Question for the Experts...Avenger Bombardier Aerial Kills

[Former Member]

I was reading an interesting article in the latest addition of World War II magazine last night about George H.W. Bush's experience during WWII as an Avenger pilot. The magazine had a nice double page spread of an Avenger with the rear gunner and bombardier compartments cut-away and exposed to show the detail. Viewing this diagram got me to thinking about how many (if any) Avenger bombardiers actually had confirmed kills with their rear facing flexible mount .30 cal machinegun? When you look at the cramped bombardier's compartment it's hard to believe that anyone could hit anything with such a small viewing area. The field of fire being down and to the rear appears to be extremely limited just like the cheek guns on a B-17.

If anyone out there can shed some light on this little piece of trivia I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

John

[Don Martin]

Wasn't the tunnel gun only in the TBFs and deleted in the TBMs?!!!

Last edited by Don Martin on Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Nathan]

I didn't know smerphs flew TBM's!

[Jack Cook]

Harry Ferrier told me that the tunnel gun was basically worthless.
Limited field of fire, the TBMs usually hugged the water and when hit the tail wheel usually dropped completely blocking the gun.