Can the dome gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress shoot the plane's tail off?

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I was at the California Capital Airshow on Mather AFB over the weekend, and came across a beautifully maintained B-17 Flying Fortress. The crew were kind enough to allow people to go inside and take a look - what a magnificent machine!

While inside, I noticed the dome gunner seems to be in a position to accidentally shoot the tail off the plane!

Are there any confirmed instances of this happening? Was there some way to prevent it - either be it training or some mechanism that stopped the guns while in this position? I can imagine, in the heat of battle, sweeping an enemy fighter and nicking your own tail in the process!

wwii b-17

share|improve this question

edited 12 mins ago

E.P.

1,1361813

asked 10 hours ago

SnakeDoc

1,0581032

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This page contains an account of a waist gunner shooting the tail, but I'm unable to do more research into it at the moment.
  – Ron Beyer
  10 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @RonBeyer Oh wow, good find! 'The entry in the pilot’s diary, dated Feb 18th, 1943, says, “New waist gunner shot hell out of tail today. Ship out for a week.”'
  – SnakeDoc
  10 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
  – Dave
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  IIRC shooting your own aircraft was a serious risk with pintle mounted machine guns in early WW1 aircraft.
  – Dan Neely
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
12
down vote

favorite

I was at the California Capital Airshow on Mather AFB over the weekend, and came across a beautifully maintained B-17 Flying Fortress. The crew were kind enough to allow people to go inside and take a look - what a magnificent machine!

While inside, I noticed the dome gunner seems to be in a position to accidentally shoot the tail off the plane!

Are there any confirmed instances of this happening? Was there some way to prevent it - either be it training or some mechanism that stopped the guns while in this position? I can imagine, in the heat of battle, sweeping an enemy fighter and nicking your own tail in the process!

wwii b-17

share|improve this question

edited 12 mins ago

E.P.

1,1361813

asked 10 hours ago

SnakeDoc

1,0581032

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This page contains an account of a waist gunner shooting the tail, but I'm unable to do more research into it at the moment.
  – Ron Beyer
  10 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @RonBeyer Oh wow, good find! 'The entry in the pilot’s diary, dated Feb 18th, 1943, says, “New waist gunner shot hell out of tail today. Ship out for a week.”'
  – SnakeDoc
  10 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
  – Dave
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  IIRC shooting your own aircraft was a serious risk with pintle mounted machine guns in early WW1 aircraft.
  – Dan Neely
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
12
down vote

favorite

up vote
12
down vote

favorite

I was at the California Capital Airshow on Mather AFB over the weekend, and came across a beautifully maintained B-17 Flying Fortress. The crew were kind enough to allow people to go inside and take a look - what a magnificent machine!

While inside, I noticed the dome gunner seems to be in a position to accidentally shoot the tail off the plane!

Are there any confirmed instances of this happening? Was there some way to prevent it - either be it training or some mechanism that stopped the guns while in this position? I can imagine, in the heat of battle, sweeping an enemy fighter and nicking your own tail in the process!

wwii b-17

share|improve this question

edited 12 mins ago

E.P.

1,1361813

asked 10 hours ago

SnakeDoc

1,0581032

I was at the California Capital Airshow on Mather AFB over the weekend, and came across a beautifully maintained B-17 Flying Fortress. The crew were kind enough to allow people to go inside and take a look - what a magnificent machine!

While inside, I noticed the dome gunner seems to be in a position to accidentally shoot the tail off the plane!

Are there any confirmed instances of this happening? Was there some way to prevent it - either be it training or some mechanism that stopped the guns while in this position? I can imagine, in the heat of battle, sweeping an enemy fighter and nicking your own tail in the process!

wwii b-17

wwii b-17

share|improve this question

edited 12 mins ago

E.P.

1,1361813

asked 10 hours ago

SnakeDoc

1,0581032

share|improve this question

edited 12 mins ago

E.P.

1,1361813

asked 10 hours ago

SnakeDoc

1,0581032

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited 12 mins ago

E.P.

1,1361813

edited 12 mins ago

E.P.

1,1361813

edited 12 mins ago

E.P.

1,1361813

1,1361813

asked 10 hours ago

SnakeDoc

1,0581032

asked 10 hours ago

SnakeDoc

1,0581032

asked 10 hours ago

SnakeDoc

1,0581032

1,0581032

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This page contains an account of a waist gunner shooting the tail, but I'm unable to do more research into it at the moment.
  – Ron Beyer
  10 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @RonBeyer Oh wow, good find! 'The entry in the pilot’s diary, dated Feb 18th, 1943, says, “New waist gunner shot hell out of tail today. Ship out for a week.”'
  – SnakeDoc
  10 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
  – Dave
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  IIRC shooting your own aircraft was a serious risk with pintle mounted machine guns in early WW1 aircraft.
  – Dan Neely
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This page contains an account of a waist gunner shooting the tail, but I'm unable to do more research into it at the moment.
  – Ron Beyer
  10 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @RonBeyer Oh wow, good find! 'The entry in the pilot’s diary, dated Feb 18th, 1943, says, “New waist gunner shot hell out of tail today. Ship out for a week.”'
  – SnakeDoc
  10 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
  – Dave
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  IIRC shooting your own aircraft was a serious risk with pintle mounted machine guns in early WW1 aircraft.
  – Dan Neely
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

2

2

This page contains an account of a waist gunner shooting the tail, but I'm unable to do more research into it at the moment.
– Ron Beyer
10 hours ago

This page contains an account of a waist gunner shooting the tail, but I'm unable to do more research into it at the moment.
– Ron Beyer
10 hours ago

@RonBeyer Oh wow, good find! 'The entry in the pilot’s diary, dated Feb 18th, 1943, says, “New waist gunner shot hell out of tail today. Ship out for a week.”'
– SnakeDoc
10 hours ago

@RonBeyer Oh wow, good find! 'The entry in the pilot’s diary, dated Feb 18th, 1943, says, “New waist gunner shot hell out of tail today. Ship out for a week.”'
– SnakeDoc
10 hours ago

3

3

If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
– Dave
8 hours ago

If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
– Dave
8 hours ago

IIRC shooting your own aircraft was a serious risk with pintle mounted machine guns in early WW1 aircraft.
– Dan Neely
7 hours ago

IIRC shooting your own aircraft was a serious risk with pintle mounted machine guns in early WW1 aircraft.
– Dan Neely
7 hours ago

add a comment | 

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

up vote
19
down vote



accepted

There's a profile cam in the turret track ring that operates a mechanism that interrupts the guns when the barrels are pointed at parts of the aircraft. Waist gunners were the only ones who had to worry about hitting their own plane.

The bigger problem was gunners hitting adjacent aircraft. The "box" formation design attempted to provide as much of an open field as possible to each gunner.

share|improve this answer

answered 10 hours ago

John K

8,114827

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Not just gunners hitting friendly air craft - the bombs themselves have hit planes flying below them as well. Recall watching old WW2 documentaries w/ various gun cam footage and seeing it happen...
  – ivanivan
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Didn't the top turret gunner also have the potential (if there were no interrupter mechanism) to shoot part of the plane, as shown in the question?
  – Wayne Conrad
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
19
down vote



accepted

There's a profile cam in the turret track ring that operates a mechanism that interrupts the guns when the barrels are pointed at parts of the aircraft. Waist gunners were the only ones who had to worry about hitting their own plane.

The bigger problem was gunners hitting adjacent aircraft. The "box" formation design attempted to provide as much of an open field as possible to each gunner.

share|improve this answer

answered 10 hours ago

John K

8,114827

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Not just gunners hitting friendly air craft - the bombs themselves have hit planes flying below them as well. Recall watching old WW2 documentaries w/ various gun cam footage and seeing it happen...
  – ivanivan
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Didn't the top turret gunner also have the potential (if there were no interrupter mechanism) to shoot part of the plane, as shown in the question?
  – Wayne Conrad
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
19
down vote



accepted

There's a profile cam in the turret track ring that operates a mechanism that interrupts the guns when the barrels are pointed at parts of the aircraft. Waist gunners were the only ones who had to worry about hitting their own plane.

The bigger problem was gunners hitting adjacent aircraft. The "box" formation design attempted to provide as much of an open field as possible to each gunner.

share|improve this answer

answered 10 hours ago

John K

8,114827

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Not just gunners hitting friendly air craft - the bombs themselves have hit planes flying below them as well. Recall watching old WW2 documentaries w/ various gun cam footage and seeing it happen...
  – ivanivan
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Didn't the top turret gunner also have the potential (if there were no interrupter mechanism) to shoot part of the plane, as shown in the question?
  – Wayne Conrad
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
19
down vote



accepted

up vote
19
down vote



accepted

There's a profile cam in the turret track ring that operates a mechanism that interrupts the guns when the barrels are pointed at parts of the aircraft. Waist gunners were the only ones who had to worry about hitting their own plane.

The bigger problem was gunners hitting adjacent aircraft. The "box" formation design attempted to provide as much of an open field as possible to each gunner.

share|improve this answer

answered 10 hours ago

John K

8,114827

There's a profile cam in the turret track ring that operates a mechanism that interrupts the guns when the barrels are pointed at parts of the aircraft. Waist gunners were the only ones who had to worry about hitting their own plane.

The bigger problem was gunners hitting adjacent aircraft. The "box" formation design attempted to provide as much of an open field as possible to each gunner.

share|improve this answer

answered 10 hours ago

John K

8,114827

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 10 hours ago

John K

8,114827

answered 10 hours ago

John K

8,114827

answered 10 hours ago

John K

8,114827

8,114827

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Not just gunners hitting friendly air craft - the bombs themselves have hit planes flying below them as well. Recall watching old WW2 documentaries w/ various gun cam footage and seeing it happen...
  – ivanivan
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Didn't the top turret gunner also have the potential (if there were no interrupter mechanism) to shoot part of the plane, as shown in the question?
  – Wayne Conrad
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Not just gunners hitting friendly air craft - the bombs themselves have hit planes flying below them as well. Recall watching old WW2 documentaries w/ various gun cam footage and seeing it happen...
  – ivanivan
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Didn't the top turret gunner also have the potential (if there were no interrupter mechanism) to shoot part of the plane, as shown in the question?
  – Wayne Conrad
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

Not just gunners hitting friendly air craft - the bombs themselves have hit planes flying below them as well. Recall watching old WW2 documentaries w/ various gun cam footage and seeing it happen...
– ivanivan
5 hours ago

Not just gunners hitting friendly air craft - the bombs themselves have hit planes flying below them as well. Recall watching old WW2 documentaries w/ various gun cam footage and seeing it happen...
– ivanivan
5 hours ago

Didn't the top turret gunner also have the potential (if there were no interrupter mechanism) to shoot part of the plane, as shown in the question?
– Wayne Conrad
4 hours ago

Didn't the top turret gunner also have the potential (if there were no interrupter mechanism) to shoot part of the plane, as shown in the question?
– Wayne Conrad
4 hours ago

add a comment | 

 

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