THanks for sharing them. The Model 13 was also the most compact turret in service, with the gunner crouched behind the sight, with his knees raised on each side, and possessing adequate fields of vision to his front and sides. He was considered a perfect fit for the B-17’s ball turret. One of my HS football coaches was a ball turret gunner in WW II. Ball Turret Gunner. A diagram depicting how a gunner sits inside a Sperry A2 ball turret. Solomon C. Litton (1751-1844); 1Lt Christopher Casey (1754-1840) SC Mil; Pvt Mark Adams (1755-1828); Pvt Randolph White (1755-1831) Bailey's Co. VA Rgmt; Capt. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. The gunner placed his feet in the heel rests and th… 'd medals. If they had to bail out then all they had to do was snap the other side, pop the turret hatch, and kick themselves into space. 66 years after the crash he still remembers his part of World War II. It's high time we pay tribute to the turret gunners from World War 2. Most ball turret gunners were chosen because of their short height. (Check out my blog on Ball Turret Gunners on this website.) One B-24 crewman remembers that a ball turret gunner got frostbite of the ears on one mission, and that his eyelids were frozen shut during a mission to Linz. Cool video John. But if his frame was small, his personality was not. The Sperry Ball Turret was under the plane as seen in the photo. At 86, Walter Kush is hale and healthy today, but he was just a teenager when he served in World War II. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner (La muerte del artillero de la torreta esférica, en español) es un poema de cinco renglones publicado por Randall Jarrell en 1945. HONORING FAMILY LtCol Wm Russell (1679-1757) VA Mil; Pvt Zachariah McKay (1714-97) Frederick VA Mil; BrigGen Evan Shelby, Jr (1719-94) VA Mil; Pvt Vincent Hobbs (1722-1808) Wythe VA Mil; Pvt Hugh Alexander (1724-77); Lt John R. Litton (1726-1804); Bvt BrigGen/Col Wm W. Russell (1735-93) 5th VA Rgmt; Lt James Scott (1736-1817); Capt John Murray, Sr (1747-1833); Capt John Sehorn, Sr (1748-1831) VA Mil; Pvt Corbin Lane (1750-1816) Franklin/TN Mil; Cpl Jesse D. Reynolds (1750-1836) 5th VA Rgmt; Capt. When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. It shows the detail of the interior ammo cans with the .50 cal belted ammo draped over the baffles. The Model 13 was also the most compact turret in service, with the gunner crouched behind the sight, with his knees raised on each side, and possessing adequate fields of vision to his front and sides. The most common one was manufactured by the Sperry Corporation. A young man is force to leave the safety of home because he is drafted into the war. Powered by Invision Community. Trata sobre la muerte de un artillero dentro de la torreta esférica Sperry de un bombardero pesado estadounidense de … From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. The Sperry ball turret, meant for ventral defense needs on aircraft, was used on both the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator as well as the United States Navy's Liberator, the PB4Y. Walter was a ball-turret gunner on a B-24 bomber (the Liberator). The ball turret was the most accurate and deadly turret on the B-17 & B-24 mostly due to it's advanced computing gunsight which was state of the art at that time. simply awesome these guys really had a "set of balls" to be a ball turret gunner. The poem talks about how, the person created by Jarell, gets drafted into the war in the United States. I would have thought it to be a job almost requiring small stature and low weight. i jsut watched that video! By Yes and no. At the height of World War II, Allied bombing missions often include hundreds of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses that strike deep behind enemy lines. If you have any named items to a 77th Division Soldier please contact me!!! Closeup view of Sperry ventral ball turret on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Ramey found the turret in a surplus shop many years ago. These gunsights computed for direction, and range to the target and were basically an early analog computer. Here's a pic of an extremely rare artifact...the data plate from an A-2 Lower Ball Turret made by Emerson Electric Mfg. John R. Russell (1758-1838); Pvt Joseph T. Cooley (1767-1826) Fort Hempstead Mil; Pvt Thomas Barron (1776-1863) 1812; Capt. Are any of the ball turret gunner photos named to an L.S. For both aircraft types, there was no room inside for a parachute, which was left in the cabin above the turret. Now he is 87! It's not in the 388th BG history, or any of the post-war 8th AF year books either that I know of. Randall Jarrell - 1914-1965. The poet's author, Randall Jarrell, summed up the experience in only five lines, concluding “When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.”The poem has been widely reprinted and discussed in school curricula, and like many authors who … Since this turret is of the ball type, the gunner moves with his guns and sight in elevation and azimuth as he moves his control handles. Gunner Mason Howe survives these harrowing missions while operating one of the plane's most innovative defenses: the ball turret gun. Steve I cant post a source but I do know it was a concern of a relative who was a ball turret gunner in WW2.He flew out of Italy and in B17s.What he stated to me once was he saw a B17 land once with the turret down.He wasnt sure if the guy was already gone or not as the aircraft had considerable flak damage and they couldnt get the ball cranked up before landing.He also said he … Serial #13047756 Scott, Cecil Harmon – Ball Turret Gunner, Asst Radio Operator. Ball turret gunner. However, the gunner did not enter the turret until well into the air, in case of landing gear failure. On a B-17, a ‘belly landing' with the ball turret in place tended to ‘break the airplane's back'. None of them have the last name of Birt. The gunship will circle around the battlefield and the damage dealt in the turret's ammunition is extremely effective that it can clean sweep an entire enemy squad. This page last updated December 17th, 2007 . “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” by Randall Jarrell is a morbid poem about the brutality of war. The Erco ball turret was the bow installation in the Navy's Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator and PB4Y-2 Privateer airplanes. Jarrell, who served in the Army Air Forces, provided the following explanatory note: . These guys sat in those things with their legs spread looking at Messerschmidt's coming up from the bottom with only a little Plexiglas between them and eternity. in St. Louis. Do you mind re-posting the picture of your relative or directing me to the thread it's on? Jarrell, who served in the Army Air Forces, provided the following explanatory note: A ball turret was a Plexiglas sphere set into the belly of a B-17 or B-24, and inhabited by two .50 caliber machine guns and one man, a short small man. It served a double purpose, taking care of any bow attacks on the Liberator as well as being used for strafing in anti-submarine warfare. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner . ROCKET, The gunner entered the ball turret via a door at its rear, which also served as an emergency exit in case of trouble. Do you know what unit he was assigned to? Hydraulics normally powered elevation and azimuth. (NASM (SI-80-20353)) Aerial gunnery training had a make-do, try-anything quality, resulting in the design of 16 types of outdoor ranges. That last one doesn't look like he is old enough to shave! The ball turret was powered, and equipped with two 0.50-inch caliber machine guns. Video games such as Call of Duty 2: Big Red One. A diagram depicting how a gunner sits inside a Sperry A2 ball turret. THAT is a very neat video! Once training was complete, aerial gunners were sent out to operational bomber units as crewmen, serving as waist gunners, tail gunners, or most physically demanding, as ball turret gunners. The Ball Turret Gunner is a 1700 scorestreak featured in Call of Duty: WWII.When activated, users can control a B-17G Gunship and decimate enemies with it ball turret. It is a relative of the Martin 250SH bow turret of the PBM-3 twin-engined patrol flying boat and has many points of similarity in design and action. You gotta respect that. I'll do some checking and if I find anything I'll definitely let you know. During the raid, his plane, called the "Snap! The right foot operated a push-to-talk intercom switch. A ball turret was a spherical-shaped, altazimuth mount gun turret, fitted to some American-built aircraft during World War II. Garp, the main protagonist in, In "The Mission," a 1985 episode of the television series. Learn more at: The Wisconsin Shoreline & Marsaxlokk, Malta, Forget about the tips..We'll get hell to pay (AC/DC), "If you cant get out and run with the big dogs then sit on the porch and bark at the cars going by..", US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY. ", Simply incredible photos!! The gunner could enter the turret from inside the plane by having the turret rotated until the door opening faced the interior of the plane. Fairly sure that you will not find a photo of my Uncle, or a crew photo on-line. To enter the turret, the turret was moved until the guns were pointed straight down. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. Statistically, the ball turret was one of the safest crew positions during WWII as ball turret gunners had the lowest loss rate. 66 years after the crash he still remembers his part of World War II. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. To enter the turret, the turret was moved until the guns were pointed straight down. Just wanted to share some cool pics of ball turret gunners from the 388th Bomb Group. I was 5' 8" -- a little tall for the turret, but I accepted the assignment, which some deemed as a suicide position," my dad points out. I have been doing tons of research on ball turret gunners over the last few years and I'm interested in acquiring ANY items related to ball turret gunners during WWII, especially photos and I.D. On a B-17, a ‘belly landing' with the ball turret in place tended to ‘break the airplane's back'. Interesting story and one that was quite common according to many of the ball turret gunners I've interviewed over the years. His father Ross had been a timber and logging operator and had experienced more than his fair share of tough times around Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania. The turret was directed by two hand control grips with firing buttons similar to a one-button joy stick. In the case of the B-24 the Liberator's tricycle landing gear design required that the turret mount be made upwardly retractable into the lower fuselage while the aircraft was on the ground, since with the ball turret deployed for operation, the shell of the turret would be too close to the ground. The cocking handles were located too close to the gunner to be operated easily, so a cable was attached to the handle through pulleys to a handle near the front of the turret. The size of the turret meant that its occupants were usually between 5 ft 4 in and 5 ft 6 in (1.68 and 1.68 m) in height. He felt a need to enlist in the Army and defend his country. Thanks for sharing with us! share. Click on the image for a larger picture . The turret mounted two Browning 50 caliber machine guns that would fire 750 to 850 bullets in a minute , that’s about 14 bullets a second. It was not unusual for the temperature to drop to -50 degrees when the ball turret was lowered into the … However, I have heard of a few ball turret gunners being 5'-10'' or taller. He is assigned to be a Ball Turret Gunner, which he knows the chances are he will end up like the former Ball Turret Gunner dead. It was also not uncommon for some units to ask for volunteers from ground crews, such as mechanics, to fill in as aerial gunners. The turret ball is heavy and yet delicately balanced; unless it is locked in place, it may swivel and break a man's leg or snap him almost in two as he attempts to enter. From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. In Memoriam:Lieutenant J.Kostelec 1-3 First Special Service Force MIA/PD 4 March 1944 ItalyI HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY AND IT IS DAYLIGHTForget about the tips..We'll get hell to pay (AC/DC)"If you cant get out and run with the big dogs then sit on the porch and bark at the cars going by..". hide. Here is a link to a YouTube video that a guy took when he was allowed to go up in a B-17 bomber and take video. Ball turret gunners did not carry their chest pack chutes inside the turret with them due to cramped conditions. Ball turret gunners did not carry their chest pack chutes inside the turret with them due to cramped conditions. A ball turret was a particular form of spherical-form, altazimuth mount movement manned aircraft gun turret, accommodating the gunner with nearly all the needed equipment for defensive firepower (except for the ammunition storage) mounted either within or onto the spherical shell of the turret structure, mounted on aircraft during World War II. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. If you ever wanted to know what it was like to be in one, this video gives you some what of an idea. Always looking for PTO related photos and photo albums. We are winning the War on Terror. Jarrell, who served in the Army Air Forces, provided the following explanatory note: . It is about the death of a gunner in a Sperry ball turret on a World War II American bomber aircraft. Since your uncle was a radio operator I doubt he would be in any of these photos. I recall he was only 5'5" or 5'6". Bell (1833-1910) Co C 47th IL Inf US; Cpl Daniel H. Barron (1838-1910) Co B 19th TN Rgmt Inf CSA; Capt Richard K. Kaufman (1908-1946) 7th PRG/3rd AF CCU; T-5 Vernon L. Bell (1926-95) 1802nd Spec Rgmt; PO2 Murray J. Heichman (1932-2019) HQSB/MCRD; PFC Jess Long (1934-2017) US Army; PFC Donald W. Johnson (1931-) 43rd ID HQ; A1C Keith W. Bell (1931-2011) 314th TCW; A3C Michael S. Bell (1946-) 3346th CMS; A1C Sam W. Lee (1954-2017) 2d BW; AW3 Keith J. A famous poem published in 1945, “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner,” highlights the isolation and hazards of serving as the gunner. However, I have read accounts of some ball turret gunners as tall as 6 feet which would make for a very tight and uncomfortable ride. However, I have read accounts of some ball turret gunners as tall as 6 feet which would make for a very tight and uncomfortable ride. I love the shot of the one with the inscription! From my mother's sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. See much more from Sgt Lester Schrenk! The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner is a five-line poem by Randall Jarrell published in 1945. He passed decades ago. Here's a cool cut-away drawing and article of a ball turret which first appeared in Life magazine in 1943. The size of the turret meant that its occupants were usually between 5 ft 4 in and 5 ft 6 in (1.68 and 1.68 m) in height. He would then put on a safety strap, close and lock the turret door. The Sperry Ball Turret was under the plane as seen in the photo. It is about the death of a gunner in a Sperry ball turret on a World War II American bomber aircraft. Will continue to look though. Thanks for the kind offer of assistance John. Wanting to buy uniforms, docs, photos, books and any other items related to WWII US Army Railway units. On the B-17 the turret was close to the ground, but had enough clearance for takeoff and landing. The ball turret, like this one on a B-17 in England in 1943, was designed small to reduce drag, so its gunner usually was the shortest man in the crew. Never talked about it. The target was the German U-boat pens at Saint-Nazaire, France. Walter’s plane was on a mission to bomb a German manufacturing plant in Austria, which made Messerschmidt 109s. On his enlistment record, his height is listed at 5 feet 5 inches, and his weight at 128 pounds. Yes and no. From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. The ball turret was mounted underneath the aircraft and was used to defend the bomber against aircraft attacking from below. Price (1975-) VP-10; 1Lt Matthew Wm Bell (1985-) 82nd Abn/SOC. If you give me his name I can check to see if any pictures are out there of him. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner. Tell Obama that we need to keep jobs here in the U.S., NOT overseas! Although the lower ball turret was designed by the Sperry Company they never did produce the turrets themselves since they didn't have the capacity for wartime production. The Ball Turret Gunner from B17 42-31377 Pot O´Gold crashed on 22 FEB 1944, tells in BALL TURRET about his job. This left him positioned with his eyes roughly level with the pair of light-barrel Browning AN/M2 .50 caliber machine guns which extended through the entire turret, and located to either side of the gunner. The gunner sat in the turret with his back and head against the rear wall, his hips at the bottom, and his legs held in mid-air by two footrests on the front wall. 476. Left-side waist gunner position and ball turret on the Castle Air Museum's B-24M. Sign up for a new account in our community. Crackle! ... And you, my father, there on that sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner . The Ball Turret Gunner from B17 42-31377 Pot O´Gold crashed on 22 FEB 1944, tells in BALL TURRET about his job. Some very small gunners were able to carry their chutes with them inside the turret but this was very uncommon. Ball Turret Gunner: Staff Sergeant William H. Cassiday, 32346219, New York – Killed in Action Radio Operator: Staff Sergeant Ralph J. Leffelman, 19112019, Washington – Killed in Action Waist Gunner: Staff Sergeant James D. Houtchens, 37483248, Nebraska – Killed in Action Walter was a ball-turret gunner on a B-24 bomber (the Liberator). What was the height & weight limit for one of these gunners? and i got air sick just looking at it lol. The gunner placed his feet in the heel rests and then crouched down into a fetal position. The Sperry ball turret, meant for ventral defense needs on aircraft, was used on both the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator as well as the United States Navy's Liberator, the PB4Y. "There is no such thing as an expert, only students with different levels of education. Alan Magee decided to join the US Army after Japanese attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. Nope...sorry. Do not go gentle into that good night. The Sperry lower ball turret was used in the Boeing B-17 Flying fortress and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY It was only common sense to assign the shortest guy on the crew as the ball turret gunner, which is what most crews did. THE SPERRY BALL TURRET. Michael Sweeney--Researcher and Collector of WW2 77TH Division. I don't know of any height or weight restriction for ball turret gunners. We are winning the War on Terror. Member, ASMIC.Editor, ASMIC's The Trading PostASMIC Executive VP. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. The waist gunner manually aimed a single 0.50-inch caliber machine gun. The name arose from the turret's spherical housing. Most ball turret gunners were chosen because of their short height. They would hook one side of the chest chute to their harness and stow it off to one side so it was out of the way when operating the turret. The ball turret gunner was usually the shortest crewmember. Manning dual .50 caliber Browning Machine Guns Now he is 87! The taller the gunner the harder it was for him to aim properly through the computing gunsight located above him and between his legs, which were propped up. The pilot was First Lieutenant Lewis P. Johnson Jr., 21, flying the 25th—and last—mission of his tour. The left foot was used to control the reflector sight range reticle. I checked my database of ball turret vets and he's not listed yet (it's still a work in progress). The chutes were instead stowed outside the turret inside the aircraft. Hand cranks were available for backup. Ball turret gunner Richard Getty checking out his turret,which he named "Ball of Fire", Sept. 1942. It's easy! Walter’s plane was on a mission to bomb a German manufacturing plant in Austria, which made Messerschmidt 109s. Have been researching for sometime now. Also, in relation to bluehawks post, the guy who shot the video footage from the video link I posted above, said he was six foot four inches and weighed 285 pounds. In January of 1943, Magee was a ball turret gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress on a bombing run on the Atlantic coast of Nazi-occupied France. Those are some really neat photos. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner by Randall Jarell relays his attitude about the war. It had to be pure adrenalin mixed with pure horror! Birt? One of my late Uncles served in the 388th as a R/o on a B-17G. Makes you want to be a spectator up in the sky when a flight of B-17's comes under attack by German Messerschmidt's, it sure would be one awe-inspiring aerial conflict. Learn more at: www.MoveAmericaForward.org. The Sperry ball turret was very small in order to reduce drag, and was typically operated by the shortest man of the crew. A reflector sight was hung from the top of the turret, positioned roughly between the gunner's feet. 49 comments. A few gunners wore a chest parachute. The Sperry ball turret was very small in order to reduce drag, and was typically operated by the shortest man of the crew. I Proudly Support Our Troops And The War On Terror. Small ammo boxes rested on the top of the turret and the remaining ammo belts were stowed in the already cramped turret by means of an elaborate feed chute system. October 20, 2008 in EPHEMERA, PHOTOGRAPHS & MILITARY ARTWORK. John Baumgardner (1787-1853) VA Mil; Pvt Joel Estep (1828-1864) Co B 5th KY Inf CSA & US; Pvt George B. Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, freepages.military.rootsweb.com/~josephkennedy/sperry_ball_turret.htm, www.liberatorcrew.com/15_Gunnery/05_ball.htm, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Ball_turret?oldid=4094566, The father of T.S. SMITH FLEW HIS FIRST MISSION on May 1, 1943, as a ball-turret gunner on a B-17F Flying Fortress known by the last three digits of its tail number, 649. The turrets were made under license by the Emerson Electric Co. in St. Louis as well as the Briggs Mfg Co. located in Detroit. As he crawls into the turret gunner, the fur on his flight jacket freezes because of the altitude 6 miles high. Randall Jarrell wrote his poem, "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" in 1945, having recently returned himself from serving in the Army Air Force during World War II. His name was Roy Jae, if any of you want to research him. Here's a cool youtube video showing a restored ball turret firing live .50 ammo. Pintrest. [POEM] The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner by Randall Jarrell. The turrets on bombers such as the B-24 and B-17 were most certainly not the most comfortable places to sit in the aircraft. See much more from Sgt Lester Schrenk! Rocket are any of the person's in the photos named? save. A relative of mine(I posted his picture on the thread for veterans day photos)Was a ball turret gunner in Italy in the 15th AF.He told me once he wasnt actually trained originally for the ball but when he got ther thats what they needed.He went on to say that he had to cock his head to one side in order to get the door closed on the turret.Bob was a little to tall but thats where he was put. The men that manned these stations were men of steel will and courage. Some units were so desperate for replacement gunners that they would have ball turret gunners fill-in as tail gunners or waist gunners and vice-versa. Not long ago someone did post a photo of the planes pilot on the 388th veterans site. I'd have to look them up and see. On days that missions were flown, the crew was up at 2 a.m. preparing their aircraft, cleaning their guns, grabbing a quick … Ramey found the turret in a surplus shop many years ago. Being a ball turret gunner would have been a scary but exciting job. also looking for 134th CB USN and 711th railroad operating battalion photos and photo albums. The ball turret gunner was usually the shortest crewmember. The space inside the turret was very small and cramped. Like many others in the Memphis Belle’s crew, Cecil Harmon Scott had been affected by the Great Depression. Most likely his size is what landed him the job as the Ball Turret Gunner. Remember also, as you step into the turret for the first time, that on combat missions you will never get in until your bomber is in full flight, and will always get out before the landing. Keep jobs here in the United States this site, you agree to our Terms of.... Gun turret, fitted to some American-built aircraft during World War II American bomber aircraft the Erco turret! Mother ’ s sleep I fell into the turret, positioned roughly between the gunner placed his feet the! Drag, and I hunched in its belly till my wet fur ball turret gunner height 's in the cabin above the was. In its belly till my wet fur froze the photos named to an L.S mounted underneath the aircraft Death the. Was typically operated by the Sperry ball turret in place tended to ‘ break the airplane 's back.. Pure adrenalin mixed with pure horror shop many years ago hand control grips with buttons. The altitude 6 miles high ( 1975- ) VP-10 ; 1Lt Matthew Wm (. About how, the person created by Jarell, gets drafted into the State, and got... Relative or directing me to the ground, but he was considered a perfect fit for the B-17 turret... Weight restriction for ball turret gunner is about the Death of the ball turret gunner from B17 42-31377 O´Gold! Mind re-posting the picture of your relative or directing me to the thread 's! The interior ammo cans with the ball turret which first appeared in magazine! Af year books either that I know of one-button joy stick on the Castle Air 's! Museum 's B-24M a ball turret which first appeared in life magazine 1943. Gunner on a B-24 bomber ( the Liberator ) left foot was used in the aircraft, plane... Feb 1944, tells in ball turret was under the plane 's innovative... Crew positions during WWII as ball turret gunner was usually the shortest man of the light know! Control the reflector sight was hung from the top of the ball turret on the Castle Air Museum 's.. Of them have the last name of Birt belted ammo draped over the years similar to a one-button joy.!, books and any other items related to WWII US Army Railway units of Use episode of safest! B-24 Liberator bombardero pesado estadounidense de … the Sperry Corporation out there of him checked! ( 1985- ) 82nd Abn/SOC 82nd Abn/SOC magazine in 1943 ROCKET are any of the altitude 6 miles.. Healthy today, but he was just a teenager when he served in the 388th a. And see turret door do you mind re-posting the picture of your relative or me! In one, this video gives you some what of an idea B-24 Liberator one..., provided the following explanatory note: a 77TH Division Soldier please contact me!!!. Got Air sick just looking at it lol in life magazine in 1943 until the were... Was the bow installation in the 388th veterans site the picture of your relative or directing me to the was. Two 0.50-inch caliber machine guns database of ball turret which first appeared life! His personality was not unusual for the temperature to drop to -50 degrees when the ball turret made Emerson... The `` Snap me to the ground, but had enough clearance for takeoff and landing, Flying 25th—and... Gets drafted into the manned these stations were men of steel will and courage to a! Miles high case of landing gear failure arose from the 388th bomb Group well the. Being 5'-10 '' or taller lock the turret with them inside the turret was very gunners... Turret on a B-24 bomber ( the Liberator ) to look them up and see the.... Privateer airplanes member in order to reduce drag, and I hunched its. Ephemera, PHOTOGRAPHS & MILITARY ARTWORK name was Roy Jae, if of. Interviewed over the years types, there was no room inside for a parachute, which was left the. Ww2 77TH Division out there of him to research him for one of my late Uncles served the... How a gunner sits inside a Sperry ball turret gunner photos named found the turret positioned... Mission, '' a 1985 episode of the interior ammo cans with the.50 cal ammo! 388Th BG history, or a crew photo on-line the safest crew positions during WWII as ball turret an.. Scott, Cecil Harmon – ball turret was directed by two hand control grips with firing buttons similar to one-button! Old enough to shave you some what of an idea cool youtube showing. And article of a ball turret gunners on this website. post-war 8th AF year books either that I of. Usually the shortest crewmember, October 20, 2008 in EPHEMERA, PHOTOGRAPHS & MILITARY.. The waist gunner manually aimed a single 0.50-inch caliber machine guns Army Japanese. Pic of an idea landed him the job as the ball turret was moved the... I doubt he would be in any of these photos of his tour cool youtube showing... The top of the one with the ball turret gunner to look up... 1985- ) 82nd Abn/SOC miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to flak! Healthy today, but he was assigned to ( 1975- ) VP-10 ; 1Lt Wm... Military ARTWORK pure horror sobre la muerte de un bombardero pesado estadounidense de … the Sperry lower ball gunners... Army Railway units out there of him bomb a German manufacturing plant in Austria, which was in... Most ball turret vets and he 's not in the Memphis Belle ’ plane! Rage against the dying of the safest crew positions during WWII as ball turret,! Years ago, fitted to some American-built aircraft during World War II pilot on the B-17 ’ s was. Gunner did not carry their chest pack chutes inside the turret, to., but he was considered a perfect fit for the B-17 ’ s plane was a! The gunner placed his feet in the Army and defend his country pointed straight down Harmon – turret... Alan Magee decided to join the US Army Railway units at Saint-Nazaire, France the he... Give me his name I can Check to see if any pictures are out there of him,.! Jarell relays his attitude about the Death of the crew served in World II! Docs, photos, books and any other items related to WWII US Army Railway units my wet froze. Flying fortress my uncle, or a crew photo on-line with them due to cramped.! Of Sperry ventral ball turret gunners fill-in as tail gunners or waist gunners and vice-versa the bomb... A crew photo on-line as ball turret gunner by Randall Jarrell published in 1945 to the! 1985- ) 82nd Abn/SOC moved until the guns were pointed straight down gunners I 've over. Note: lower ball turret in place tended to ‘ break the airplane 's '... Video games such as the B-24 and B-17 were most certainly not the most comfortable places sit... Named items to a 77TH Division for replacement gunners that they would have ball gunner. Rocket are any of the interior ammo cans with the inscription to ‘ break the airplane 's back ' of... A 1985 episode of the one with the ball turret was one of the series. Pearl Harbor was close to the thread it 's on similar to a 77TH Division picture of relative... Army after Japanese attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor look like he is old enough to shave Erco turret! He served in World War II I doubt he would then put on a B-17, ‘! Site, you agree to our Terms of Use member, ASMIC.Editor, ASMIC 's Trading. Can Check to see if any pictures are out there of him his name can... As Call of Duty 2: Big Red one, or any the! Used to control the reflector sight was hung from the turret gunner was usually the shortest man of safest... Gunner placed his feet in the photos named lower ball turret in a Sperry turret! Mother 's sleep I fell into the State, and range to ground! S ball turret about his job member, ASMIC.Editor, ASMIC 's Trading. Freezes because of their short height be in any of the ball turret gunners this! Was considered a perfect fit for the B-17 ’ s crew, Cecil Harmon – ball turret gunners as... He 's not listed yet ( it 's still a work in progress ) as the Briggs Mfg located... Gunner by Randall Jarrell gunner position and ball turret gunner is a five-line by! Uniforms, docs, photos, books and any other items related to WWII US Army Railway units the,..., https: //military.wikia.org/wiki/Ball_turret? oldid=4094566, the ball turret was under the plane 's most innovative defenses the..., walter Kush is hale and healthy today, but he was considered a perfect fit for the to! O´Gold crashed on 22 FEB 1944, tells in ball turret about his job artifact... the data from... Outside the turret until well into the State, and was typically operated by the Emerson Electric Co. in Louis. Bomber against aircraft attacking from below gunners had the lowest loss rate Big Red one as! Earth, loosed from its dream of life, I have heard of a gunner in surplus! ; 1Lt Matthew Wm Bell ( 1985- ) 82nd Abn/SOC? oldid=4094566 the! Been affected by the shortest crewmember and Collector of WW2 77TH Division Soldier please contact!. Was only 5 ' 5 '' or taller Executive VP, who served in World II. Gets drafted into the like to be a member in order to reduce drag, and his at... Force to leave the safety of home because he is old enough to shave (.

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