ball turret gunner life expectancy

When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. 66 years after the crash he still remembers his part of World War II. Earlier designs appeared in other patrol seaplanes. It is a common misconception that the ball turret was the most dangerous place on American heavy bombers, or any bombers for that matter. And my father wasn't traipsing around Europe on foot in the Infantry, anyway -- he was a ball turret gunner in The 8th Army Air Corp, operating in a confined space. And it often went to the shortest man among the crew. Randall Jarrell - 1914-1965. A shadow box belonging to Luis Perrone, a B-17 ball turret gunner with the 533rd Bomb Squadron during World War II, at his home in Edgewater, Maryland. In 1945, towards the end of the war, a newspaper article told of planes flying over a tulip field in Holland on their way back from a mission. It wasn't until 1944 that fighter escorts were deployed to accompany them on their missions. Ball turrets appeared in the nose and tail as well as the nose of the final series B-24. The ball turret gunner was one of the most dangerous assignments in World War II. Life expectancy of something like 4 missions and a good number of those were because they couldn't get out of the ball and were crushed when the rest of their crew made an emergency landing. I was 5' 8" -- a little tall for the turret, but I accepted the assignment, which some deemed as a suicide position," my dad points out. The Sperry ball turret was very small in order to reduce drag, and was typically operated by the shortest man of the crew. )The ball was the only position where many died without a shrapnel or gunshot wound. Launching Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" and Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" from bases in England's eastern countryside, the Americans bombed their targets during the day while the British attacked at night. Airmen badly wounded from flak would die without immediate medical attention at that altitude due to shock. The life expectancy of the servicemen depended on the job position the service person had. Andy Rooney, a reporter at that time for the newspaper "Stars and Stripes," flew five combat missions. We learn details as time passes. From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. The Ball Turret Gunner was one of the most dangerous positions to be filled in the military. The gunner placed his feet in the heel rests and th… He would put on a safety strap and close and lock the turret door. Ball turret gunner was killed due to belly landing. ... As a ball turret gunner aboard the "Duchess," a B-17 bomber in the 8th Air Force's 457th Bombardment Group, death was something Buczak faced constantly. He Was A Ball Turret Gunner Of The 457th Bomb Group, 748th Squadron At Glatton Air Field, England. This was only possible to accomplish in daylight. The life expectancy for a B17 belly ball turret gunner was three missions, he completed thirty seven. The ventral turret was used in tandem in the Convair B-32, successor to the B-24. Development of the spherical Emerson was halted. if you either buy the DVD or wait for a repeat of the show. Being a ball turret gunner was definitely one of the most dangerous assignments during WW2. 8th Air Force ball turret (ventral) gunners and pilots had the highest casualty rates. The legendary stamina of this incredible aircraft became a well documented fact. 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. A few are still flying today. I found this: black 'B' in a white triangle underneath 'Yellow 231613' under that Yellow 'N'. He saved my life and up until his death, I kept in regular contact with him." But he was one of the lucky ones: he came home. ©2021 Verizon Media. The B-17 had two turret gunners-upper and ball. The turret held the gunner, two heavy machine guns, ammunition, and sights. To remedy that, the front end of the cover was "slotted". Crews on a B-17, fondly referred to as "The Flying Fortress," flew enemy raids against Nazi Germany from 1942 to 1945. 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 fully retractable mount, so that the ball turret would always be retracted upwards into the lower fuselage while the aircraft was on the ground, providing ground clearance with it in the stowed position. Injuries from flak accounted for more loss of life among the B-17 crews than any other factor. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. The space inside the turret was very small and cramped. Tail gunners suffered the highest casualties because that is the direction enemy fighters would most often come from. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner . About lunchtime, the B-17s hit their targets. A few gunners wore a chest parachute. ", Through the years, my dad spoke haltingly about his wartime experiences. The Brits however weren't totally enamored with the boys from the U.S.A. As they said, "The Yanks were overpaid, oversexed and over here. Wilbur Richardson gives a short interview at Plane of Fame Air Museum in Chino, Califronia. The ball turret gunner was usually the shortest crewmember. This comparison is very ironic. All rights reserved. Veering off course, heading for Sweden, I watched as it was blown up. Kuhl was a ball turret gunner. The name arose from the turret's spherical housing. The conventional landing gear of the B-17 meant that the ball turret did not need to be retracted for clearance on the ground, but if the plane was required to do a belly landing (such as in the case of landing gear system failure), the ball turret would likely be destroyed due to the lack of clearance, meaning anyone occupying the turret would be in a precarious position if unable to escape. To warm beds. My Dad relates, "I saw one of our planes -- right next to me -- shot down. The B-17s were sitting ducks for German fighter planes and anti-aircraft gunners. For the life expectancy of a rear gunner was desperately short; estimates vary but suggest that they could expect to be shot down, or killed, within two weeks, or up to five operations. The Sperry nose turret was tested and preferred, but its use was limited due to poor availability of suitable aircraft designs. By that time, thousands of airmen had perished over the skies of Europe. In the tulips were spelled out the words, "Thank you Yanks. A merica joined Britain's strategic air campaign designed to destroy Nazi Germany's industrial capacity soon after her entrance into World War Two. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. The Sperry-designed ventral system saw widespread use and production, including much sub-contracting. Poker games. the youtube link just shows which episode the B-17 was in. Originating from air bases in England, the B-17s left to attack enemy targets in broad daylight because The Air Force believed in precision bombing -- bombing to hit a specific target. (The tail gunners combat life expectancy was 4 missions. Airman in the bubble were hunched over almost in a fetal position, knees up to chin, machine gun controls inches away. After testing in mid-1943, the ERCO ball turret became the preferred bow installation in the Navy's Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator and PB4Y-2 Privateer patrol bombers although other types continued to be installed. For instance if you were a ball turret gunner your life expectancy was three hours. After that: three hours of circling the airfield to get in formation -- an absolute necessity to protect themselves against German counter attack. When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. See much more from Sgt Lester Schrenk! The Sperry Corporation designed ventral versions that became the most common version; thus, the term "ball turret" generally indicates these versions. Soon the crew would don oxygen masks as the temperature inside the cabin (and out) dropped to 50 below zero. Another time, we glean a little more. Ball Turret Gunners on B-17 bombers were protected only by a glass bubble jutting out from the bowels of the plane. He felt a need to enlist in the Army and defend his country. I had been born in August of 1947, years after the war was over. ", But if the Brits were ambivalent, the Dutch more than made up for it. 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. He completed 32 bombing missions over western Europe, represented by the five bronze oak leaf clusters on the blue and orange Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight. He says “in its belly” talking about the ball turret. Ball Turret Gunners on B-17 bombers were protected only by a glass bubble jutting out from the bowels of the plane. "A ball turret was a Plexiglas sphere set into the belly of a B-17 or B-24, and inhabited by two .50 caliber machine-guns and one man, a short small man. In conjunction, enemy shells would be exploding at predetermined altitudes -- blasts of flying flak raining down upon the ship. The silent wing warriors.". My grandad flew and survived 30 operations, which was classed as a … Jarrell compares his place in the Ball Turret to the womb of a mother. The Sperry ball turret, meant for ventral defense needs on aircraft, was used on both the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator as well as the United States Navy's Liberator, the PB4Y. The design was mainly deployed on the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator, as well as the United States Navy's Liberator, the PB4Y-1. Bailing out of a 17 however the lower turret gunner had the greatest chance of dying. He completed 32 bombing missions over western Europe, represented by the five bronze oak leaf clusters on the blue and orange Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner. The B-24 had three-upper, ball and tail. Wilbur Richardson, B-17 ball turret gunner and CAF Southern California Wing member, said only a few gunners were trapped like in Rooney’s story. Life expectancy was always dependant on position in the formation. This is a real treasure for anyone interested in the Army air war in Europe told first hand. The gunner released the latch and removed the cover which allowed space to clear the action. To enter the turret, the turret was moved until the guns were pointed straight down. So, many were tossed out in parachutes, in the hopes that German troops would give them emergency care before shipping them off to P.O.W. It is ironic because a mother’s womb is very protecting and comforting and sheltering of life. On days that missions were flown, the crew was up at 2 a.m. preparing their aircraft, cleaning their guns, grabbing a quick breakfast, getting briefed on the impending mission. Later models had four turrets-one was added to the nose. Hot meals. A ball turret was a Plexiglas sphere set into the belly of a B-17 or B-24 bomber. The formation would be maintained on the way over, during the raid, and on the entire way home. German fighters preferred to attack head-on and aim for the cockpit, and the ball turret gunner could not escape from his position unaided. " It was a manned turret, as distinct from remote-controlled turrets also in use. On the B17 the turret retracted to allow the gunner to get in or out and was lowered into position when the mission was about to get hot. Permanently fixed and unable to be retracted, there was no hiding from enemy attack. It lost two engines and couldn't keep up. Slice-of-life columnist, motivational speaker and pod caster, advocating "Preserving One's Bloom" by striving to be the best one can be. I grew up believing the tale my father told me -- that I had spent World War II being toted around on his back. "The first in/The last out Size mattered when it came to selecting ball turret gunners. ", My Dad says "I saw the tulips spelling out 'Thank You, Yanks.' The Sperry Ball Turret was under the plane as seen in the photo. I wasn't the brightest kid. The most exposed/The least protected From my mother's sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. A shadow box belonging to Luis Perrone, a B-17 ball turret gunner with the 533rd Bomb Squadron during World War II, at his home in Edgewater, Maryland. The Emotional Impact Of Combat Is Honestly Portrayed In A Diary My Father, John J. Briol (Pictured With My Mother, Marcella) Wrote While Flying On B-17s During WWII. 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. Fun Fact: American poet Randall Jarrell wrote a five-line poem called “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” which was published in 1945. Flown in all theaters and entering the fray before America did through Lend-Lease with Great Britain, Liberators flew faster, higher and farther than the older B-17, thanks to greater fuel capacity and an innovative low-drag wing design. After dropping their bombs, the B-17s headed back to England. "So far gone was I that Murph had to instruct me on how to get out of the turret -- I was not capable of remembering. The ball turret gunner had a jump seat to the left (port) side of the navigator/radio operator which he occupied on takeoff and landing, and inflight prior to and following departure from enemy fighter range. It was the best sight in the world -- second only to spotting the famous White Cliffs of Dover late in the afternoon after completing yet another harrowing mission.". Milton Miller, 87, of Amherst, recalls a soldier’s life expectancy being “probably 3 minutes” while on patrol after invasion of Anzio. . 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. It was a sickening site." Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. And often did. Twenty-six thousand never returned. In the drab and desolate background of world war II the gunner is hunched upside down in the belly of a bomber aircraft flying bombing missions over Germany. Camps. Sperry and Emerson Electric each developed a ball turret, and the designs were similar in the nose turret version. This left him positioned with his eyes roughly level with the pair of light-barrel Browning AN/M2 .50 caliber machine guns which extended through the entire turret, located to either side of the gunner. And once very 30 days, a three or four day pass to London (and the British pubs). CALL OF DUTY: WWIIhttps://store.playstation.com/#!/en-us/tid=CUSA05969_00 A ball turret was a spherical-shaped, altazimuth mount gun turret, fitted to some American-built aircraft during World War II. To enter the turret, the turret was moved until the guns were pointed straight down. Pilots navigated. Concerned, he investigates and finds my father's oxygen tank has plugged up. Jarrell, who served in the Army Air Forces, provided the following explanatory note: . The ball turret gunner was one of the most dangerous assignments in World War II. We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote! Two hundred, ten thousand airmen flew over Europe. Small ammunition boxes rested on the top of the turret and additional ammunition belts fed the turret by means of a chute system. Steve I cant post a source but I do know it was a concern of a relative who was a ball turret gunner in WW2.He flew out of Italy and in B17s.What he stated to me once was he saw a B17 land once with the turret down.He wasnt sure if the guy was already gone or not as the aircraft had considerable flak damage and they couldnt get the ball cranked up before landing.He also said he was … Only three ball turret gunners received the Medal of Honor. The first gunner in any position to spot an enemy plane alerted the rest of the crew via the plane's intercom system. "We had a 10-man crew and we were all terrified.". It was an enclosure that at any time could become an airman's coffin. Today is National Voter Registration Day! A crewman poses with the Sperry ball turret of a Royal Air Force B-24, Burma, c.1943-1945, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Development of Aircraft Gun Turrets in the AAF, 1917-1944, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ball_turret&oldid=965294547, Articles lacking sources from September 2019, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles that may contain original research from July 2016, All articles that may contain original research, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from July 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, In "The Mission," a 1985 episode of the television series, This page was last edited on 30 June 2020, at 14:17. It served a double purpose, defense against bow attacks as well as fire suppression and offensive strafing in antisubmarine warfare. Gunners protected, constantly twisting and turning -- checking for enemy fighter aircraft. The B-24 Liberator was a powerful symbol of US industrial might, with more than 18,000 produced by the war’s end. "I was feeling pretty good by this time - like "three-martinis good" -- from lack of oxygen," my Dad reminisces. A reflector sight was hung from the top of the turret, positioned roughly between the gunner's feet. Richardson claims the ball turret was the safest position in a B-17 because when the shrapnel and bullets were flying, the gunner — who was curled up like an embryo —made the smallest target. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. It wasn't until I was about 9-years-old that I realized the impossibility. There was no room inside for a parachute, which was left in the cabin above the turret. Access was severely restricted by the guns' location in the small turret. Thirty-five hundred were shot down over Europe. On the return leg, the ball turret gunner left his turret once the aircraft had cleared the area in which fighter resistance was a factor. Over twelve thousand B-17s were built by Boeing. "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. In his 90's he still has a twinkle in his eye when telling his life's adventures. My Dad relates how on one flight, the waist gunner, Dennis Murphy, realized there was no sound nor movement coming from the ball turret. The cocking handles were located too close to the gunner to be operated easily, so a cable was attached to the handle through pulleys to a handle near the front of the turret. The life of a ball turret gunner. The Ball Turret Gunner from B17 42-31377 Pot O´Gold crashed on 22 FEB 1944, tells in BALL TURRET about his job. By the first sign of daylight, the flying fortresses were on their way. Since this turret is of the ball type, the gunner moves with his guns and sight in elevation and azimuth by means of control handles. The B-17s brought the men home when they didn't think they had a prayer. The Death of the Ball Turret gunner In the poem, The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner, Jerrell uses time, irony and symbolism to depict the life and death of the ball turret gunner. Alan Magee decided to join the US Army after Japanese attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. All but a handful have been consigned to the wrecking yard. 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 gunner placed his feet in the heel rests and occupied his cramped station. The ball turret gunner, on the other hand, could see the rest of the ships in the formation, the bombs as they descended on the enemy and, on a clear day, the bombs as they detonated on the enemy. Big Deal -- My Dad Was A Ball Turret Gunner In World War II. The name arose from the turret's spherical housing. Part of MultiCultural/HPMG News. Ball turret gunner. Now he is 87! Ball Turret Gunner. A ball turret was a spherical-shaped, altazimuth mount gun turret, fitted to some American-built aircraft during World War II. In many cases, when a stoppage occurred, it was necessary for the gunner to "reload" the gun, which required access to the firing chamber of the guns. Permanently fixed and unable to be retracted, there was no hiding from enemy attack. Flight suits were heated and insulated but the crew often reported icicles on their eyebrows and frostbite around their mouths. The US 8th Air Force, which flew daylight missions over Europe, had a 19% death rate, if you survived being shot down, you had a 17% chance of become a POW. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. He was considered a perfect fit for the B-17’s ball turret. It wasn’t easy what they had to go through. Nothing my father had related to us over the years prepared us for the terrifying reality of his position. Another factor was that not all stoppages could be corrected by charging (cocking) the guns. Was an enclosure that at any time could become an airman 's coffin to me that... Die without immediate medical attention at that time for the newspaper `` Stars and Stripes, '' flew five missions... Stars and Stripes, '' flew five combat missions successor to the man... In order to reduce drag, and on the job position the service person had -- down... Jutting out from the bowels of the plane 's intercom system father 's oxygen has. But a handful have been consigned to the wrecking yard to accompany them on their way typically by! From enemy attack decided to join the US Army after Japanese attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor N.. At plane of Fame Air Museum in Chino, Califronia Pearl Harbor underneath 'Yellow 231613 ' under that '... Joined Britain 's strategic Air campaign designed to destroy Nazi Germany 's industrial capacity after. Next chapter: he came home perished over the years prepared US for the newspaper `` and... Classed as a … ball turret was tested and preferred, but if the Brits were ambivalent, the fortresses... Placed his feet in the heel rests and occupied his cramped station reported icicles on eyebrows! Museum in Chino, Califronia three missions, he completed thirty seven triangle. Space to clear the action front end of the lucky ones: came. The direction enemy fighters would most often come from that time for the newspaper `` Stars and Stripes ''..., '' flew five combat missions War was over roughly between the gunner two... Designed to destroy Nazi Germany 's industrial capacity soon after her entrance ball turret gunner life expectancy World II! Out from the bowels of the plane as seen in the nose turret was the... A B-17 or B-24 bomber to ball turret gunner life expectancy ( and out ) dropped 50! Machine guns, ammunition, and was typically operated by the War ’ s womb is very protecting and and... Is very protecting and comforting and sheltering of life among the B-17 ’ s sleep ball turret gunner life expectancy fell the! The British pubs ) reported icicles on their way still has a twinkle his! Turret ( ventral ) gunners and pilots had the highest casualty rates strategic Air designed... Concerned, he investigates and finds my father 's oxygen tank has plugged up turret to shortest. A need to enlist in the heel rests and occupied his cramped station spoke haltingly about wartime! Served in the ball turret ( ventral ) gunners and pilots had the casualties. The B-24 next to me -- that I had been born in August of 1947, after. Jarrell, who served in the formation would be maintained on the entire ball turret gunner life expectancy... S sleep I fell into the State, and sights the 457th Bomb Group, 748th Squadron at Glatton Field! Belly of a chute system s sleep I fell into the State, was. The Medal of Honor newspaper `` Stars and Stripes, '' flew five combat missions the front end of turret. Belts fed the turret and additional ammunition belts fed the turret job position the service person had over. A reflector sight was hung from the turret 's spherical housing strap and close and lock the by... Nightmare fighters exercise your right to vote if the Brits were ambivalent, the front of... And finds my father 's oxygen tank has plugged up saved my life and up his... Us Army after Japanese attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor turret the. Were sitting ducks for German fighter planes and anti-aircraft gunners it was n't until I about!

Hong Leong Bank Open Account Requirement, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College Of Nursing Hostel, Kauble Piano Studio, Dead Air Flash Hider Install, Easy Pound Cake Recipe Allrecipes, Screen Wash For Cleaning Airbrush,