[303rd-Talk] The Aluminum Overcast

[jprencher at aol.com]

Early in the war each 10 man crew had 2 waist gunners. A left one and a right one. Each had only one flexible gun. They were not in a turret? Leed was hard to estimate. We? didn't have to use both waist guns at the? same time?very often so?it was easy for one gunner to turn around and use the one behind him as needed. This saved manpower. The radio man did not have a very effective gun either so he could very well go back and use one of the waist guns if needed. As I best rememberd one of the waist gunners was dropped from each crew some time about mid 1944
???? Best Wishes, Jack Rencher
-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas Barr <tjb4 at cox.net>
To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
Sent: Mon, 12 May 2008 7:42 am
Subject: Re: [303rd-Talk] The Aluminum Overcast


A full crew of 10 included two waist gunners. Towards the end of the war they were eliminated because the enemy fighters didn't come up as much. Tom Barr?
?
----- Original Message ----- From: "Gordon Walker" <gskywalkers at citlink.net>?
To: <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>?
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 10:35 PM?
Subject: [303rd-Talk] The Aluminum Overcast?
?
Hi Everyone,?
?
This week end I went to Sacramento, California to see the Aluminum Overcast. It was my first time aboard a B-17 and the first thing that struck me was how confining it was inside the aircraft. We entered the plane through the hatch just below the cockpit. They had the nose of the plane blocked off but it was just as well because it would have been difficult for a 78 year old guy to crawl into that area where the bombadier sat. It was also very narrow walking over the top of the bomb bay doors. In any event, I came away with much more appreciation for those guys who manned these planes. I was very interested in seeing the tail gunner position but that area was also blocked off but I was able to see enough to know that the tail gunner as well as the ball turret gunner had very very tight positions.?
?
I came away with a couple of questions. Many of the crew photos taken after missions show only 9 crew memebers and some 10 but even at 10, there were more guns than men so I was wondering who took on the job of manning more than one gun position??
?
Also, my son is into motorcycles and he was wondering if anyone knows the bore and stroke of the B-17. I was able to find out that it was a 9 cylinder radial with 1690 cu. inches but nothing on the bore and stroke.?
?
This is a picture of my son and myself looking the plane over.?
?
http://www.scottylive.com/macswar/Main/aogw.jpg?
?
Scotty Walker?
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