Ball Turret Gunner Interview

[Nitrohaulic]

YouTube - Veteran WWII - Ball Turret Gunner - B-17

 

[d'kid]

Thanks Ron...

d'kid

 

[Nitrohaulic]

What do they say? A thousand of those folks a day are going? I was just going over an old B-25 flight video I had saved from youtube and saw a ball turret video to the right. Got me to searching on ball turret and stumbled onto that gem of an interview. I really hope more and more of them get their stories out while they can.

I shiver just from imagining hanging from the belly of a plane in flight like that. Can't imagine adding flack and cannon fire. What must it have been like to watch three of the four planes in your formation going down all around you like that?

I remember reading a story somewhere about some WWII guys in a bar or something. Someone saw a guy's Air Force uniform and started about how soft they had it, and how he'd trade jobs with him no matter WHAT job he had. Then the airman told him he was a ball turret gunner. The first guy told him to go to hell!

 

[mick]

.......... I really hope more and more of them get their stories out while they can.........

i agree - great interview

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Wow, check this out.

YouTube - B-17G BALL TURRET-COLLINGS FOUNDATION

 

[mick]

Wow, check this out.

YouTube - B-17G BALL TURRET-COLLINGS FOUNDATION

approx. 60 years old - amazing.

 

[murdock]

Several years ago I was able to take a tour of the B-17 and B-24 that the Collings Foundation has when they came to our local airport. It was very humbling to be able to stand in the plane and look down at the ball turret and think about when they closed those doors behind you. Gives a new meaning to the word "hero". They were selling rides on one of the planes, for $300.00 I believe. I would have given my left 'nad to have been able to take a flight, but they had to have 4 people, and didn't get enough to go up before they had to leave. If they ever come back, I'm the first in line.

Murdock.

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Several years ago I was able to take a tour of the B-17 and B-24 that the Collings Foundation has when they came to our local airport. It was very humbling to be able to stand in the plane and look down at the ball turret and think about when they closed those doors behind you. Gives a new meaning to the word "hero". They were selling rides on one of the planes, for $300.00 I believe. I would have given my left 'nad to have been able to take a flight, but they had to have 4 people, and didn't get enough to go up before they had to leave. If they ever come back, I'm the first in line.

Murdock.

How long is the flight? Hopefully more than just take off and land. Let me know if you need another passenger next time.

Whew! The idea scares the heck out of me and, I'm sure they won't let ya and I'm sure I wouldn't fit but, I'd jump in that ball for a ride in a heartbeat! THAT would be a ride! I wonder how small you had to be for it? Well, from what I remember, I wouldn't have to worry about you beating me out of that seat, David.

Yeah, judging by that video, what a view you'd have if an engine blew, huh? Bet they'd feel the heat from it.

Wonder why they'd go after that "coffin corner" rear position first? Hoping that, flying in with the sun to their backs, the rest of the planes don't even realize they're being attacked at first?

 

[Sully]

I think the height requirement was 5'6" for ball turret gunners - and skinny, without claustrophobia. In other words, it was a job for skinny little runts - with big cajones.

 

[murdock]

How long is the flight? Hopefully more than just take off and land. Let me know if you need another passenger next time.

Whew! The idea scares the heck out of me and, I'm sure they won't let ya and I'm sure I wouldn't fit but, I'd jump in that ball for a ride in a heartbeat! THAT would be a ride! I wonder how small you had to be for it? Well, from what I remember, I wouldn't have to worry about you beating me out of that seat, David.

I'm pretty sure that it is more than just a take off and land. My wife knows a man that was able to take a flight and he said that they had a nice ride.

I don't think that there were many ball turret gunners that had their knees up around their ears like I would have to do if I got in one of those things. But if they could grease me up and squeeze me in.....

Murdock.

 

[Nitrohaulic]

I was pondering what the man said in the interview above. He did say the plane in the rear was shot down without the tailgunner even noticing. Then the plane on their right, then the plane on their left.

I bet I know WHY they'd go after the rear plane first. If several all shoot at one at once like that then, knocking it down before anyone can say a word on the radio gives you three more to shoot at that aren't shooting back at you yet. If you each take one plane, it would obviously take longer on average to knock each plane down, basically waking them all up and causing them to fire back at you.

Same with the middle plane. If you all go after it next, the planes on either side will see it. If you all go after a plane on one end next, you might knock it down without the plane on the other end seeing. Then go after the other end plane because the one in the middle knows what's going on by now, anyways.

I'm sure the tailgunner would be looking all around and it might be easy to miss the plane behind you getting knocked down during the monotony of flying.

 

[onfire]

Used to work with a guy that was a tail gunner in a BUFF before they went to remote operation for the quad fifties. He left that gig to fly with the original "Puff"....a C47. His name is Gary "Gunz" Heinz. That guy had some stories. And the nickname fit!

Late...................Mitch

 

[murdock]

30 years ago I worked with a man that was a tail gunner in WW II. Back then I had no idea what that meant. Now I wish that I had asked him about his experiences.

Murdock.