Wings is a 1927 movie directed by William A. Wellman that remains one of the best aerial combat pictures ever made and was the very first to receive the Academy Award for Best Picture . On the eve of World War I, Jack and David are two young Americans who are both in love with Sylvia. Rivals in everything else they do, they join the air forces with the outbreak of war. As the war progresses, they become not only flying races, but best friends. But the old rivalry over Sylvia threatens to destroy this friendship. Clara Bow, Charles “Buddy” Rogers (as Charles Rogers), Richard Arlen, Jobyna Ralston, El Brendel, Richard Tucker, and Gary Cooper starred in the film.
The following weapons were used in the film Wings :
Handguns
Luger P08
Some German officers appear to be armed with Luger P08 pistols.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German officer brandishes his Luger to steady his men.
Unknown Revolver
A French officer keeps a revolver in his holster that looks for a British Webley Mk VI .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The officer talks with one of his men. Shortly after, he turns around what offers a very brief view of the end of the revolver's grip with the lanyard.
Rifles
Springfield M1903
American Expedition Force (AEF) infantry and German soldiers can be seen armed with M1903 Springfield rifles. At the end, some French soldiers can also be seen with Springfields.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Springfield M1903 Mk 1 - .30-06.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing "Hey, if youse guys need kissin', I'll kiss you wit' a gun-butt! Fall in! " An American NCO commands his gawking soldiers to restore order. Note the straight buttstock without a pistol grip, unlike the M1917 Enfield.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Doughboy with a Springfield over the back gives one of his comrade a cigarette.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another U.S. soldier also carries his rifle over the shoulder which offers a view of the front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same soldier tries to get up his comrade but exposes something horrible instead. The top of his M1903 is perfectly seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing During the charge on two Maxim machine guns, a Doughboy aims his rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Retreating German soldiers chased by U.S. planes are armed with Springfield rifles.
Enfield M1917
M1917 Enfield rifles are also used by U.S. doughboys, but not in large numbers as they should be during WWI (in reality, some 75% of the American Expeditionary Forces were issued the Enfield). Some British soldiers can also be seen with this rifle instead of Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1917 Enfield - .30-06 Springfield
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Brit looks through the extended rear sights of his Enfield.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mary Preston (Clara Bow ) and a bunch of doughboys celebrate the aerial victory of Jack Powell (Buddy Rogers ). The soldier in the foreground has an Enfield.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Doughboy advances through the battlefield with his Enfield. Note the striking front sight.
Mauser Karabiner 98AZ
Another rifle that is used by German soldiers is the more accurate Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine with fixed American M1905 bayonets. However, the Gewehr 98 was the standard rifle of the German regular infantry, the Kar98AZ was issued to Artillery and Stoßtruppen units. Nevertheless, it is a better choice than American rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A line of German soldiers encounter the shot down David Armstrong (Richard Arlen ). The striking stacking hook can be seen on the held rifle fourth from left.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Landsers take cover from shelling with their Mauser rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing While their officer attempts to fend off a charging Doughboy, soldiers keep aiming their rifles on the left. Also, note the Luger pistol holster attached on the officer's belt.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The rifle of the German to the right has extended rear sights.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Kar98AZ lies next to its dead user in the trench.
Berthier Mle 1907/15
French regular and colonial troops have Berthier Mle 1907-15 rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Berthier Fusil Modèle 1907/15 - 8x50mm R
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Berthier rifles with matching "Rosalie” bayonets are held by French soldiers during an honor.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colonial infantry joins the American attack. The ejecting hole of the Berthier is clearly seen on the held rifle in the center.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A French soldier guards Jack's landed biplane.
Aircraft Machine Guns
Browning M1917
American and German aircraft are all armed with Browning M1917 machine guns visually modified to resemble Vickers Aircraft and Maxim MG08 machine guns.
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Vickers
American Vought VE-7 biplanes have the mounted "Vickers" mockups. Despite this plane was actually put into service in 1917 it served only as a two-seat trainer for the United States Army.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vickers gun with ribbed water jacket - .303 British.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The incorrect muzzle of the "Vickers" machine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Note the Browning M1917-style ejecting port.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A rear view shows the missing pistol grips.
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Maxim
German bomber and fighter planes have mounted Maxim mockups with pistols grips instead of the spades.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Curtiss P-1A standing for a German Fokker fighter plane. Apart from the fact that this aircraft model was not used by the Fliegertruppe , it was not put into service until 1925.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another biplane with the mounted Maxim guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A rear gunner of Gotha bomber (actually an American Martin NBS-1) checks his Maxim by firing it into the air. Real German Maxims are loaded from the right, not the left side.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Rear view of the same gun during the flight.
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Lewis Gun
Cadet Airmen train with Lewis Aircraft Guns .
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Vickers Mk I
At least, an actually Vickers MK1 Machine Gun is seen mounted on David's plane, however, it is the ground variant.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vickers gun with ribbed water jacket
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The spade grips are clearly visuable.
Machine Guns
Browning M1917
AEF infantrymen use Browning M1917 machine guns, as well, a single German soldier in a bunker.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M1917 mounted on tripod- .30-06.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cadet Airmen train with the Browning.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier mans a Browning to shoot down an enemy plane during the night.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The gunner of an MG team works repeatedly the charging handle since his gun jammed again and again.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier makes a last stand with his American machine gun. Note there is no bottom plate that identifies an earlier variant. A few scenes later, this MG switches to a Maxim MG08/15.
BAR M1918
The Browning Automatic Rifle is used by several American soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Early-version (M1918) Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A BAR is seen on the left carried by one U.S. soldier.
Maxim MG08
German troops use Maxim MG08 machine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two German soldiers operating a Maxim.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another Maxim being fired at incoming U.S. soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of Maxims stationed in a destroyed house are used to repel an attack.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Side view of the same firing machine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing One Maxim without the 'sledge' mount is used as an AA gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The gunner moves his gun which reveals the Patronenkasten 16 ammo drum.
Maxim MG08/15
A Maxim MG08/15 is briefly seen used by one German soldier in a bunker.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG08/15 - 7.92x57mm Mauser.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The surrounded soldier desperately defends his position. Moments before, a Browning MG was seen fired from this depicted bunker.
Artillery
Unknown Cannon
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Model 1841 6-Pdr Smoothbore Field Gun
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3-inch gun M1918
American 3-inch M1918 AA guns are used by AEF and German soldiers.
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Canon de 75 mm modèle 1897
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Canon 75mm Mle 1897.
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Canon de 155 C, mle 1917 Schneider
French 155mm Schneider Howitzers are deployed by German forces.
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7.58 cm Minenwerfer
A single 7.58 cm Minenwerfer is stationed in a German trench.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 7.58 cm Leichter Minenwerfer
Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers preparing the Minenwerfer.
Field Guns
Two field guns with bent shields are seen drawn by horses. They are smaller than typical German 7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 n. A. guns. They could be American 37mm M1917 Infantry guns but the shield is different.
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Other
Remington Mark III Flare Pistol
A Remington Mark III Flare Pistol is seen in hands of one U.S. soldier during his night watch.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Remington Mark III Flare Pistol - 10 Gauge
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier sits with the Flare gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing He spotted a lonely German aircraft causing him to drop the pistol and run for a machine gun.
Stiehlhandgranate Mockup
Some mockups of German Stielhandgrantes are used by soldiers that look similar to the ones used in the 1925 movie The Big Parade .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier about to throw a grenade. Another one is seen hanging on his belt.
Bangalore torpedo
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Doughtboy lying down the Bangalore torpedo in No Man's Land.
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Renault FT
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Renault FT light tank
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See also