Short Burst.......3

[billrunnels]

Some how the Air Force failed to send me to Gunner's School. I had fired the chin turret twin 50s Stateside but no formal training. On first mission day our crew arrived at the aircraft just as the Armament Sargent was about to leave. He had placed the gun barrels on the ground. I called to him and he responded. I said" don't you put the barrels in the guns"? He said," no lieutenant, that is your job". I replied "we have a problem,I don't know how". He took time to show me and they test fired over the North Sea okay. The next morning the same Sargent dropped off the barrels after we had arrived at the hard stand. He asked if I needed help and I said "no". When attempting to test fire they didn't work. I discovered I had one of the bolt studs in my pocket. All went well on the third mission. Thank goodness I didn't have to use the guns on any of my fourteen missions. Aircraft in the formation probably would have been in harms way.

 

[pbehn]

Great post Bill, wonder how many aircraft went up with non functioning armament. I read of a Battle of Britain pilot who didn't know he had not been re armed until he tried to fire his guns. The ground crew were lucky to survive when he landed.

 

[billrunnels]

Great post Bill, wonder how many aircraft went up with non functioning armament. I read of a Battle of Britain pilot who didn't know he had not been re armed until he tried to fire his guns. The ground crew were lucky to survive when he landed.

Good question. Interesting the other three Group Squadrons gun barrels were installed by armament. Our Squadron Commander was of the opinion that if we installed our own and they failed it was our fault. My case proved his point. We also had to clean the barrels after the mission.

 

[Crimea_River]

Sounds like maybe your armaments guy had friends in high places.

 

[billrunnels]

Sounds like maybe your armaments guy had friends in high places.

In our case we had a demanding Squadron Commander, MAJ Bill Heller. He expected perfection from all of us and he received it. Tight formation flight was the best defense against fighter attacks in his opinion. Consequently, formation training flights were often scheduled on days our squadron did not fly the mission. His work ethic demands made us more proficient and that led to safer flight on missions. In my opinion, Heller represented the ultimate in leadership qualities.

 

[rochie]

Keep em coming Bill.

Loving these little stories

Karl

 

[Airframes]

Me too.
I used to know a Lancaster air gunner, who told me that one of the worst things he remembered was having to take out the guns, and clean them, before handing them in to the armoury after every operation, whether they had been fired or not. After a six or eight hour night operation, tired, still cold and ready for sleep, he hated this chore !

 

[billrunnels]

Me too.
I used to know a Lancaster air gunner, who told me that one of the worst things he remembered was having to take out the guns, and clean them, before handing them in to the armoury after every operation, whether they had been fired or not. After a six or eight hour night operation, tired, still cold and ready for sleep, he hated this chore !

It was a chore. I normally cleaned the barrels after the dinner hour. My last mission day began about 5 am with a Lead Crew briefing followed by a second all crew briefing an 11 hour 30 minute mission air time, dinner then cleaned the barrels. Got to bed at 11 pm.

 

[Gnomey]

Great stuff Bill!

 

[fubar57]

Lovin' this stuff