What version of the B-17 had the nose turret but no guns in the turret? Is this a photo recce version?
All the B-17’s on that web site are G’s. Tthe guns are in the turret, they are just turned so you can’t see them or they have been removed because the aircraft was being decommissioned.
The search and rescue aircraft had the nose turret replaced with a radar unit that had a similar profile.
Does anybody knows why when the B-17 was on the grownd the chin turret was almost always pointed to the right? like in those pics ( http://www.nose-art.net/welch.htm )
thanks in advance
Regards
Me.
They were turned to the right so the ground crew could open the access panels from the outside. The access panels are visible in the photos.
Thanks for the responces - who sez ya don’t learn something new every day.
Was this the standard position for the chin turret when the plane was on the ground (say… like when the plane was parked for the night)? Also, were the ball/top turrets facing front or back?
I dont know for sure, i can tell you that all the pics of the B-17G that i have seen has the chin turret pointing to the right, even in the Squadron walk around book theres a pic of a chin turret with a written that says “STOW IN EXTREME RIGHT POSITION AT A -3 DEGREE ELEVATION” i would say this was the “stand-by” position maybe also because of the remote control that was hung to the right of the bombardier, hopefuly someone out there may clarify this doubt
Regards Mate
Hector.
Hope really that there’s someone who can clarify this coz I pose my B-17Gs’ chin turrets facing front with the guns pointing upwards
nkm: yeah, i was going to do this too, but now i dunno what’s more accurate… [:D]
All the pics I’ve seen shows the guns forward and up (headroom clearence). I brought these pictures (link) up because of the panels (clear?) and the guns appear to be not there on these particular chin turrets
What you see is the back of the turret. The clear windows were for inspection. If you look at the bottom of the turret you can see openings where the rear of the machine guns would stick out if the muzzle was at its highest elevation. Some of the photos show this. All of the cheek blisters have weapons in them except for the ones ready to be scrapped (D-Day Gal and Unfinished Business)
Hmmm… hey, fellas, maybe we should make a poll on which one is more accurate, because i’m really curious. None of my references cover this particular aspect of the B-17G. Either that or there was no standard procedure…
could be also… but i insist, if you can take a look at the squadron book, (the walk aroud one) you will se the pic i am talking about and mostly all of the G´s in there has the turret pointin to the right, hopefuly we will find a helping hand that will clarify this doubts [:D]
I have another Squadron publication (B-17s in Profile), same thing, nose turrets pointing to the right.
[quote]
Originally posted by nkm1416@info.com.ph
I have another Squadron publication (B-17s in Profile)
sorry for the mix-up. The B-17 profile is by Profile Books Limited. The Squadron publication book is their Fighting Colors series B-17 Flying Fortress in Color by Steve Birdsall
okay, I’m wrong. Went back and looked at my references (yeah, yeah…I’m getting old and my memory is shot) turrets to the right, guns up.
Any news yet??