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Ball Turret on a B-17 Bomber (1943)

submitted by herbert_west to pics 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 09:23:15 ago (+31/-0)     (files.catbox.moe)

https://files.catbox.moe/g9aemm.jpg



16 comments block

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[ - ] Portmanure 2 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 09:52:30 ago (+2/-0)

I remember hearing somewhere that the Ball Turret Gunner position was the least dangerous position on a B-17. Statistically they were the least killed and least injured crew member. It was due to presenting the smallest target profile. The other crew where either standing up (Waist Gunners and Flight Engineer) or sitting up right (Pilots, Bombardier, Nav, Radioman, Tail Gunner) while the Ball Turret Gunner is scrunched up in a ball during combat.

I think this info was in one of the DVD bonus features of The Memphis Bell. I’ll have to go watch it again.

[ - ] Name 7 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 10:15:18 ago (+7/-0)

As long as the landing gear were operational when the plane landed. Otherwise that guy became a long red streak on the runway as the only ingress egress point in the turret is shown in your illustration.

Also; never forget what they did to Dresden.

[ - ] Portmanure 7 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 10:19:49 ago (+7/-0)*

The ball turret is only occupied in combat. The turret is rotated so the gunner can enter and exit the position from inside the B-17.

[ - ] Name 2 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 10:24:34 ago (+2/-0)

I was just about to edit what I said above. I just remembered you could enter and exit the ball turret from the cabin. I think it is the loss of hydraulics in both the landing gear and the ball turret that fucks the guy inside of it. However I may be confusing a fictional account I read a decade ago with reality.

[ - ] Portmanure 4 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 10:27:34 ago (+4/-0)

There was a story about B-17 that couldn’t extend its gear due to combat damage and the ball turret gunner was also trapped in the position. He died when the B-17 had to land on its belly.

There is also a twilight zone episode based on this situation.

[ - ] Name 3 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 10:33:47 ago (+3/-0)

There might’ve been a book called “the world according to Garp” that I read when I was seven or eight years old that featured this scenario. I can’t quite remember. I do remember being aware at that young age that that book was wildly inappropriate for me to be reading.

[ - ] GroundskeeperWillie 0 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 14:34:10 ago (+0/-0)

Funny I was thinking about that book when I was laying in bed last night and how much fucking degeneracy was in it. First off the "mother" jerking off a braindead pilot in the hospital, then fucking him to get pregnant because she didnt want a real man/woman relationship. Then later in the books the whole swingers thing..

[ - ] Crackinjokes 0 points 2.5 yearsNov 26, 2022 01:01:32 ago (+0/-0)

When Ronald Reagan was President he famously quoted this fictional story as a real story. It made quite the headlines back then as evidence that he might have Alzheimer's and not be all there.

[ - ] gimpyoldman 6 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 10:26:42 ago (+6/-0)

Just imagining enduring 8-12 hours staying in that position, the noise, vibration, and isolation, then add in what it must be like when he starts firing the 50cal.

[ - ] lord_nougat 4 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 14:19:26 ago (+4/-0)

And then the captain orders the crew to bail out after something goes horribly wrong and he knows he is just fucked.

[ - ] heraclitus 1 point 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 12:45:23 ago (+1/-0)

Seeing this in person, you can understand what George Lucas was going for with the TIE fighter

[ - ] voatisajewishheaven 1 point 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 14:58:57 ago (+1/-0)

Can they "drop the ball" with some sort of parachute system maybe?

[ - ] PotatoWhisperer 0 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 19:21:37 ago (+0/-0)

No. You could get in/out from inside if your hydraulics work and the ball itself isn't fucked up. Barring that, maybe let him drop out over some water going low-and-slow and hope for the best.

These days you would just operate it from a console inside the bomber.

[ - ] NukeAmerica 0 points 2.5 yearsNov 24, 2022 16:54:07 ago (+0/-0)

FUCK THAT

[ - ] Crackinjokes 0 points 2.5 yearsNov 26, 2022 01:02:54 ago (+0/-0)

It wasn't like you had a choice whether or not to be drafted in World War ii.

[ - ] Crackinjokes 0 points 2.5 yearsNov 26, 2022 01:00:12 ago (+0/-0)

It's actually really comfortable position to be in for a long period of time. If you've ever tried to sleep that way it works very well put something under your knees. But I would definitely find some metal plate or something to put under my ass and nuts cuz when your gun is pointing right at the enemy then it's your ass and your nuts it's going to get whatever fire they shoot at you.