Pictures of Various Optics During WW2

Verries posted a great link today with numerous pictures taken around the Normandy area 1944. I pulled these off as I thought they'd be of interest to James. S.

I'm sure you'd shed some info on them.

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The caption identifies the American as Staff Sergeant John O'Brien of the 116th Infantry Regiment. 29th US Infantry Division.

Cheers

 

Some nice photos there Drew - the Zeiss signaling unit in the eighth photo is a cracker .
(Lichtsprechgerat)

I have a link somewhere to an American collectors site on this particular instrument which explains all about it - a lamp system

GERMAN OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS

Great site on it.

GERMAN, WWII, WW2, Lichtsprechgerät 80/80

WWII German Radio Page

Wehrmacht LICHTSPRECHGERÄT 80
A lot of it surveying and ranging items , they seem to be plotting and mapping in some of the earlier photos.

Cheers
js

My God that is a brutal haircut !

Thanks Drew

 

No worries mate. Glad they were of interest. I saw them and you sprung to mind for some reason

Cheers
Andy

 

A friend of mine catalogued the optical collection of the Belgian Army Museum in Brussels - for him it was a quite a big job but a delight to do.
I did get the chance to see what they have in storage and to examine the Lichtsprechgerat - a nice compact piece of kit , so well made and the tranist cases etc - like hand made suits - fits perfectly.
The shoulder rest for the rangefinder - not as uncomfortable as it looks !

 

A new one on me:

I think it's a camera?

 

yes it is and I believe a motion camera as well to follow the Flak track line in the bomber stream, though I admit if that 88 fires he is going to make a big jump. could be a prop set-up

 

One way to find out what "ET" was at !

 

France '44


Some more in Africa

 

The standard 10x80 binocular , quite a good one - our lads did not seem to have an "opposite number" for this .

 

Norway

 

the two optics pictured were for the 8.8cm and above Flak guns, though the hand-held and awkward was used for smaller Fla as well

 

Some nice photos there Drew - the Zeiss signaling unit in the eighth photo is a cracker .
(Lichtsprechgerat)...

Thought I recognized that equipment in photo #8. The "optical radio" or "Lichtsprechgerat" (Li Spr 80) was in use at Omaha Beach, one was installed in WN-63 which was an underground "Funkstation" (radio station) and controlled WN's 59-62. The radio control bunker is still present at WN-62. Here is an interesting link showing modern day tests of the Li Spr 80.

high quality youtube video

 

From Life Pictures.
Three British soldiers w. binoculars, telescope & range finder, looking out their farmhouse observation post window down into valley as they pinpoint the aim of artillery on German patrols while African-Amer. soldier relays information to gun batteries. Italy 1945

 

Blacksnake
Thought I recognized that equipment in photo #8. The "optical radio" or "Lichtsprechgerat" (Li Spr 80) was in use at Omaha Beach, one was installed in WN-63 which was an underground "Funkstation" (radio station) and controlled WN's 59-62. The radio control bunker is still present at WN-62. Here is an interesting link showing modern day tests of the Li Spr 80.

high quality youtube video
__________________

This gent also has a first rate website.

WWII GERMAN RADIO SETS - RADIOS

Wehrmacht LICHTSPRECHGERÄT 80

 

Servicemen performing lookout duty, watching for incoming planes using mounted binoculars. December 1941.


Sailors using mounted binoculars during duty aboard the USS Doran. 1942.


Egyptian soldier using special binoculars as he practices spotting enemy aircraft, at training camp. Heliopolis, Egypt. 1940.


American soldier on lookout duty using mounted binocluars to watch for incoming enemy aircraft and ships along the coastline following surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan during WWII. 1941.

 

Absolutely fantastic pictures!

Micah

 

American soldiers manning an artillery observation post; Pvt. Robert Reyhons uses captured German scope while Pvt. Robert Hansen reports findings by field telephone during the Allied push to take the town of Cassino. 1944.


Soldier lining in target with an aiming circle to determine the range distance on the target.


Filipino soldier learning to use an American made artillery range finder, Nov. 1941.


Russian Artillery Maj. Kiknadge. 1941.


Squadron leader standing and looking through binoculars, UK 1941.


Soldiers hiding in the trenches while observing their surroundings through binoculars and a telescope, France.


August 1944. Italy.