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1915.2.1

Aeroplane dart of machine manufactured ?tempered steel. [SM (Verve) 30/04/2013]

1915.2.1

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Collection type
Object
Description
Aeroplane dart of machine manufactured ?tempered steel. [SM (Verve) 30/04/2013]
Long description
Aeroplane dart of machine manufactured ?tempered steel. The dart has a conical tip. The shaft is X-shaped in section. [SM (Verve) 30/04/2013]
Geographical reference
France
Europe > Western Europe > France
Cultural groups
French
Date / Period
Date made: Circa 1914
Date collected
By 1915
Acquisition information
Donated: 01/1915
Materials and processes
Material Steel Metal, Process Machine-made
Dimensions
Width: max 8 mm, Length: max 114 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1915.2.1
Research and responses

At time of computerization it is unclear whether this weapon is firearm related. According to Bob Rivers, Head Technician PRM, aeroplane darts were dropped from planes during the First World War (1914 - 1918) and he thinks it unlikely that they had any connection with firearms. However, the catalogue card was found in the Gun Arrows section of the Firearms catalogue cards. 15 7 1997 [MdeA]

According to Dr Schuyler Jones, Director PRM, this object is nothing to do with firearms but is certainly a weapon. 15 7 1997 [MdeA]

Information given by Bob Oliver 7 1997: From The World War One Source Book by Philip J. Haythornthwaite, published by the Arms and Armour Press, Aerial Warfare p.111: "The ingenuity of pilots remained an important factor in the development of the aircraft as a fighting machine: an example of the miscellaneous evils dropped from the air were large iron ragbolts which a Lancashire pilot obtained from his father's loom manufacturing company, which he flung out in handfuls on the heads of German troops. Slightly more sophisticated aerial darts or 'flechettes' were provided officially, although 'The War Illustrated' noted that the weapon was used only experimentally by the RFC partly because of the remote chance of hitting the target, but was shunned mainly out of 'sportsmanlike feeling' : some of the officers say that it is a dirty way of fighting, because the enemy cannot hear them coming, and because they make such nasty wounds."*

* 'The War Illustrated' 23 January 1915.

Search terms: Archery Weapon, Firearm Weapon, Firearm Accessory, Arrow-head