[Training B-17 gunners was highly experimental throughout World War II.
Read aboutProject Pinball which may have been one of the worst ideas of the war.]
Safety in Numbers?
Waist gunners demonstrate their nearly back-to-back positions aboard a B-17. Note the later style covered/flexible ammunition feed chutes that helped prevent kinks in the ammo belts. Image: NARA
The B-17s name Flying Fortress was based in reality.
[Did you know the B-17 was not the U.S. militarys first choice in bombers?
Read more about theB-18 bomber.]
The Bendix “chin turret” of the B-17G devised to provide covering fire against Luftwaffe head-on attacks. Note the cheek guns intended to defend against beam attacks on the nose. Image: NARA
defensive guns made a B-17 group a particularly daunting target for interceptors.
German interceptors began to use this tactic more and more throughout 1943, sometimes with great success.
Even though the B-17 was a flying fort, she was guided by men of flesh and bone.
A U.S. Army Air Force illustration shows the different crew and gun positions on a B-17E. Image: NARA
Field modifications for the B-17F mounted a pair of .50-cal.
Frontal attacks hit the low squadron and lead squadron, while rear attackers went for the high.
The Fortresses kept up their attacks, and the Germans continued to improve their interception techniques.
“Pistol Packin’ Mama,” a B-17F, shows off her modified nose that includes a Browning AN/M2 in the center of the nose, one offset to the lower right and one in a cheek blister. Image: NARA
In October 1943, the 8thAir Force lost nearly 180 bombers.
Escorted or not, the challenges of the B-17 gunners remained the same.
German fighters hurtled in at high speed, cannon muzzles flashing.
The radio operator’s gun was designed to cover the upper fuselage between the tail and the top turret. Image: NARA
I could almost see the bullets hit home.
As he got closer, I could feel his 20mm bursts around me.
At about 200 yards distance he seemed to stop dead.
Crews of the 8th AF experimented with modifications to the B-17F. This twin-gun was heavy and awkward to use, but it paved the way for the B-17G model. Image: NARA
He rolled over and the pilot came out.
In a split second the plane burst into flames and broke into several pieces.
Training in the USA contained a large amount of classroom time spent on the concepts of aerial gunnery.
This side view of the B-17G “The Tomahawk Warrior” offers a clear view of the Bendix twin gun nose turret. Image: NARA
Beyond that, some new men were unfamiliar with the B-17 turrets and how to troubleshoot them in flight.
Just as American airmen had learned in World War I, gunners benefited from continuous practice.
Single gun cheek blisters became standard on both sides of the nose.
The B-17 tail position was quite cramped. Despite this, the tail gunners were documented as the most successful of all B-17 gun positions. Image: NARA
Many broke off their attacks too early to achieve the full effect needed to bring down a Flying Fortress.
Muzzle velocity was 2,910 fps, and the cyclic rate was up to 850 rounds per minute.
The B-17 turrets provided stable mountings despite the heavy recoil of the .50-cal.
Shown here is the B-17’s electro-hydraulic top turret (Type A1-A), designed by Sperry. It was a powerful defensive position on the bomber. Image: NARA
Without the damping effects of this adapter, the recoil forces of the .50-cal.
MG made accurate shooting nearly impossible.
The more they fired, the more the spent .50 caliber casings mounded up at their feet.
This crewman loads ammunition for a B-17 ball (belly) turret. Note the ammunition feed chutes for the waist gun in the foreground. Image: NARA
The tail position was a tight fit, accessible by a narrow tunnel.
The gunner sat on a bicycle-style seat and worked in an uncomfortable kneeling position.
The twin tail guns were provided with 565 rounds each.
The ball turret was critical to the defensive armament of a B-17. However, it suffered from impossibly tight quarters and minimal protection for the gunner. Image: NARA
Unique challenges in operating the Browning MGs at high altitude were encountered.
The air gunners were responsible for maintaining their Browning .50-cal. MGs. This 8th AF ball turret gunner is seen servicing his weapon during June 1944. Image: NARA
These waist gunners sit aboard a B-17F. The mounds of spent .50-cal. casings presented an unavoidable slip hazard in the narrow fuselage of the bomber. Image: NARA
The gunsight used in the tailgunner position of the B-17 was fairly simple. Later model B-17 Flying Fortress bombers would incorporate a reflector sight. Image: NARA
The late variants of the B-17G used the “Cheyenne” tail turret — an updated design with more room for the gunner, a reflector sight, plus an increased field of fire. Image: NARA
