shrapnel fragment
Report a Mistake- Object Number 19770308-002
- Event 1914-1919 First World War
- Affiliation --
- Artist / Maker / Manufacturer --
- Date Made 1918 or later
- Place of Use Continent - Europe, Country - Germany
- Category Unclassifiable artifacts
- Sub-category Artifact remnant
- Department Arms and Technology
- Museum CWM
- Earliest 1918/01/01
- Latest 1977/12/31
- Materials Metal
- Service Component Imperial German Army
- Measurements Height 1.2 cm, Length 7.7 cm, Width 1.0 cm
- Caption Anti-Aircraft Fire
- Additional Information This fragment from a German anti-aircraft shell ripped into the rigging of Lieutenant Harold Molyneux's SE5A aircraft during a flight in August 1918. Anti-aircraft fire was a constant danger, especially those for planes flying low-level ground-support missions. Molyneux transferred into the Royal Flying Corps after recovering from a head wound received at Vimy Ridge. He scored five aerial victories in late 1918, making him an air ace, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his effectiveness in shooting down enemy aircraft, flying low-level patrols, and strafing missions.