The winged shell or flying bomb on the Western Front . Just behind the trenches linking up this fortified hamlet a French soldier is seeing that his trench gun is in working order . The tubing which forms the barrel of the gun is held at the required angle by means of a curved and perforated branch piece connecting with an angular strut which gives the gun plenty of purchase on the ground . The winged shell , or flying bomb , is in position for flight . A cylinder attached to the bomb fits into the barrel of the gun and receives the propulsion from the discharge . 3 June 1916