Originally posted by Rasker
speaking of World War I, who was the French Ace who mounted a 37mm field gun at a time when a heavily armed gunship had 2 .30's? 
He make any kills with that monster? Or did they all scream and run away? Hopefully Tony's book on that era will have a pic of this field modification.
It wasn't really a field modification, but a factory fit applied to several aircraft. From the next volume:
"Despite the problems of air-to-air shooting, the French fighter ace Guynemer was interested in the possibility of installing an engine-mounted cannon between the cylinder banks of the geared Hispano V8 aero engine, firing through the hollow propeller hub, and he inspired such an installation in the SPAD 12Ca1. There were two different types of 37 mm cannon available; some confusion as to their origins exists but it appears that one was a conventional SAMC design with a rifled barrel, the other was a modified M1885 smoothbore firing canister shot, like a large shotgun. They are often referred to as "Puteaux" guns but this might just refer to the arsenal where they were made. A Vickers machine gun was also carried. The plane emerged in July 1917 and a number were built (although nothing like the 300 ordered), several pilots, including Guynemer, achieving some successes with it. These weapons were still manually loaded, however, and unpopular with most pilots because of their awkward loading and the propellant fumes which filled the cockpit on firing. Only eight were reported to be at the Front on 1 October 1918."
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