Ball Turret Gunner Picture

Leffelman 19112019 washington killed in action waist gunner.

Ball turret gunner picture. The ball turret was mounted underneath the aircraft and was used to defend the bomber against aircraft attacking from below. The interior view of a 1945 b 17g flying fortress that shows the belly gunner s sperry ball turret and side mounted machine gun. Houtchens 37483248 nebraska killed in action. Cassiday 32346219 new york killed in action radio operator.

Nazaire france on jan. During the mission the plane was shot by anti aircraft guns and became a ball of flames. That plane along with others from the 360th squadron was sent to bomb german torpedo stores in st. How does all the war and death in the title work with the poem s first line.

The sperry lower ball turret was used in the boeing b 17 flying fortress and the consolidated b 24 liberator. Staff sergeant james d. Hear the story of how william carter was drafted into wwii and became a b 17 ball turret gunner. A ball turret was a spherical shaped altazimuth mount gun turret fitted to some american built aircraft during world war ii the name arose from the turret s spherical housing.

It was a manned turret as distinct from remote controlled turrets also in use. Click on the image for a larger picture. The impressive aircraft is powered by four 1 200 horsepower engines has a net weight of 34 000 pounds its gross wartime wei may 5 2011 hayward california u s. The death of the ball turret gunner quotes.

The ball turret like this one on a b 17 in england in 1943 was designed small to reduce drag so its gunner usually was the shortest man in the crew. Pop after the three mascots for rice krispies cereal. Nasm si 80 20353 aerial gunnery training had a make do try anything quality resulting in the design of 16 types of outdoor ranges. A courageous young world war ii gunner and aspiring cartoonist trapped in the belly gun of a b 17 aircraft with the landing gear destroyed has only his imagination as a force that might be able to save him.

This page last updated december 17th 2007. A relative of mine i posted his picture on the thread for veterans day photos was a ball turret gunner in italy in the 15th af he told me once he wasnt actually trained originally for the ball but when he got ther thats what they needed he went on to say that he had to cock his head to one side in order to get the door closed on the turret bob. The turret held the gunner two heavy machine guns ammunition and sights. Warfare the death of the ball turret gunner title right from the start jarrell confronts the reader with ideas and images of war.

Staff sergeant ralph j. Magee was a ball turret gunner in a b 17 named snap. Directed by steven spielberg. With kevin costner casey siemaszko kiefer sutherland j j.

Staff sergeant william h.