The following intelligence report concerning German metal spikes used against airfields was published in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 12, November 19, 1942. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

REPORT OF ITALIAN PILOT ON "CROWS FEET" Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 11, p. 36 described this particular metal spike and its special use on highways and landing fields. The pilot of an Italian bomber who happened to land on a field where the Germans had apparently dropped these spikes, describes his experience. He states that they came as a surprise and caused considerable confusion. Both tires on his plane were punctured when taking off. He was not aware of what happened until coming in for a landing and it was with difficulty that the plane was kept from turning over. Despite efforts to get them off the field, it was stated that some spikes always remained. When dropped on loose and sandy surfaces, the spikes were sometimes completely buried and were not discovered, and worked up into the aircraft tires when run over.

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