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Can you shoot your own tail off?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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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
edited 20 mins ago
FreeMan
6,728650116
asked 2 hours ago
SnakeDoc
1,0181030
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
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
edited 20 mins ago
FreeMan
6,728650116
asked 2 hours ago
SnakeDoc
1,0181030
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
2 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.â€Â'
– SnakeDoc
2 hours ago
If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
– Dave
12 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
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
edited 20 mins ago
FreeMan
6,728650116
asked 2 hours ago
SnakeDoc
1,0181030
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
edited 20 mins ago
FreeMan
6,728650116
asked 2 hours ago
SnakeDoc
1,0181030
edited 20 mins ago
FreeMan
6,728650116
asked 2 hours ago
SnakeDoc
1,0181030
edited 20 mins ago
FreeMan
6,728650116
edited 20 mins ago
FreeMan
6,728650116
edited 20 mins ago
FreeMan
6,728650116
6,728650116
asked 2 hours ago
SnakeDoc
1,0181030
asked 2 hours ago
SnakeDoc
1,0181030
asked 2 hours ago
SnakeDoc
1,0181030
1,0181030
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
2 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.â€Â'
– SnakeDoc
2 hours ago
If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
– Dave
12 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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
2 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.â€Â'
– SnakeDoc
2 hours ago
If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
– Dave
12 mins 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
2 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
2 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.â€Â'
– SnakeDoc
2 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.â€Â'
– SnakeDoc
2 hours ago
If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
– Dave
12 mins ago
If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
– Dave
12 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
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.
answered 2 hours ago
John K
8,014726
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
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.
answered 2 hours ago
John K
8,014726
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
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.
answered 2 hours ago
John K
8,014726
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
up vote
9
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.
answered 2 hours ago
John K
8,014726
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.
answered 2 hours ago
John K
8,014726
answered 2 hours ago
John K
8,014726
answered 2 hours ago
John K
8,014726
answered 2 hours ago
John K
8,014726
8,014726
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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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
2 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.â€Â'
– SnakeDoc
2 hours ago
If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
– Dave
12 mins ago