SPANDAU BALLET

Jim McDougall · 2nd February 2025, 07:03 AM

Years ago in Nashville, I became intrigued by WWI aviation fighters, and was studying the Lafayette Escadrille, which was a volunteer squadron flying for France, and of course the famed Red Baron of Germany.

I met an elderly man who was also interested in this topic, and who said he actually had some 'Spandau' machine guns (LMG '08) . I went to visit him, and was a bit surprised at the huge steel door that secured a room, and he took me in. I was STUNNED!!! not a 'couple' of these familiar guns we have seen on the German WWI fighter planes in books and films....but a huge wall of them...as well as allied Vickers and Lewis guns!

The last I ever heard of this, he was trying to find a home for them, and incredibly US museums were reluctant, and I think they went to the Netherlands. I have never forgotten this overwhelming experience, and wanted to share with anyone out there interested in WWI aviation and weaponry.

I playfully titled the photos I took, "Spandau Ballet" for the pop music group.
The history of the Red Baron became iconic in WWI aviation, and into pop culture in the famed Charlie Brown comics and Snoopy!

The insignia of the Lafayette Escadrille was an American Indian chief on their Nieuport 17 airplanes. This is believed to have been taken from the logo on ammunition boxes from Savage Arms Co. in New York.

2nd February 2025, 07:03 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,062	SPANDAU BALLET Years ago in Nashville, I became intrigued by WWI aviation fighters, and was studying the Lafayette Escadrille, which was a volunteer squadron flying for France, and of course the famed Red Baron of Germany. I met an elderly man who was also interested in this topic, and who said he actually had some 'Spandau' machine guns (LMG '08) . I went to visit him, and was a bit surprised at the huge steel door that secured a room, and he took me in. I was STUNNED!!! not a 'couple' of these familiar guns we have seen on the German WWI fighter planes in books and films....but a huge wall of them...as well as allied Vickers and Lewis guns! The last I ever heard of this, he was trying to find a home for them, and incredibly US museums were reluctant, and I think they went to the Netherlands. I have never forgotten this overwhelming experience, and wanted to share with anyone out there interested in WWI aviation and weaponry. I playfully titled the photos I took, "Spandau Ballet" for the pop music group. The history of the Red Baron became iconic in WWI aviation, and into pop culture in the famed Charlie Brown comics and Snoopy! The insignia of the Lafayette Escadrille was an American Indian chief on their Nieuport 17 airplanes. This is believed to have been taken from the logo on ammunition boxes from Savage Arms Co. in New York. Attached Images