Posted By Kevin M. Pearson on September 28, 2007 at 09:54:49:
In Reply to: Gunners in B17E ETO posted by Ed on September 28, 2007 at 09:11:59:
From nose to tail:
Bombardier
Navigator
Pilot
Copilot
Flight Engineer/Top Turret
Radio
Ball
Left Waist
Right Waist
Tail Gunner
Not sure what Jablonski is referring to - a crew was ten men, but there were no absolutes during the war. A Group or a Squadron may have gone out without one of the waist gunners. Later in the war, ships went out with only a Navigator that would toggle the bombs on Squadron Lead. Only one waist gunner went out later in the war with some Groups and sometimes the radio man was left behind.
As for 11 crew, when H2X was used in Pathfinders, you had a Mickey Operator in the radio compartment in addition to the regular crew.
If the Group Commander went on the raid, he would be up in the cockpit with the Pilot and the copilot would take over the tail position as the Fomation Control Officer.
Can any vets shed more light on this. CD, are you out there?
Kevin
: In his book America in the Air War Edward Jablonski mentiones that up to 1942 the crew in a B17E was 9 airmen and that one more gunner was added later on. When was that done ? With the arrival of the B17G or earlier ? Where was this additional crewmember seated ? I know that at least some missions carried 11 airmen in a B17. Why ? High brass going for a ride as observer ? Spare gunner ? Medic ? Secret Agent to be dropped over enemy territory ? Any knowledgeable answer to these questions would be very much appreciated.
: Ed