Would anyone know if the gun at the tail of the aircraft was mounted on the aircraft during the bombing mission or was it taken off. Also, was the radar pod between the bombays , being that it was retractable, was it also removed and covered over with a plate at mission time. All the pictures I can find do not show the rear cannon mounted or show the radar pod slung beneath the aircraft. My understanding is that when the aircraft was on the ground the radar pod was retracted which is why it may not be visible. Thanks for any and all replies.
The tail gun was the only armament on the Silver Plate aircraft, all other guns were removed. The radar pod is mounted between the bomb bays and is not retractable. I have numerous pictures of Enola Gay with the Radar pod in plain view. There was no canon mounted in the tail position, just two .50 cals.
Picture of Enola Gay, radar pod is grey thingy between the bomb bays: