cadetat6
06-23-05, 07:47 AM
Any one have the straight dope on B-17 ball turret? I was told that the ball turret
could not be raised up into the plane.At one air show I was told that the ball turret
could be raised into the plane. I read about a plane could not drop the wheels and the ball turret man was killed.
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The ball turret on a B-17 did not retract into the fuselage like the ball turret on the B-24. Here is a pic of the 17's ball turret from inside the plane. (http://www.flightjournal.com/FJ/plane_profiles/b-17g/b17g_10_waist.asp) Here is a pic of the ball turret that is retracted on the 24. (http://www.b24bestweb.com/ballgun2.htm)
Here is a great site for the Sperry Ball Turret. (http://www.softwhale.com/history/b-17/ball-turret.html)
There were several incidents where gunners were killed because the ball would be jammed and they could not get out.
could not be raised up into the plane.At one air show I was told that the ball turret
could be raised into the plane. I read about a plane could not drop the wheels and the ball turret man was killed.
~~~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ball turret on a B-17 did not retract into the fuselage like the ball turret on the B-24. Here is a pic of the 17's ball turret from inside the plane. (http://www.flightjournal.com/FJ/plane_profiles/b-17g/b17g_10_waist.asp) Here is a pic of the ball turret that is retracted on the 24. (http://www.b24bestweb.com/ballgun2.htm)
Here is a great site for the Sperry Ball Turret. (http://www.softwhale.com/history/b-17/ball-turret.html)
There were several incidents where gunners were killed because the ball would be jammed and they could not get out.