I think a seated gunner has a much better range of vision and motion
than one lying prone.

I think of the B-17 tail gunner as seated. Weren't the guns beneath
him and he aimed with a little stick?

Japan had no heavy bombers, and Germany and Italy didn't have much in
that line. Japanese bombers often had a "stinger" in the tail. It
tracked the dorsal (do I mean dorsal? -- upper) gunner's weapon, and
he could fire it with a lanyard for the times when he might otherwise
shoot off his own tail. The Navy Betty I think had a genuine tail
gunner, but the Japanese did not go in for mechanical turrets. You
just sat out there in the breeze.

The Japanese even went in for "dust bin" guns, essentially a hinged
platform that could be lowered from the bottom of the aircraft, The
gunner (presumably strapped down) lay on this "door" and fire away. It
would be raised when the plane wanted to increase speed for a getaway.

Several of the AVG Flying Tiger pilots in their diaries or combat
reports mention their shock when they see a Japanese gunner slump
dead. He was that much out in the open.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm
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