Posted: 9/19/2014 10:16:06 PM EDT
Thought I'd share some pictures from our little outing today My dad, son and I went to TriCities Regional to have a look. Very cool plane and very cramped inside. The bottom turret gunner had to be a deaf midget Literally had 2 .50 cal machine guns right next to your head... Definitely a new appreciation for what was done for us during the 2nd WW. Amazing
B-17 |
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Thought I'd share some pictures from our little outing today My dad, son and I went to TriCities Regional to have a look. Very cool plane and very cramped inside. The bottom turret gunner had to be a deaf midget Literally had 2 .50 cal machine guns right next to your head... Definitely a new appreciation for what was done for us during the 2nd WW. Amazing
B-17 That's a beautiful G model. Thanks for sharing the pics. I love the sound of those old war horses. Personally I think there's no sweeter sound than a super charged Merlin on a P51. If you ever get a chance, take a weekend off and go up to Wright-Patterson in Fairborn, OH. |
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The bottom turret gunner had to be a deaf midget As I recall, the Air Corps used to specifically target shorter fellas to use as the belly gunner position. I've always wondered which would be THE worst position to be in on one of those bombers in WW2. I always figured the tail gunner was the worst as he had hell to go thru in order to bail out should the plane get hit. |
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As I recall, the Air Corps used to specifically target shorter fellas to use as the belly gunner position. I've always wondered which would be THE worst position to be in on one of those bombers in WW2. I always figured the tail gunner was the worst as he had hell to go thru in order to bail out should the plane get hit. Quoted:
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The bottom turret gunner had to be a deaf midget As I recall, the Air Corps used to specifically target shorter fellas to use as the belly gunner position. I've always wondered which would be THE worst position to be in on one of those bombers in WW2. I always figured the tail gunner was the worst as he had hell to go thru in order to bail out should the plane get hit. The tail gunner has a small exit door just behind his position in the floor. The ball turret I think can get stuck in a position where the door can't open. Throw in G forces, not a fun time. |
Ball turret was by far the most dangerous spot. IIRC, on the early models, he could only get out by having another crew member opening the door for him. Anyways, I took a ride on a one last year and it's extremely cramped. I'm 5'9 and that plane was obviously designed for guys smaller than me. One guy on our flight split his wig open. Had blood dropping all over the bombsight. 
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| Thanks for sharing those pics, OP. When I was ~12 (mid-eighties) my dad took me to see a B17 that was touring the country. Got to walk through and see all the places inside, just like the pics you posted. Even as a 12 year old I remember being frightened by the thought of sitting in the ball turret. I was sure I couldn't fit inside and I don't know how a man could do it, even a short man. |
| The crew could not wear any 'chutes in the aircraft, had to don them before bailout. Ball turret gunner was in fetal position wearing just a thin harness to keep him in the turret in the event that it was hit flak or 20mm from Messerschmidt. Turret had to be positioned just right( guns aiming down) for the hatch to be opened by another crew member. Just writing this makes my knees ache! |
| I beleive the turrets also operated off a hydraulic system. They had a backup hand crank system, but if the guns could not be moved to the down position to he was stuck. Seen footage of more than one Fortress making a gear up landing due to hydraulic damage and the gunner stuck in the turrent. |
