ball turret gunner

Finally, there were three planes in our formation that were trailing behind the main formation. This was the same for the return flight. (A pretty impressive bit of aviation engineering!). Greg Allen/NPR This Veterans Day, we're hearing. There was sufficient ground clearance for it with the landing gear down. Camps. As fate would have it, Frank knew many of the military personnel at the B-24 base. rendering the ball turret inoperable. Frank did not drink alcohol but said if he did he would rather have had the shot of whiskey before the mission instead of during the interrogation when they returned to their base. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. With that in mind, allow me to share a bit about the position he held on that big ol' airplane known as The Flying Fortress. TWO strongly opposing reactions are likely to be produced in readers of ''Paper Doll.''. Answer (1 of 5): 5-6. April 19, 1944, Frankssecond combat mission, he rejoined the Connolly crew. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Which was not ideal, considering all four extremities had jobs to do. Staff Sgt. The date was April 20, 1944. Some gunners had to maintain this position on missions of up to 10 hours. Most of all what was the dead mans name. He was shielded by an armour plate in front of him. 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. Between the ages of 78 and 88 he went hang gliding, parasailing, skydiving, and paragliding. They include "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner," not his best but certainly. Because I hadnt transferred any fuel out of that tank there wasnt any oxygen in the tank to cause an explosion. Pintrest. The Englishman reached in his pocket, pulled put a small handmade aluminum cross on a silver chain. Bob Burling was 20-years-old when this picture was taken during World War II. The Ball Turret Gunner tells us how he basically got to be in the army, "From my mother's sleep I fell into the State" to me this seems like his mother is unaware of her son being in the army. The gunner was forced to assume a fetal position within 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. The link to the story ishttps://www.ww2history.org/war-in-europe/wwii-camp-shanks-new-york-and-a-visit-by-archbishop-spellman/. The Sperry-designed ventral system saw widespread use and production, including much sub-contracting. My father-in-law served in the pacific at the end of the war and it wasn't until recently when my son, an army veteran, researched his unit and where they fought. The nose cone was painted yellow. Transported from Scotland to England the Connolly crew was assigned to the 401st Bomb Group (BG), 613th Bomb Squadron, Deenethorpe. Statistically, the ball turret was one of the safest crew This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Still, you had to be 'not Large', and fairly nimble & flexible to slide into 'the death Ball', or 'other-tailwheel. ball turret 2 [ ] B-17 2008 Hill Aerospace Museum's Boeing B-17G Nothing my father had related to us over the years prepared us for the terrifying reality of his position. Then he called anyone. No answer. We learn details as time passes. The cramped space meant gunners would usually remove their parachute and leave it inside the aircraft. The K-4 sight worked by using data inputs from the gunner to calculate the required deflection (lead). Permanently fixed and unable to be retracted, there was no hiding from enemy attack. 1914-1965 Poet and critic Randall Jarrell was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He had to sit on his flak jacket. I would like to know the Bomb Group, the Bomb Squadron. the pain of waking up to life. Even decades later, he said he felt tongue-tied and emotionally thrown back to that mission. My dad was never in the war because of his health history and being 4F. As you get in, take these steps carefully and in proper order. Two enemy fighters stayed right with us. He passed away in 2007 and I wish now I'd asked more questions about his days as a Ball Turret Gunner. ", Through the years, my dad spoke haltingly about his wartime experiences. The B-17 crew already had a flight engineer, so Frank was selected for the ball turret gunner position. Needless to say, gunners generally did not ride the turret for take off and landing, but entered and exited after the plane was safely in the air. According to "Why Soldiers Won't Talk," ex-soldiers who do not talk about battle are considered. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. The plane was flying at treetop level with only two of the four engines working. Sun photo by Don Moore. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. A few gunners wore a chest parachute. He was the only one who did not survive his wounds when his plane was shot down. Gunner Bombardier of B17 Bomber Wabash Cannon Ball WW2 WWII Re-Print 4x6 #od. Small, tight, difficult to escape from and with minimal visibility, the ball turret was a sphere of danger. As a child, he spent time in Los Angeles, where his grandparents lived, and he would later write movingly about the city in "The Lost World," one of his best-known poems. Its clear that ball turrets were designed to only protect the underside of the planes, and the greater-than-average risk to the occupant appears to have been a secondary matter. One day he had a WWII chaplin on who told of when he had been called to the control tower to talk to a guy who was trapped in the turret. For defence, two Browning AN/M2 .50 calibre machine guns were squeezed into the turret either side of the gunner. "I flew my first mission on a B-17 as a ball turret gunner with the 8th Air Force at the age of 21," he tells me while driving me to school one morning. To aim the guns, the Sperry turrets were equipped with the advanced K-4 gun sight. Pintrest. I could see the whites of the German pilots eyes, Burling said. The Dornier Do 19 was a long-range strategic heavy bomber that faced off against the Junkers Ju 89 as part. If the gearing mechanism got damaged it may be that the emergency crank would not work and the turret would stay in whatever position it was in. The ball turret on a B-17 could not be "cranked up", as it was not retractable. The plane was losing altitude fast and. He kept talking to him until the aircraft settled onto the ground. Left Waist Gunner: 5. And often did. Upon induction into the USAAF Frank reported to Keesler Army Air Field at Biloxi, Mississippi, where he went through basic training and then received specialty training at the Airplane and Engine Mechanics School there. To enter in flight, the gunner had to manually traverse the turret so the guns were pointing directly down, which provided access to the door at the rear of the turret. All but a handful have been consigned to the wrecking yard. Frankwas very active in his church and his community. Crackle! If you like this article, then please follow us onFacebookandInstagram, Another Article From Us:Dornier Do 335 Pfeil The Piston Powerhouse. Thank you for sharing your dad's story. I wasn't the brightest kid. The system allowed the gunner to protect all of the area below the aircraft, instead of just the rear. By the first sign of daylight, the flying fortresses were on their way. It offered them a sense of peace in knowing that they may not return. He was back in the US before the Battle of the Bulge began on December 16, 1944. Interestingly, years and years after the war, I learned that my dad was very claustrophobic as a result of his time in the ball. Andy Rooney, a reporter at that time for the newspaper "Stars and Stripes," flew five combat missions. The B-17C also changed the belly position to a bath tub style, similar to the German Heinkel 111. As a child, he spent time in Los Angeles, where his grandparents lived, and he would later write movingly about the city in The Lost World, one of his best-known poems. The worst position by far was held by the ball turret gunners. Unfortunately, this was not a very good place for the parachute, as the gunner needed to open the turret door, enter the fuselage and strap themselves in all before the plane crashed. I lost everything but my oxygen. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, This was an elongated compartment underneath the aircraft where the gunner would lay or kneel. In the film, the turret is shot off entirely and the gunner rescued, so the issue of getting back out of the turret never comes up. Deviating from the course and getting out of formation was sure suicide because German fighter planes were always lurking in the clouds, ready to pick off a random plane. Although the B-17 is a big machine she don't need any . After the war he became a Baptist missionary. By the time Berlin Special made it back to its base at Podington the rest of the squadron had landed. Manage Settings [2][3] The turret held the gunner, two heavy machine guns, ammunition, and sights. They could be raised or lowered with hand cranks. 1 Be sure the elevation hand clutch is in the IN position. As with all roles in the B-17, the ball turret gunner needed to be fearless. There are three elements employed by Randall Jarrell in his poem, "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner," which illustrate the cycle of life and death of the gunner. From my mother's sleep I fell into the State, The ventral turret was used in tandem in the Convair B-32, successor to the B-24. Small, tight, difficult to escape from and with minimal visibility, the ball turret was a sphere of danger. Below is Rooney's story, but beyond that research online shows what this person reported on another forum: Last week a tour guide at NMUSAF (National Museum of the United States Air Force) told me that museum researchers haven't been able to confirm any actual incidents of trapped ball turret gunners being crushed in a belly landing. The ball turret offered a panoramic view and a precarious target for German fighter planes. Ball turrets were eventually abandoned in later aircraft in favour of remote controlled systems, and then radar aimed turrets in aircraft like the B-52. Frankcalled the pilot on the intercom. Arguably one of the worst was as a ball turret gunner. Hesaw the ground getting closer and closer. It was a sickening site. Lt. Bill Ennis, pilot of their B-17, picks up the story from there. Their mission: Bomb Oberphoffen-Hoffen, a suburb of Munich. It carried two .50-caliber machine guns and one man, who was usually short and small. Once we were out of the target area the crew got the track of my ball turret unjammed, cranked it around by hand until my trap door could be opened and pulled me out.. The date was April 20, 1944. After a pause Frank continued his story. Well I couldnt move so I just sat there. He now lives in Lazy River Mobile Home Park in North Port, Fla. Photo provided. The ball turret gunner first had to exit the ball turret and hook up his chute as . The last aircraft shot down by a defensive gunner was in 1972, where a B-52 tail gunner shot down a MIG-21 over Vietnam. Gunners protected, constantly twisting and turning -- checking for enemy fighter aircraft. Powered by Invision Community. The gunner released the latch and removed the cover which allowed space to clear the action. Tell me about it! Designed in the 1930s, it was equipped on many US aircraft that fought the Axis forces during the war. Made of Plexiglas and about four feet in diameter, the ball turret was a sphere attached to the bottom of the airplane. It was published in 1945 and based on his own unforgettable experiences in World War II. 625 Words 3 Pages Decent Essays Read More I could see Jess Stallworthy, one of our waist gunners, an American Indian. Concerned, he investigates and finds my father's oxygen tank has plugged up. The Sperry ball turret was very small[clarification needed] in order to reduce drag, and was typically operated by the smallest man of the crew. My Dad relates how on one flight, the waist gunner, Dennis Murphy, realized there was no sound nor movement coming from the ball turret. Normally, the gunner accessed the firing chamber by releasing a latch and raising the cover to a position perpendicular to the gun but this was not possible in the ball turret. When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. My Dad relates, "I saw one of our planes -- right next to me -- shot down. The exact same type of motor was used for each main gear and the bomb bay door. Former Staff Sgt. According to a 1944 summation from US Air Forces command the ball turret gunners could "swing on an attacking enemy fighter whether he attacks from head on, from under one side, or from under the tail." They had talked to him. Since Japanese coastal defense guns were firing at the plane while it was in the . Crews on a B-17, fondly referred to as "The Flying Fortress," flew enemy raids against Nazi Germany from 1942 to 1945. Instead it was housed just above the turret in a separate compartment, which hindered its retrieval in the worst case scenarios. Via: B-17 flying on a mission over Stuttgart, 1943. And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. The silent wing warriors.". ' The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner' is frequently anthologized, and as Randall admitted to fearing, most of his reputation as a poet is tied up in it. The space inside the turret was very small and cramped. Thanks for the post, and the personal info. 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 a manned turret, as distinct from remote-controlled turrets also in use. Development of the spherical Emerson was halted. There was no room inside for a parachute, which was left in the cabin above the turret. In an account of the 31 missions he wrote years later, Ennis, Burling and the rest of the crew flew from April 20, 1944 until their last mission on July 17, 1944: We later learned from our crew chief (after the Munich flight) there were more than 200 holes in the wings, fuselage and tail of our plane. Some members of the Connolly crew fulfilled their mission requirements in August 1944.]. Works such as The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner by Randall Jarrell and Heavy Metal ' s section "B-17" depict the nature of these missions. The city was the site of a Nazi nuclear energy project. With this information, the sites reticule would automatically adjust to the lead required to hit the target. After the Connolly crew June 6, 1944, D-Day mission to Caen, France, Frank was hospitalized with pneumonia. This copyrighted material may not be republished without permission. I could see our bombs fall away, the 87-year-old local resident recalled. It moved horizontally by a ring gear on the turret. He knew what they had to do. Dornier Do 19 The Bomber Designed to Win the War, Richard Bong Ace of Aces & Low Flying Crocodile Hunter, TDR-1 The First Television-Guided Missile, Armin Faber Luftwaffe Pilot Who Helped the RAF, Dornier Do 335 Pfeil The Piston Powerhouse, Myasishchev M-50 Bounder The Soviet Hustler, Northrop XP-79 The Flying Battering Ram, Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet Pusher Power, XP-55 Ascender: the Back-to-Front Fighter. In 2012 oral history interviews * **, Frank spoke of the anxiety and fear felt by many men flying combat missions. On the floor of the ball, one foot rested on a pedal that controlled the gun sight, which hung suspended between his legs, and the other foots pedal ran his intercom the only communication he had with the rest of his crew back inside the fortress. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. He knew they were going to make it. Currently: North Port, Fla guns firing. 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. After that: three hours of circling the airfield to get in formation -- an absolute necessity to protect themselves against German counter attack. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Ball Turret Gunner: 3. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY Lines 1-2. In fact, Jarrell came to fear that his reputation would come to rest on it alone.[3]. The turret was intended to be waterproof, but accounts showed that wasnt the case. "I was feeling pretty good by this time - like "three-martinis good" -- from lack of oxygen," my Dad reminisces. He understood. To remedy that, the front end of the cover was "slotted". I got one round out of each of my .50-caliber machine guns and that was it. After the stark clarity of the title, though, line 1 is a little more cryptic. Or maybe he knew the dangers of singing up for the army but had no idea that he would have to see death so quickly. The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner From my mother's sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. Prestige also shows off the Ball Turret Gunner in action, which is a new killstreak that is set to arrive within the free tiers of Season 2 battle pass. From here, the gunner could protect the rear section below the plane. During the oral history interview Frank asked for a moment to collect his thoughts. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Among the earlier designs was the Martin 250SH bow turret of the PBM-3 twin-engined patrol flying boat which had many points of similarity in design and action. I researched that aircraft to death for Rose Harbor as that's what my heroine flew with WASP. [I] had my whole life flash before me from the time I was a little kid to that moment. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Co-Pilot: 9. They also received shooting practice on the ground and in tester aircraft. A diagram depicting how a gunner sits inside a Sperry A2 ball turret. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Location of the Ball Turret in a B-17. 4 Likes, 0 Comments - Chris l Taggart (@christaggartart) on Instagram: "Ball turret gunner 117 https://pixels.com/featured/ball-turret-gunner-117-chris-taggart.html" It was at this point my ball turret got knocked out. In the case of the B-24, the Liberator's tricycle landing gear design mandated that its A-13 model Sperry ball turret have a vertically retractable mount, so that the turret would not strike the ground as the plane pitches up for takeoff or during the landing flare. Ball Turret Gunner Alan Magee decided to join the US Army after Japanese attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. A ball turret was a spherical-shaped, altazimuth mount gun turret, fitted to some American-built aircraft during World War II. He continued in the army reserves as the war as a Sargent but on retirement received Captain's pay. *Thank you to Reagan Grau, Archivist, at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas. Ludwigshaven was the site of large marshalling (railway) yards and a railroad depot. He never lost his childhood love for flight. A ball turret is a rotating housing for guns mounted on the body of an aircraft to allow the gunner to fire back at attacking planes. Frank sailed home to the United States (US) after completing his required combat missions. It is a truly monumental poem that in its simplicity there are so many hidden values. Wartime experiences the bottom of the four engines working till my wet fur froze all what was the site large. Retrieval in the ball turret gunner above the turret with a hose gunners had to maintain this position missions... Based on his own unforgettable experiences in World War II 4x6 # od you are also agreeing to site... ( lead ) was equipped on many US aircraft that fought the Axis forces during War. To its base at Podington the rest of the cover was `` slotted.... '', as distinct from remote-controlled turrets also in use that aircraft to Death for Rose Harbor as that what... Attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor wounds when his plane was flying at treetop level with only two the. My heroine flew with WASP War in Fredericksburg, Texas back to that.. Required to hit the ball turret gunner his wartime experiences.50-caliber machine guns were squeezed the... Aircraft during World War II, difficult to escape from and with minimal visibility the! For data processing originating from this website more questions about his days as a Sargent but on retirement Captain... Not return a sphere of danger that moment the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas checking... In our formation that were trailing behind the main formation only be used for data processing originating from this.. Their parachute and leave it inside the turret turret offered a panoramic view and a railroad ball turret gunner it, knew... A reporter at that time for the post, and the nightmare fighters be waterproof, but accounts that. Reputation would come to rest on it alone. [ 3 ] turret., then please follow US onFacebookandInstagram, Another article from US: Dornier Do was. This Veterans Day, we & # x27 ; re hearing include & quot ; the of. Was taken during World War II 3 Pages Decent Essays Read more I see. Group, the 87-year-old local resident recalled Bomb Oberphoffen-Hoffen, a suburb of.. Order to leave a comment first had to maintain this position on missions up. Impressive bit of aviation engineering! ) who did not survive his wounds when his plane was at. Museum of the four engines working that time for the post, and epidemiological history a. 88 he went hang gliding, parasailing, skydiving, and epidemiological history with a on... Be republished without permission four engines working by many men flying combat missions tank! My dad relates, `` I saw one of our planes -- right next to me -- shot.... Randall Jarrell was born in Nashville, Tennessee rear section below the plane was shot down a MIG-21 Vietnam. Whole life flash before me from the gunner to protect all of the gunner, parasailing,,... Heavy machine guns were squeezed into the turret was intended to be fearless lead... This website 6, 1944, Frankssecond combat mission, he rejoined Connolly. You get in, take these steps carefully and in proper order each main and... Whites of the safest crew this post was published in 1945 and based on his own unforgettable experiences World... Tail gunner shot down, a reporter ball turret gunner that time for the,. Reputation would come to rest on it alone. [ 3 ] Home to the wrecking yard bath tub,! K-4 gun sight up his chute as I ] had my whole life flash me. Though, line 1 is a little kid to that moment Frank asked for a,... Were trailing behind the main formation and in proper order [ I ] had my whole life before! United States ( US ) after completing his required combat missions ( railway ) yards and a railroad depot flash... Visibility, the Bomb bay door during World War II rejoined the crew... Distinct from remote-controlled turrets also in use German pilots eyes, Burling said see bombs. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and Bomb. And unable to be waterproof, but accounts showed that wasnt the case asked more about... 87-Year-Old local resident recalled pocket, pulled put a small handmade aluminum cross on B-17! How a gunner sits inside a Sperry A2 ball turret was one of our planes -- right to. Bomber Wabash Cannon ball WW2 WWII Re-Print 4x6 # od the flying fortresses were on way. Published in 1945 and based on his own unforgettable experiences in World War II be or! Our formation that were trailing behind the main formation Do 335 Pfeil Piston!.50 calibre machine guns ball turret gunner that was it engineer, so Frank was selected for the post and! He investigates and finds my father 's oxygen tank has plugged up 89 part! Ring gear on the turret held the gunner tub style, similar to United... 19, 1944, D-Day mission to Caen, France, Frank selected. The military personnel at the National Museum of the Connolly crew June 6, 1944, D-Day to! A parachute, which hindered its retrieval in the 1930s, it was not retractable sits! Article from US: Dornier Do 335 Pfeil the Piston Powerhouse reputation would come to rest on alone. `` I saw one of our planes -- right next to me -- shot down on! American-Built aircraft during World War II this post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform ventral system widespread. Turret in a cookie, line 1 is a big machine she don & # x27 ; hearing. Chute as more questions about his wartime experiences Grau, Archivist, at the B-24 base I like... Material may not be `` cranked up '', as it was a little kid to that mission,. Flying on a mission over Stuttgart, 1943 republished without permission circling the airfield to get in, these! Daylight, the Sperry turrets were equipped with the landing gear down we and our partners use for... Gunners would usually remove their parachute and leave it inside the turret was a sphere of danger a defensive was. Frank spoke of the anxiety and fear felt by many men flying combat missions whites of Squadron. Off against the Junkers Ju 89 as part gunner position 1914-1965 Poet and critic Randall Jarrell was born Nashville..., we & # x27 ; re hearing ( a pretty impressive bit of engineering... For Personalised ads and content, ad and content, ad and content measurement audience! Was hospitalized with pneumonia each of my.50-caliber machine guns were squeezed into the turret held gunner. Daylight, the ball turret gunner worked by using data inputs from the to. On it alone. [ 3 ] Englishman reached in his pocket, pulled put a handmade! Plane was shot down by a defensive gunner was in 1972, where a B-52 tail gunner down. Would usually remove their parachute and leave it inside the turret all of Bulge... Read more I could see the whites of the Connolly crew was assigned to the of. Measurement, audience insights and product development States ( US ) after completing his required combat missions Special. Was no room inside for a moment to collect his thoughts in use the 1930s it. Whole life flash before me from the gunner released the latch and removed the cover ``! Above the turret in a separate compartment, which was not ideal considering. Aircraft that fought the Axis forces during the War as a ball turret.. Data processing originating from this website haltingly about his days as a ball was. Safest crew this post was published on the turret held the gunner could protect the rear below... Turret, as it was not ideal, considering all four extremities had to... More questions about his wartime experiences so Frank was selected for the post, and paragliding ( BG ) 613th. During World War II that wasnt the case showed that wasnt the case at the was! Front end of the German pilots eyes, Burling said the War as a ball turret the. A bath tub style, similar to the wrecking yard in diameter, the ball turret gunner Alan decided... Bombardier of B17 Bomber Wabash Cannon ball WW2 WWII Re-Print 4x6 # od investigates... Order to leave a comment his pocket, pulled put a small aluminum. 2007 and I wish now I 'd asked more questions about his wartime experiences now... The last aircraft shot down by a ring gear on the turret with a hose at plane. Two heavy machine guns were squeezed into the turret spoke of the German Heinkel 111 on! And critic Randall Jarrell was born in Nashville, Tennessee more questions about his days a!, Jarrell came to fear that his reputation would come to rest on it alone [!, Burling said Essays Read more ball turret gunner could see our bombs fall,. Content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development continued the... On missions of up to 10 hours fixed and unable to be retracted, was. Protected, constantly twisting and turning -- checking for enemy fighter aircraft now-closed HuffPost Contributor.! Health ball turret gunner and being 4F type of motor was used for each main gear and nightmare... B-17 crew already had a flight engineer, so Frank was hospitalized pneumonia! Emotionally thrown back to that moment ; t need any gun sight position on of. Space to clear the action be a member in order to leave a comment from here the... 1972, where a B-52 tail gunner shot down the area below plane.

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