tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post4670956361933272849..comments2024-03-28T11:00:59.091-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: Weekend Wings #25: Air GunnersPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-68728466174941263382018-06-25T05:10:10.074-05:002018-06-25T05:10:10.074-05:00Fantastic article, very enjoyable reading. I woul...Fantastic article, very enjoyable reading. I would like to follow up by instigating a discussion on whether the ball (belly) turret on the B-17 was in fact retractable. Although source after source has so stated, I wonder if this is not simply a case of assuming that because it was the same basic Sperry turret on both bombers it same had capability for the B-17 as for the B-24. The retraction mechanism for the B-24 is clearly visible in many photos of the aircraft interior as a sort of scissors arrangement attached to the turret suspension axis above the fork. The cables for power and communication are led out around the elbow of the scissors. In contrast, neither of the two preserved B-17s that I have toured show any sign of the retraction mechanism. The much shallower fuselage of the B-17 compared to the B-24 would have left less room to retract the turret in any case. Thoughts?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16470895066995279049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-91508382019189392872016-08-03T17:06:39.505-05:002016-08-03T17:06:39.505-05:00Excellent article! Thank You.Excellent article! Thank You.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-36518976710604499312014-07-20T12:11:03.042-05:002014-07-20T12:11:03.042-05:00SUPERB ARTICLE , PETER , CONGRATULATIONS !
CASSUPERB ARTICLE , PETER , CONGRATULATIONS !<br /><br />CASAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-77604690612741119302014-04-22T09:15:32.140-05:002014-04-22T09:15:32.140-05:00Would anyone know if 1/8" plexiglass was used...Would anyone know if 1/8" plexiglass was used in any of these turrets or gun positions?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-64914222521631941242012-02-05T20:12:02.203-06:002012-02-05T20:12:02.203-06:00My Dad was a SeaBee on Tinian, building runways an...My Dad was a SeaBee on Tinian, building runways and hardstands for the B-29s. I remember many of his stories about that bomber and many others he happened across during his time in the service. I grew to love airplanes because of him. I found this posting VERY informative. It answered some nagging questions I've always had about the choices made by the RAF in arming their fighters and bombers. Thanks for the detailed "heads up" on all that you covered. This one's a keeper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-40344954688275137312011-02-18T02:13:47.626-06:002011-02-18T02:13:47.626-06:00being ww2 aircraft enthusiast i enjoyed a lot the ...being ww2 aircraft enthusiast i enjoyed a lot the reading, sir sincerely, thanks. all my life(Im 40) ive wanted to see one of these turrets or get into one, but they are hard to find here in mexico and my trips to u.s. have been few.apologize my writing, please english its not very common here neither.Ramon Barriosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-43113641097744971182009-07-08T22:12:33.692-05:002009-07-08T22:12:33.692-05:00A flood of memories came back as I read every word...A flood of memories came back as I read every word about gunnery. I went through my training in Panama City, Florida at Tyndall Field at the start of 1944. Being just 5'5" tall (short() it was natural that I was in the Sperry Ball on our B-24 Liberator in the South Pacific in the 380th bomb group. We were on Okinawa preparing for the invasion of Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped. We were filled with relief that the great war was finally over. I returned home, unscathed, in May, 1946.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14973594487673579158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-72229881145882031022009-06-21T16:12:49.913-05:002009-06-21T16:12:49.913-05:00Nice info, the Avro Lancaster rear turrets look ni...Nice info, the Avro Lancaster rear turrets look nice and shiny, but the discerning rear gunner would always take out the perspex above and in-between the guns. This stopped a speck of dirt suddenly turning into a Meschersmitt.<br />"was better to be cold than dead" are the wise words from my wifes grandad. Thanks, Rob.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-27836696542791181052009-03-22T16:58:00.000-05:002009-03-22T16:58:00.000-05:00I like your military material and your ideas. Yoou...I like your military material and your ideas. Yoou seem a lot like the folks at www.quikmaneuvers.com, you ougta give them a look-see.<BR/><BR/>Old Sarge (173rd Abn Bde)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-19269113282553608992008-07-22T11:46:00.000-05:002008-07-22T11:46:00.000-05:00What a great post! Aviation history has always be...What a great post! Aviation history has always been a huge interest of mine.Sixforsure.orghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835601781998073596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-20794860705534315522008-07-21T17:37:00.000-05:002008-07-21T17:37:00.000-05:00Thank you all so much for the comments! I've wond...Thank you all so much for the comments! I've wondered why most Weekend Wings posts receive relatively few. That doesn't worry me, of course - these posts are a 'labor of love' for me, as I'm an aviation enthusiast - but it's nice to know that they have a readership.<BR/><BR/>Let me try to respond to a few points.<BR/><BR/>JPG - I take your point about the B36: but, as I said in the first paragraph, this article focused on the experience of air gunnery in World War II. I had a few paragraphs about developments before the war, and a few after, but since the B36 was only in service after the war - and, as you say, never fired its guns in anger, as far as we know - it fell outside my chosen period. Hence, I didn't include it. You're quite right, though: as the ultimate development in aircraft gunnery systems, it was quite impressive. I don't know how effective it would have been against a Soviet air force armed with MiG-15's, though . . .<BR/><BR/>Jim, yes, the Russian Bears still have their guns. I'm afraid that they're unlikely to see much use, though, even in a "shooting war": I don't see them being able to take out an AMRAAM or Sidewinder!<BR/><BR/>Loren, the subject matter of the article I knew already. The real problem was finding the photographs and supporting material. I guess it took me about ten days, searching, following links, and trying new search terms. The material was out there, but because not too much attention is paid to this aspect of air warfare, it was often obscure and hard to find. Still, if one pans enough gravel, the gold shows up sooner or later!<BR/><BR/>PeterPeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-46977805539908476652008-07-21T15:09:00.000-05:002008-07-21T15:09:00.000-05:00Bravo!This was the most worthwhile post I have rea...Bravo!<BR/>This was the most worthwhile post I have read today, anyplace!<BR/>Thank you for the work you put into this.Carteachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08468700184940877315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-44973406642114008792008-07-21T15:02:00.000-05:002008-07-21T15:02:00.000-05:00I've always been fascintated by the arial gunners ...I've always been fascintated by the arial gunners on the bombers. This was a wonderful article to read, and lots of awesome pictures to see. Where do you find them?Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843550881990596267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-17140849786874457902008-07-21T14:43:00.000-05:002008-07-21T14:43:00.000-05:00Great article. Keep them coming I enjoy the histor...Great article. Keep them coming I enjoy the history lessons. RickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-86202218518094755932008-07-21T14:01:00.000-05:002008-07-21T14:01:00.000-05:00My Mother's Father was a tail-gunner in a B-24 fly...My Mother's Father was a tail-gunner in a B-24 flying mostly out of Africa during WWII. I never got to meet him as he died when my Mother was a child, (well after the war) but I've been able to look through the photo albums he made during the war. Thank you for helping me appreciate what he went through a little more than I already did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-46389947979007118622008-07-21T12:13:00.000-05:002008-07-21T12:13:00.000-05:00A great post, Peter!Have you thought about writing...A great post, Peter!<BR/><BR/>Have you thought about writing/publishing any books on warfare subjects? I have William Green's great books on World War II aircraft (although sadly the series was never completed), and you could take up right where he left off and go beyond!<BR/><BR/>--chicopantherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-32615030931019474562008-07-21T11:17:00.000-05:002008-07-21T11:17:00.000-05:00I agree, this is a sublimely well written article....I agree, this is a sublimely well written article. As a note on the B-52, it initially had 4 .50 calibre machine guns, and then a 20mm M61 cannon, although both setups had radar sets for gun laying. The Russians are to this day flying around in Bears with two 23mm cannon in the tail, useful or not. Thanks for taking the time to put this (and the rest of your blog, I might add) together. JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-34507488118003486062008-07-21T02:15:00.000-05:002008-07-21T02:15:00.000-05:00Outstanding effort, Peter. I've never read such a...Outstanding effort, Peter. I've never read such an informative single article on defensive aerial armament.<BR/><BR/>I'm <I>slightly</I> disappointed that you didnt touch upon the last of the heavily armed bombers, the Convair B36 Peacemaker. The early versions, at least, had an array of twin 20mm cannon in retractable turrets with radar gunlaying, plus additional nose and tail positions - - a total of 16 guns. I knew at least two men who crewed B36s during that era, and both commented on how much weight was removed when the heavy, complex turrets with their burdens of guns and shells were deleted. <BR/><BR/>Happily, the B36 never had to fire a shot in anger - - at least none that were publicized.<BR/><BR/>JPGJPGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01224444263429720535noreply@blogger.com