B-17 Bomber Ball Turret Station, Detailed External Walk Around

Enclosed is a detailed part 2 Video, external walk around and factoids of the Sperry Ball Turret adopted by the B-17 bombers in WWII. Discussion topics include location of turret construction, mechanics, gunner Training, ammo, and crew relief considerations.

Library of B-17 Gunstations and Gunsights:

[Semyon_Semyonych]

My Granddad was one of those Soviet officers who built and set up the US Air Force base in Poltava, USSR (now, Ukraine) in 1944. I grew up with his stories about B-17s and American pilots, navigators, gunners, radio operators, mechanics -- you name it!
I moved to this wonderful country some 25 years ago. And guess what? One of my kids is, in fact, a US Air Force pilot! I wonder if any of this would have ever happened without my Granddad and his stories...

[songojune]

Great series, love the historical details like the training setup at 3:31 and the crew relief procedures

[elebeu]

These are the videos I have been looking for. Finally, some in depth, coherent information on these units. Thank you very much for your efforts.

[hugodesrosiers-plaisance]

I love the clever, simple and elegant way of preventing the gunner from doing a Henri Jones to his mates.

[garfieldsmith]

Never knew about the "piss tube" leading of the aircraft. I figured they "passed the can" around and dumped it every so often. The British had the Elcan for 'larger' jobs.😁

[oliverscratch]

Several years ago I met a former WW2 ball turret gunner who was acting as a docent at the Palm Springs Air Museum in California. He had some wonderful stories to tell. What I remember most is hearing him say that when inside the ball turret he felt safer than he did when in the fuselage.

[johnned]

Great videos clear and concise. I’m glad you answered the question of how the crew relieved themselves in flight. Although a catwalk in the Bombay probablymade a few hold it in until they returned to base. Have to British had the right idea with the elcan sitting toilet

[stratotramp]

The relief system is funny. Regarding icing. something you would never consider. but obvious on those long flights.

[rbhkg]

According to my grandfather who was a ball turrent gunner on a B24J the machine guns were 30cal. It sounds like the b17 had 50 cal guns for its ball turrent. That's considerably more firepower for the b17.

[johnt.]

I love the photo at the beginning of the video.

[damegaKing]

like the first part this is a nice video straight to the point and no BS. ty

[animationcycles]

Didn't know about relief ports installed by ball turret gunners. Must have been a hell of an awkward crouch to piss out of that thing.

[Kangaroojack]

very interesting and informative, All these videos

[Knuck_Knucks]

I can't even image how the ball turret gunner relieved himself while in the turret! 🐿

[ronaldtartaglia]

Somewhere on this planet there must be a official tutorial on operating and servicing the ball turret.

[TubesAXk]

One of my old coworkers was a pilot in the Navy. I asked him what his most memorable memory was from flying, and he said "the relief tube."

[whimper]

Very interesting, but why have an exterior tube that sprayed all over the ball turret and froze etc ?
Would using bottles that are emptied at the end of the flight not have been easier ?

[davidweston]

Great info. Other than defusing bombs one of the crappiest jobs during WW II

[wakes_inc]

These guys stayed in the ball turret during the entire mission? That's insane.

[ninus]

I would like ti know more about the differences in the turret. Som Seem to have a lot of side Windows. Some have a plate covering the tronion and turret sides. While some Seem ti have no side Windows at all. And there are also differences in the forward looking Windows that are above below and to the side of the central round Window.