1935 Article on Camouflage

[Tiger Tim]

Hey all, check it out
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2011/02/ ... is=XL#qdig

It has everything you could want, if hiding an airplane is what you want. They go on about the theory behind that goofy 1930's American camo, there's a neat cutaway of a B-10 (I can't vouch for accuracy), they detail the USAAC's plan to disperse their entire fleet to corners of remote fields should there be an attack on US soil, there's mention of a deadstick bombing run(!!), and last but by no means least they introduce a Fench plan to build a tower that shoots out fighters so they don't have to climb. Did I mention it was a mile tall?

Interesting reading on a number of ideas that were almost certainly not combat tested.

-Tim

[The Inspector]

I love those sorts of articles! Never mind the practicality or logistics of how to drag several thousand tons of concrete up to 7000 feet, let alone shape and work it. Then what do you tell your potential enemies 'ah...........no......they're....they're.....a................street lamps! YEAH STREETLAMPS'. Hey, it's the depression, dream really big and people might forget their troubles. The same sort of stuff like using the tower on the Empire State Building as a boarding/deboarding portal for zeppelin flights.

And the article sort of explains the thinking behind the psychedelic camouflage used during the Louisiana War games.

I'd like to read the cover article on the '300 MPH motorcycle' that looks like a steam locomotive-

[Tiger Tim]

I really like the Modern Mechanix blog, I find myself checking it every day or two. Here's a couple posts that may be of interest to WIXers:

Kamikaze pilots, possibly before they actually existed
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/02/ ... ing-bombs/

The US Army gets equipped by a Bond villain
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/01/ ... r-cavalry/

The 1934 optically guided surface to air missile, complete with radial engine and speed ring
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/07/ ... r-raiders/

-Tim