Ball Turret Gunner Plane

It is about the death of a gunner in a sperry ball turret on a world war ii american bomber aircraft. From my mother s sleep i fell into the state and i hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. Gunner mason howe survives these harrowing missions while operating one of the plane s most innovative defenses.

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He was considered a perfect fit for the b 17 s ball turret.

Ball turret gunner plane. The turret held the gunner two heavy machine guns ammunition and sights. Nasm si 80 20353 aerial gunnery training had a make do try anything quality resulting in the design of 16 types of outdoor ranges. Pop after the three mascots for rice krispies cereal. 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.

Magee was a ball turret gunner in a b 17 named snap. Alan magee decided to join the us army after japanese attacked the american fleet at pearl harbor. During the mission the plane was shot by anti aircraft guns and became a ball of flames. Wilbur is a well known world war ii combat veteran having served 30 combat missions as a belly turret.

It was an enclosure that at any time could become an airman s. That plane along with others from the 360th squadron was sent to bomb german torpedo stores in st. 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. Ball turret gunners on b 17 bombers were protected only by a glass bubble jutting out from the bowels of the plane.

The death of the ball turret gunner is a five line poem by randall jarrell published in 1945. Wilbur richardson gives a short interview at plane of fame air museum in chino califronia. Call the collings foundation 978 562 9182 or contact vintage aircraft. He felt a need to enlist in the army and defend his country.

The ball turret gun. You can take a ride in the ball turret and a lot more at the vintage aircraft bomber camp next may in stockton california. At the height of world war ii allied bombing missions often include hundreds of boeing b 17 flying fortresses that strike deep behind enemy lines. The space inside the turret was very small and cramped.

It was a manned turret as distinct from remote controlled turrets also in use. The ball turret gunner was one of the most dangerous assignments in world war ii. Nazaire france on jan. Permanently fixed and unable to be retracted there was no hiding from enemy attack.