Microlight Usage in Wartime

[ceylon220]

During the WW2 German submarines operating in the Far East station when hunting for merchant ships used a microlight type of aircraft to get a higher view of any ship in the vacinity,with subs lying low in the water visibility was not so good so one or two of their submarines had stored a micro light on board which when surfaced was taken out and assembled and then airlifted with a wire attached, the pilot of this craft could then get a clear view of any merchantman coming over the horizon, the craft would be pulled back to the boat dismantled and stored, the sub would then stalk her quarry-------not a lot know that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[ceylon220]

The proper name for this contraption classed as a autogyro was a Bachstelze
Focke Achgelis FA330 the machine was tethered to the after end of the subs conning tower by a 500 feet cable and rose to a height of 400 feet thus giving the pilot an increase view of 25+miles compared to only the 5 miles viewed by the observer in the submarine, the pilot would then report sightings back to the conning tower, the gyro would then be winched back, dismantled and then stored until the next time.