Did the b29 have a tail gunner?

During the closing years of the conflict, the American B-29 bombers were equipped with a tail gun position in which the gunner still had a direct view on his target while operating his synchronized weapons, but some other gun positions of this particular model of Boeing bomber were, for the first time in an aircraft.

Why do modern bombers not have gunners?

The reason was that it was deemed ineffective. As the answers here point out, fighter aircraft evolved such that medium and long range air-to-air missiles were the primary weapons. This kept fighters out far enough that the tail gun cannot hit.

Did ball turret gunners have parachutes?

Since space was limited, most ball turret gunners only wore flak jackets to protect themselves against anti-aircraft fire, but no parachutes.

What was the life expectancy of a ball turret gunner?

The three planes were the best four engine bombers that flew over Germany during World War II. The B-17G/H Flying Fortress (12,731) had 13 -50 cal machine guns, a ball turret gun that gave it 100\% coverage while flying in formation and it had robust air cooled engines.

Where is Fifi B-29?

Fort Worth
FIFI is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress. It is one of two B-29s that are currently flying in the world (with Doc being the other B-29). It is owned by the Commemorative Air Force and is based at the Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas.

What is a waist gunner?

The primary duty of the waist gunner was to defend the aircraft against the enemy. Waist gunners were also frequently responsible for checking the aircraft for damage and assisting the flight engineer with repairs if necessary. …

Why do bombers no longer have turrets?

A study, after the war, with real time experience and thousands of dead airmen, showed that the only real way to protect bombers from fighters was other fighters acting as air cover. The guns, the turrets, the gunners, were too heavy, and ultimately ineffective at protecting the bombers.

How many turrets did the B 17 have?

Armed with no less than 13 0.50-calibre machine guns, including two in a new “chin” turret for defense against head-on attack, the B-17G fairly bristled with machine guns. It was operated by a crew of 10, including the pilot, copilot, navigator-radioman, bombardier, and gunners.

What does from my mother’s sleep I fell into the state mean?

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner When the speaker says he “fell into the state,” it could mean that he fell into a state of war or an untimely death. The first line transitions from innocent when mentioning the mother into his own dangerous reality.

Who is the narrator of death of the Ball Turret Gunner?

Randall Jarrell
“The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” Speaker Randall Jarrell himself served in the Air Force during World War II, so it’s also possible that his own experiences of the war inform this poem. Whoever this speaker is, he leads a short and tragic life.

Why is B-29 called FIFI?

After three years of restoration, the B-29 was christened “FiFi” in honor of Agather’s wife, Josephine “Fifi” O’Connor Agather, in late 1974. The plane toured with the CAF for years thereafter.

What was the remote control turret system used in the B-29?

This is a display in our museum of part of the Remote Control Turret System that was used in the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. This mockup is of the upper gunner or Central Fire Control (CFC) gunner. The sight is the ring type and under it is the pedestal seat or Barbers Chair as it was sometimes called.

How did the B-29 bomber’s GE system work?

With the GE system, B-29 gunners observed and tracked attacking aircraft directly with their gunsights. There were five sighting stations througout the aircraft, each with its own computer. The front station was located in the nose, where the bombardier acted as the front gunner when not occupied on the bomb run.

Where is the front gunner on a WWII bomber?

The front station was located in the nose, where the bombardier acted as the front gunner when not occupied on the bomb run. Just behind the wing were three stations, one on top of the aircraft and one on each side. Plexiglas “blisters” allowed these three gunners a larger field of view for spotting incoming fighters.

Did the B-29 bomber have a fire control system?

The Cannons on the B-29 Bomber Were a Mid-Century Engineering Masterpiece is an article on how this fire control system worked on B-29s. It was so advanced that the B-29 no longer needed escort fighters like other bombers of the time.