Flaming Onions...

["Junior"]

All,

Wondering if anybody has a picture of a "flaming onion" gun. I believe this was a five barrelled job with a calibre of 37mm which fired "phosphorous" shells at a high rate of fire.

I was reading a book this morning and there was mention of the infamous flaming onions and it struck me that although seeing numerous references, I've never seen so much as a sketch of one of these.

Also sniffing around on the net (and here in the Archives) seemed to show a bit of confusion about what the onions were. Some seem to think the above (multi-barrel number), whilst others talk of a particular single barrel weapon shooting incendiary shells, and other sources saying it was German AA gunners mixing incendiary shells in with the normal archie ammo.

So pictures and clarification needed!

Junior.

[Regulus]

Hi Junior,

Go to search in the forum and mention Flaming Onions, you will find some good answers there !

Best from Johan

[Cigogne]

The publication "Over The Front" did an article in 2002 Fall Issue about Flak units, equipment, gun types, vehicles, etc. Rammjaeger and Söderbaum, who wrote the article, are frequenters here to the Forum. There were photos of these Maschinflak type of weapons in there.

["Junior"]

Thanks Cigogne. I shall have to track down the issue. Although perhaps not the most effective of AA types, there's no doubting the fear they induced in allied pilots. Very intrigued to see a pic of one!

[rammjaeger]

I will try to post a picture of the multibarreled Revolverkanone soon but the discussions in the past were more in favour of the successful M-Flak (= Maschinen-Flak) concerning the "flaming onions".

It is clear, the Germans did not know the later term but the term "Lichtspucker" (Licht = light, spucken = spit) for the guns itself.

["Junior"]

Originally Posted by rammjaeger

I will try to post a picture of the multibarreled Revolverkanone soon but the discussions in the past were more in favour of the successful M-Flak (= Maschinen-Flak) concerning the "flaming onions".

It is clear, the Germans did not know the later term but the term "Lichtspucker" (Licht = light, spucken = spit) for the guns itself.

I'd be most appreciative if you could post that! Love to see it.

Thanks,

Junior.

[rammjaeger]

Hope it works

[rammjaeger]

a well-known photograph

[rammjaeger]

Search on this fine homepage (left column of photographs) for another view of a model of the "Revolverkanone":

http://www.douaumont.de/mutzig.htm

["Junior"]

Thanks a bunch rammjaeger! I owe you one mate

Great pics!