B-17 chin turret question

[Hoggardhigh]

Hi all,

I recently received a copy of Roger Freeman's "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story", and on page 55 of the book Freeman writes the following for the final B-17F production block (B-17F-130-BO): "Reinforcement of lower nose for chin turret added..."

Can someone describe the quoted modification in more detail? What specific modifications were undertaken to adapt the B-17F airframe to take the Bendix chin turret?

Thanks

 

[fubar57]

Don't know what the modifications were but the chin turret was developed for the YB-40 gunships starting with the second production B-17F-1-BO (serial number 41-24341), conversion done at the Vega plant. The production version started with the last 86 Douglas built B-17F-75-DL production block and carried on into the G variant. I'll see if I can find the mods

 

[Hoggardhigh]

Don't know what the modifications were but the chin turret was developed for the YB-40 gunships starting with the second production B-17F-1-BO (serial number 41-24341), conversion done at the Vega plant. The production version started with the last 86 Douglas built B-17F-75-DL production block and carried on into the G variant. I'll see if I can find the mods

Before you do, can you see if FLYBOYJ has anything to say about it?

 

[Hoggardhigh]

Don't know what the modifications were but the chin turret was developed for the YB-40 gunships starting with the second production B-17F-1-BO (serial number 41-24341), conversion done at the Vega plant. The production version started with the last 86 Douglas built B-17F-75-DL production block and carried on into the G variant. I'll see if I can find the mods

Did you find any information on the chin turret modifications yet?

 

[fubar57]

No, pretty much everything I have states the same. Maybe if you can find some maintenance manuals of each variant they might show the differences

 

[fubar57]

Avialogs has the G manual

AN 01-20EG-2 Erection ad maintenance instructions for B-17G - Part 1/2

 

[fubar57]

....and the F manual...

T.O. 01-20EF-2 B-17F Airplane - Erection and Maintenance Instructions

 

[Hoggardhigh]

Avialogs has the G manual

AN 01-20EG-2 Erection ad maintenance instructions for B-17G - Part 1/2

The manuals don't seem to have enough information on the specific chin turret modifications. Does anyone know of any sources containing such data?

 

[Hoggardhigh]

Hi all,

I recently received a copy of Roger Freeman's "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story", and on page 55 of the book Freeman writes the following for the final B-17F production block (B-17F-130-BO): "Reinforcement of lower nose for chin turret added..."

Can someone describe the quoted modification in more detail? What specific modifications were undertaken to adapt the B-17F airframe to take the Bendix chin turret?

Thanks

By the way, I'm assuming that the "reinforcement" in question consisted simply of a removable opening in the lower nose section for the chin turret installation. Does anyone know if this is correct?

 

[Wurger]

Here can you see?

The pic source: Airfix B-17G Flying Fortress and USAAF Bomber Resupply Set, plus Defiant update / News |

 

[Hoggardhigh]

Here can you see?

View attachment 382640

The pic source: Airfix B-17G Flying Fortress and USAAF Bomber Resupply Set, plus Defiant update / News |

Just what are you trying to say there?

 

[wuzak]

I believe the pic shows the support ring for the turret inside the fuselage.

 

[Wurger]

Yes, that's it. The support ring with its internal ( or if you wish , external ) stiffeners what can be noticed looking at the rivet lines. Also the floor at the compartment was reinforced by adding a ring at the round edge of the hole for attaching of the support arms of the rotation mechanism.. What is more the floor was joined to the support ring with a couple of channel bars and bolts.

A - the internal ( external ) stiffener
B - the reinforcing ring with bolts
C - rivets/bolts

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[T Bolt]

Did the F's with the chin turret have the same elongated plexiglass nose as all the other F's or the shorter one the G's had? That would be an interesting modification to do on a model.

 

[seesul]

Does anyone know how many F's form the last production block B-17F-130-BO were equipped by the chin turret and is there any list of their serial numbers?

 

[fubar57]

Have a look at these....
B-17F-75-DL: 42-3504 to 42-3563 | Production-block | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies
B-17F-130-BO: 42-30932 to 42-31031 | Production-block | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies

 

[seesul]

Thank you Fubar. Somewhere I found the info on modified by Douglas built F's from the last production blocks -75-DL, -80-DL and -85-DL (66 machines in total) and those whose pics are available have the chin turret.

 

[seesul]

Did the F's with the chin turret have the same elongated plexiglass nose as all the other F's or the shorter one the G's had? That would be an interesting modification to do on a model.

Here an example
42-3522