Posted By C. D. Terry on September 28, 2007 at 13:12:38:
In Reply to: Gunners in B17E ETO posted by Ed on September 28, 2007 at 09:11:59:
: 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
I was a radio operator and in our crew there was a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, top turret gunner, radio operator (me), Waist Gunner, Engineer, ball turret gunner and tail gunner, which made us a crew of 10 men. The navigator and bomgardier were in the front, the pilot and co-pilots in their seats, top turret gunner in his position, radio room was just behind the bomb-bay, engineer flew waist gunner along with waist gunner, and the tail gunner in the rear of the ship. I flew from June 1, 1944 to January 5, 1945, putting in 30 missions. Most of our missions were in B17G, but a few in B17F. I don't remember if we flew in any B17E or not. Too long ago to remember!