What kind of machine gun did tail gunners use? "When a bloke's time is coming up he should be put on certain courses for retraining back into Civvy Street. When he got stuck on a word, I'd say 'Oh yes sir, I know exactly what you mean' to save him embarrassment and he looked quite grateful for that.". Liss in Aircraft profile 88: Ilyushin Il-2 mentions an engagement during the Battle of Kursk on 7 July 1943, in which 70 tanks from the German 9th Panzer Division were claimed to be destroyed by Ilyushin Il-2s in just 20 minutes. Disembarking at Squadron H.Q. The second oldest air gunner on record to be KIA in WWII is V.J. 1000 hrs:With the crew minus the skipper (A Flight Commander) and Bill Treen, the other gunner who was away on a course, we strolled down to the `Red Shield canteen for the morning break. In fact, the B-52 is now slated to continue flying long after much newer bombers, the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit respectively, have already been sent out to pasture. One of the crucial factors, he says, in keeping his own spirits up after the war ended was the fact that his old job, working in the paper-making trade, was kept open after the war ended. Some returning aircraft during the period have had their rear turret area shot up or blown off with gunfire. A ball . themselves at all times. . 71% of B-24 Liberator crews died in WWII, 5. A stream of tracer passes all around the enemy aircraft and a very startled fighter pilot immediately dives to port. A B-52H bomber with its tail gun still installed. I slither down the slope to the rear turret, settle into my seat, plug in the intercom connection, connect the oxygen supply, turn around to pick up my gloves and then lock the sliding doors. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? "You also had nightmares, but after 12 months you got yourself hardened to it. Monteith RAF. He could be sat at home isolated and thinking his role and contribution to society was over. However, the tail gunners role was essential to the success of the B-17 mission, and their bravery and sacrifice should not be forgotten. However, being a B-17 tail gunner was not an easy job, and the danger they faced was very real. The Rear-Turret Gunners were in the most vulnerable position on the Plane. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. What Was The Life Expectancy Of A Bomber Crew In Ww2? Not affiliated with any government agencies.All Rights Reserved. Therefore, a total of 75,446 airmen (60 percent of operational airmen) were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
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