File:100 years of the RAF MOD 45163654.jpg

English: Pictured are armourers preparing the full complement of 112lb RL bombs needed for the night bombing operations by the F.E.2Bs of 149 Squadron at St Omer, France, on 18 July 1918.

Early in the F.E.2b's career, a second Lewis gun was added in front of the pilot's cockpit, on a high telescopic mounting so that the pilot could fire forward, over his observer's head. In practice, this gun was appropriated by the observers, especially when they discovered that by climbing onto the rim of their cockpits they could fire backwards over the top wing – to some extent overcoming the notorious deficiency of pusher types in rear defence, although even this failed to cover a very large blind spot under the tail. The observer's perch was a precarious one, especially when firing the "rear gun", and he was liable to be thrown out of his cockpit, although his view was excellent in all directions except directly to the rear. The F.E.2 could also carry an external bomb load, and was routinely fitted with a standard air-photography camera.

• Some of these images have had some dodging and burning done and have been retouched to remove detritus and dust and scratch marks only*
• Organization: RAF
• Object Name: H-4858
• Category: MOD
• Supplemental Categories: Aircraft, Equipment, People, Historic
• Keywords: Fighter, 112lb RL bomb, World War 1, WWI, World War One, War, Black and White, B&W, Aircraft, Equipment, Historic, Royal Air Force, RAF, Historic Aircraft, F.E.2b, Weapons, Bomb, RAF 100
• Country: France