with the Luftwaffe as a troop and cargo
transport, with a secondary role as a medium bomber.
Schrage Musik, derived from the German colloquialism for Jazz Music, was the name
given to installations of upward-firing cannon mounted in night fighters by the
Lufwvaffe during World War ll. This allowed them to approach and attack British
bombers from below, where they would be outside the bomber crew's field of view.
The British bombers of that time generally carried no defensive guns in the ventral
position. The ventral turret fitted to some early Lancasters was sighted by periscope
from within the fuselage, and proved of little use - the fitting of a Sperry ball turret of
the kind fitted to the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator would not have been
practical as the British bombers had not been designed to use them - and sighting a
target at night, for the ball turret gunner to aim at, might have been a problem as well.
It was the more peaceful time of the Continuation War, and the squadron was in the
back. There was constant threat of saboteurs, and feared by all outside guarded
areas. One time the men were marching to sauna on a path through forest, in
darkness. Suddenly a SMG fires from the woods and bullets whisked all around. The
men flung themselves to the ground - and then they heard Illu's laughter.
"Goddamn Illu, we could have shot you!" the men complained, after all each had a
Nagan pistol on their belts. "You couldn't hit me. l'm behind a big rock," came the
answer from the night.