I thought I will share with you this picture of the Luftwaffe officers with their Browning auto-5. I am not supporting Nazism but the photo shows how popular the auto-5 was. In the center is Adolf Galland the flying ace. B.T.W. I wonder what gauge was their Browning
Cool pic. I recommend Galland’s book, “The First and the Last”. He eventually became the chief of the new Luftwaffe in the 1950’s. The Auto-5’s look like 12’s to me. The 16 had a shorter receiver and part of the barrel extension is visible on those.
What is the subject of the book. Apparently Galland was not a convinced Nazi, which put him difficult situations with the high authorities of the regime.
The book is about his experiences in the Luftwaffe, commanding a bf109 squadron in the Battle of Britain, his struggles with the high command — they insisted on offensive bombers when he saw the need for fighters. And his eventual exile to command the Experten, a squadron of high scoring pilots flying the ME262 jet fighter. I read it many years ago. He was the prototypical fighter pilot. I wonder if he ever shot at my dad...
I agree that they are 12’s. I don’t support Nazism either but how sweet would it be to have an Auto 5 with Nazi markings on it?
I don’t think there are any. Production stopped with the occupation of Belgium, and the German army didn’t need shotguns. But there are HiPowers with waffenamts.
I read somewhere many years ago that Luftwaffe pilots used clay pigeon shooting as a training aid to hone lead and offset shooting skills. A friend of mine here in the UK has an FN over and under 12 gauge that does have Luftwaffe eagle marks stamped on the receiver and barrel alongside the Belgian proof marks. From memory it’s a non-ejector extractor mechanism. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I wouldn’t be surprise that pilote trained on clay pigeon during the Second War. On this original footage at 6 minutes 43 secondes you can see WW1 airplane crews doing just that. I always been convinced that the F.N., during the war, produce some fine sporting firearms for the Nazi high hierarchy. It would be very interesting to have some pics, if possible, of your friend superposed. As far as I know, it will be the first time we see a sporting firearm stamped with a Luftwaffe eagle marks.
The Air Corps started aerial gunnery training with Skeet. The Remington Model 11 was often used, and one so marked will add $1000 to the asking price. They also used cartoons:
Biz, I’ll try to get out into the country and see him later in the summer, I’d be interested to see if he’s still got it - he’s a farmer in rural Dorset and you never quite know if all the hardware they have is on their shotgun certificate, if you know what I mean Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes, on gunbroker, and in my friend’s basement. He has a collection that would turn a museum curator green with envy.
Well, may be you can do a virtual tour of your friend basement for us. It will be very interesting and may be his wife will find that interesting and turn green as well.
I needed space on my phone, so I deleted all the photos, thinking I had them on my iPad. Turns out, I didn’t. Imagine about 2000 square feet of space crammed with just about every arm from the 1700’s to the present. Rifles, pistols, and machine guns.
I don’t know, Biz. He’s got a vault door on his basement, and it would take a long time to steal it all. Not sure if it’s protected from fire. By the way, I found a bargain on a US ordnance marked Model 11. It’s at a bargain price, but probably because some idiot engraved his name on the receiver. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/866012645
You enablers have me looking at the American Brownings built by Remington. I really need to stop visiting this site
Just wait until you get your C&R. You'll be buying guns you never knew you wanted. Getting guns delivered to your door just doesn't get old.
