| Wings
|
|
Movie Poster
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| Country
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 United States
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| Directed by
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William A. Wellman
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| Release Date
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August 12, 1927
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| Language
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Silent
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| Studio
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Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation
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| Distributor
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Paramount Pictures
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|
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.
Luger P08 - 9x19mm Parabellum
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.
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 of the movie, some French soldiers can also be seen with Springfields.
Springfield M1903 Mk 1 - .30-06
"
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.
A Doughboy with a Springfield over the back gives one of his comrades a cigarette.
Another U.S. soldier also carries his rifle over the shoulder which offers a view of the front sight.
The same soldier tries to get up his comrade but exposes something horrible instead. The top of his M1903 is perfectly seen.
Springfield M1903 with M1905 bayonet - .30-06
During the charge on two Maxim machine guns, a Doughboy aims his rifle.
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 have been 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.
Enfield M1917 - .30-06 Springfield
A Brit looks through the extended rear sights of his Enfield.
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.
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.
Mauser Karabiner 98AZ - 7.92x57mm Mauser
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.
Landsers take cover from shelling with their Mauser rifles.
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 to the officer's belt.
The rifle of the German to the right has extended rear sights.
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.
Fusil Berthier Modèle 1907/15 - 8x50mmR Lebel
Berthier rifles with
Rosalie bayonets are held by French soldiers during an honor.
Colonial infantry joins the American attack. The ejecting hole of the Berthier is clearly seen on the held rifle in the center.
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.
Browning M1917 - .30-06 Springfield
Browning M1918 Aircraft - .30-06
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.
Vickers gun with ribbed water jacket - .303 British
The incorrect muzzle of the "Vickers" machine guns.
Note the Browning M1917-style ejecting port.
A rear view shows the missing pistol grips.
Real Vickers Aircraft MGs are not equipped with the front sight and with hooded, not at all.
Maxim
German bombers and fighter planes have mounted Maxim mockups with pistol grips instead of spades.
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.
Another biplane with the mounted Maxim guns.
A rear gunner of a 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.
Rear view of the same gun during the flight.
Lewis Gun
Cadet Airmen train with Lewis Aircraft Guns.
Aircraft mounted Lewis Gun - .303 British
More firing Lewis guns alongside Brownings.
Vickers Mk I
At least, an actual Vickers MK1 Machine Gun is seen mounted on David's plane, however, it is the ground variant.
Vickers Mark I - .303 British
The spade grips are clearly visuable.
Machine Guns
Browning M1917
AEF infantrymen use Browning M1917 machine guns, as well as, a single German soldier in a bunker.
Browning M1917 - .30-06 Springfield
Cadet Airmen train with the Browning.
A soldier mans a Browning to shoot down an enemy plane during the night.
The gunner of an MG team works repeatedly the charging handle since his gun jammed again and again.
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.
Early-version (M1918) Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06
A BAR is seen on the left carried by one U.S. soldier.
Maxim MG 08
German troops use Maxim MG08 machine guns.
Maxim MG 08 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Two German soldiers operating a Maxim.
Another Maxim being fired at incoming U.S. soldiers.
A pair of Maxims stationed in a destroyed house are used to repel an attack.
Side view of the same firing machine guns.
One Maxim without the 'sledge' mount is used as an AA gun.
The gunner moves his gun which reveals the
Patronenkasten 16 ammo drum.
Maxim MG 08/15
A Maxim MG08/15 is briefly seen used by one German soldier in a bunker.
Maxim MG 08/15 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
The surrounded soldier desperately defends his position. Moments before, a Browning MG was seen fired from this depicted bunker.
Artillery
Unknown Cannon
Model 1841 6-Pdr Smoothbore Field Gun
3-inch gun M1918
American 3-inch M1918 AA guns are used by AEF and German soldiers.
Canon de 75 mm modèle 1897
Canon de 155 C, mle. 1917 Schneider
French 155mm Schneider Howitzers are deployed by German forces.
7.58 cm Minenwerfer
A single 7.58 cm Minenwerfer is stationed in a German trench.
Leichter Minenwerfer neuer Art - 75.8 mm (2.99 in)
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.
Other
Remington Mark III Flare Pistol
A Remington Mark III Flare Pistol is seen in the hands of one U.S. soldier during his night watch.
Remington Mark III Flare Pistol - 10 Gauge
The soldier sits with the Flare gun.
He spotted a lonely German aircraft causing him to drop the pistol and run for a machine gun.
Stielhandgranate Mockup
Some mockups of German Stielhandgranates are used by soldiers that look similar to the ones used in the 1925 movie The Big Parade.
A soldier about to throw a grenade. Another one is seen hanging on his belt.
Bangalore torpedo
Doughtboy lying down the Bangalore torpedo in No Man's Land.
Renault FT
See also
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