How did tail gunners not shoot the tail?

The mid upper turret gunners on British WW2 bombers so equipped could have theoretically shot their own tails. This was prevented by a mechanism running on a so called ‘taboo rail’ which acted as a mechanical interrupter, preventing the guns from firing when pointed at vital parts of the aircraft’s own air frame.

Do bombers still have tail gunners?

Whenever someone retires, it marks the end of an era in their personal life. When U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Rob Wellbaum leaves the service he’ll end an entire era of aerial combat as America’s last bomber tail gunner. On May 12, 2017, Wellbaum retired after three decades in the Air Force.

What was a gunner in ww2?

Typically, gunners made up half of a bomber crew, manning a top turret, ball turret, two waist guns, and a tail turret. Some other crewmembers also operated defensive guns as a secondary duty.

What kind of plane is a SBD Dauntless?

Douglas SBD Dauntless. The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD (“Scout Bomber Douglas”) was the United States Navy’s main carrier-based scout/dive bomber from mid-1940 through mid-1944.

What was it like to be a ‘back-seater’ in WW2?

Three Navy ‘back-seaters’ recollect their experiences aloft during early World War II—including taking off against a Japanese carrier force on 4 June 1942 without having received gunnery or flight training. Oral “Slim” Moore is still worthy of his nickname.

What is the difference between SBD-1 and sbd2 dive bombers?

One year earlier, both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps had placed orders for the new dive bomber, designated the SBD-1 and SBD-2 (the latter had increased fuel capacity and different armament).

Who was the most successful Stuka pilot in WW2?

Oberst Hans-Ulrich Rudel became the most successful Stuka pilot and the most highly decorated German serviceman of the Second World War.