Early B-17 chin turret query

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2014 6:30 pm

Flicking through some 1943 Cheyenne Mod. Center drawings from the Smithsonian I was intrigued by a number of them pertaining to the installation of the periscopic-sighted Bendix A-10A (Model B) turret in the chin position of B-17s, as opposed the more usual A-16 type with the overhead sight.

(I know this particular drawing is titled as the A-10 turret, but the root drawing list specifies a modified A-10A turret)

The installation of the earlier Bendix A-10 (Model K) turret in what would become the ball turret position on B-17Es has already been discussed HERE, but I hadn't come across any info on this other installation before.
Does anyone have any insights?

All the best,
PB

bomberfan · **Posted:** Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:03 am

I am reasonably sure I've seen pictures of these chin turrets installed, i will see if i can find some to post.

gemmer · **Joined:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:54 am **Posts:** 311

Bendix B-24D/B-25 ventral turret used as chin turrret on the YB-40

Duane

aerovin · **Posted:** Sun Oct 19, 2014 11:27 pm

RAMC181 wrote:

The installation of the earlier Bendix A-10 (Model K) turret in what would become the ball turret position on B-17Es has already been discussed HERE, but I hadn't come across any info on this other installation before.

PB

Sorry...can't help it. As per the link, you possibly meant to say the early Sperry remote turret installed in the first 112 B-17Es. Bendix turrets were not used for lower fuselage turrets on any B-17. (I should know better than to say never, but those early remote B-17 turrets were Sperrys.)

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:08 pm

Thanks Scott, I could have done with phrasing that a bit better.

Regards the X/YB-40 installation, while there is not an overabundance of decent imagery, where in-service photos of YB-40s can be found which show the sighting setup they always seem to show the overhead N-6/6A sight, rather than the original internal sight of the A-10 turret which the Cheyenne drawings show.
I have the full combat trial files here and they are quite clear on this matter, even to the point of suggesting that the addition of a computing sight would improve the chin turret setup which was considered a great improvement already.

The whole YB-40 thing may well be a false trail, as those mods were done at the Douglas Tulsa Mod. Center a number of months before these Cheyenne drawings were even started.

All the best,
PB

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Early B-17 chin turret query

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