European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 9, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 9, 1986 the stars and stripes German air Force maj. Gen. Siegfried Poschwatta commander of 2nd German air div fires a .457-caliber revolver in Competition with american officers at Hermesky in be Many marksmen bring Back old Days with by Dick Hodgson Kaiserslautern Bureau Hermes Keil Germany each year members of the 7th air div and the 32nd army air defense come visit their German partnership unit the 2nd German air div to try their hands with automatic pistols rifles and machine guns in a bid to qualify for the German Schut zen Schnur or marksmanship medal. But when the commanders of the three units step up to the firing line they use weapons of a slightly different Mold. They use whatever weapon the Winner of the previous year s commanders trophy shoot chooses. The 7th and contingent took the honors last year using world War ii Era lugers chosen by their German part ners. This year maj. Scottie Smith chief of the 7th and Tanker exercise Branch and a longtime Black powder enthusiast provided the american Choice of weapons .457-caliber reproductions of 1858 army revolvers. Smith loaded 35 grains of Black powder a Marble sized Lead Ball and a glob of shortening to prevent Flash from one chamber igniting the powder in another into each Cylinder. The commanders did the rest amid Clouds of smoke and roars from both the guns and the members of their units. After  each at bulls Eye targets 27/2 Yards away col. Richard Kurtz the 32nd s chief of staff emerged the Winner with a near perfect score of 29. Brig Gen. Wayne Lambert 7th and commander came in Sec Ond with 24, and maj. Gen. Siegfried Poschwatta 2ndgerman and commander was third with 17. One Man holds his ears while the other checks the target. Usan maj. Scottie Smith pours a charge of Black powder into his .457. Usan Brig. Gen. Wayne Lambert left and Bernd Schmitz of the German air Force Check their scores