Page 319 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

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THE GUNS AND BOMBS
◀ TOP GUNS
There were three dorsal machine-
guns. In addition to the pair in the
powered turret above the cockpit,
the radio operator had a single .5in BOEING B-17 FL
M2 gun in a flexible mount above
his own position. YING FOR

▲ BALL TURRET TRESS
The gunner for the ball turret climbed
into position after takeoff. Lack of
space forced him to sit with his knees
against his chest. In an emergency,
he donned a parachute only after
clambering back into the fuselage.

◀ WAIST GUN
The two single machine-gun
▼ TAIL TURRET positions in the waist were open to
Like the ball-turret gunner, the tail the elements until the E model was
gunner had very limited space. He had to introduced. There was no recovery
operate his paired M2 machine-guns from system for spent cartridge cases,
a kneeling position. which littered the floor.

▲ BOMB BAY
From his position, the bombardier
could see into the bomb bay, below
and aft of the flight deck.

▼ BOMB LOAD
A typical load included high
explosive bombs and mixed
incendiary devices.

▲ GUN SIGHT ▲ NORDEN BOMB SIGHT
The waist guns had compensating sights One of the most sophisticated pieces of equipment in the entire aircraft,
that could be programmed with the the bomb sight was a predictive computer that allowed the bombardier to
aircraft’s speed and altitude to give the compensate for such factors as the aircraft’s altitude and forward speed,
“lead” required to hit a moving target. and the type of bombs carried.