I’m trying to build some B-24s from the 801st/492 Bomb Group (the "Carpetbaggers). These aircraft flew at night infiltrating OSS agents and supplies behind the German lines. Looking at the available photography, they carried 50 caliber machine guns which were either British or had that conical British flash hider affixed to the end of the barrels with a circular disk between the flash hider and the start of the barrel.
Does anyone know of a source for those British (?) guns and/or flash hiders? Thanks in advance.
I’ve seen only one pic of the .50’s you speak of, and they were on a B-17. The I’ve seen has exactly what you describe on them, the pic is of a G model and she had the flash hiders on the chin turret guns only, the cheek guns didnt have them, and I’m dead certain of that. I’m pretty sure these were not english considering used differant guns, we probably just adopted something similar for our guns. You might just have to scratch these, I do not know of anything after market.
I think we’re talking about the same thing. These are definitely not the tubular ones with the diagonal opening at the end that you see on B-17s all the time.
The hunt continues. I REALLY don’t want to scratch build them if there’s any other choice.
303-305th BG had these odd pieces on B17 Fs as well, the disc is a piece of perspex (Plexiglass) bare in mind these guns are in an approx 280 MPH slipstream, <a href="http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/armygroupcenter/?action=view¤t=P8260014hanging what in effect is a small sail on it seems counterintuitive, perhaps the disc had retical marks to compinsate lead. My painting “Onslaught” shows the cheek guns on “The uncouth bast***” sporting a set of funny cones.
I actually saw a picture of these on the tail guns of what I think was a U.S. bomber (it was about a month ago so the memories are getting fuzzy). But what I DO recall thinking was “Hmm! That’s interesting to see those types of guns on an American bomber.” Anyway, I’ve seen those conical flash hiders as well as the disks. When I first saw those, I just figured the disks served as aid to the flash hiders so as to ensure the tail gunner did not get blinded by the muzzle flash. Sort of like “insurance”, if you will.
