Can you shoot your own tail off?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash 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







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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.”'
    – SnakeDoc
    2 hours ago










  • If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
    – Dave
    12 mins ago














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







share|improve this question



















  • 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.”'
    – SnakeDoc
    2 hours ago










  • If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
    – Dave
    12 mins ago












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







share|improve this question















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






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edited 20 mins ago









FreeMan

6,728650116




6,728650116










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.”'
    – SnakeDoc
    2 hours ago










  • If your not careful thats what happens at 11 0'clock
    – Dave
    12 mins ago












  • 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.”'
    – 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.”'
– 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.”'
– 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










1 Answer
1






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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.






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    1 Answer
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    active

    oldest

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    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.






    share|improve this answer
























      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.






      share|improve this answer






















        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.






        share|improve this answer












        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












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        John K

        8,014726




        8,014726



























             

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