Taigh's Excellent Ball Turret Adventure

[Dan K]

Video allegedly showing our own Taigh Raimey working the camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvuChgh4fGg%20

Now, I've met Taigh, and he's not a small man. How on earth did he get his entire self in there?

[RickH]

It's not how he got in, Dan, the question is how did he get out ?

[Zachary]

WOW! Great video - really shows what kind of view the ball turret gunner had. Thanks for posting that Dan.

Zack

[Django]

Damnn, you just made me giggle like a little school girl!! That kicks serious ass!

[tom d. friedman]

great stuff, congrats taigh!! i saw it on the collings update sent today

[daveymac82c]

That is a great video! I've never really known what kind of visibility you got out of one of those. That's something you don't see everyday.

Thanks for posting.

Cheers,

David

[DiggerWW2]

Here in Philly they show a silly "Yule Log" Fireplace Burning on TV each Christmas. Ugh, It goes on for hours...

It's supposed to give people who live in Apartments that "warm & fuzzy" Christmas feeling...

Heck, I'd rather watch this all day!!
Someone should sell it on a 4 Hour DVD. Maybe reenact an actual Bombing Raid with intercom chatter, etc.
They'd make a fortune... Digger

[rwdfresno]

Now, I've met Taigh, and he's not a small man. How on earth did he get his entire self in there?

It must be all that practice getting into his ball turret trainer.

http://www.eaglefield.net/pictures/warbirds/DSC01438%20(Medium).JPG

[Taigh Ramey]

Last year when the Collings folks were at Livermore, California a few of us flew the C-45 over to see them. Jim Harley was showing us around when I mentioned that my childhood dream had always been to fly in a ball turret. He said that this one was operational and that if I wanted to, I could fly to the next stop with them and try it out. He then added that it might be better if I did it from Concord to Klamath Falls as it was a longer flight thus there would be more time to ride in the ball. I was floored by his kind and generous offer. The video that is on YouTube is from that flight to Klamath Falls and I owe it all to Jim and the Collings folks for making it possible. Jim Harley you are my hero! Thanks for making a lifelong dream come true.

I also want to thank Wayne because he is the one who made the ball turret operational in the first place. Wayne also restored the quad mount in the Collings M-16 half track. He is one; hard working, turret fixin’ , Warbird wrenching, bald headed sun of a gun! The Collings folks are sure lucky to have him.

At our gunnery symposium a few years ago Wilbur Richardson, an 8th Air Force ball turret gunner, gave a talk about his experiences. We had just mounted the ball turret on its stand and he demonstrated it for the crowd. He told me that the height limit for a ball turret gunner in WWII was six foot two but that they had a limitation on the length of the leg from the hip to the knee. If you were too long in the leg you would not fit.

I am six four and close to 300 pounds and I fit...with a few restrictions...pun intended!

I have trouble seeing through the K-4 computing sight so I will remove it for better visibility. I would also not be able to use the range pedal for the computing sight as I can't get my heel back up onto the stirrup. The thought of wearing an electric flying suit, sheep skins, parachute harness, not to mention a parachute is impossible to think about let alone do.

Other than that, it is a comfortable ride for sure. You sit in fetal type of position and your back is supported nicely by the curvature of the cast sphere. The view is limited but is truly spectacular. Hanging below the B-17 affords a view like nothing else. Watching the props and the bottom of the wing is magical.

One thing that was very interesting is how easy it was to become disoriented. When the guns are depressed you cannot see the airframe and unless the ground is rushing by it is hard to figure out which way you are pointing. The turret originally had a small clock that would tell you the direction but it isn't in the Collings ball turret. I hope to find one for them and install it.

Hey Digger, funny you should mention doing a reenactment of a bombing raid as we are doing just that in May. We are going to recreate a simulated combat mission and fly from Stockton Field to bomb Ryan and Joe Davis’ Eagle Field in the B-24. I will post more information about this project later but the short story is we are going to get WWII aircrew back into their crew positions one more time. We will have gunners, a radio operator, Pilot and a bombardier doing what they did 60 years ago.

Here is a short video of the ball turret up and running:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4GS1PND ... re=related

[Dan K]

One thing that was very interesting is how easy it was to become disoriented. When the guns are depressed you cannot see the airframe and unless the ground is rushing by it is hard to figure out which way you are pointing. The turret originally had a small clock that would tell you the direction but it isn't in the Collings ball turret. I hope to find one for them and install it.

Say Taigh,

If that "clock that would tell you the direction" looks anything like these, you might wanna' give Albert Stix a call. I think he might have one or two to spare!

http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/a ... 407022.jpg

Keep 'em flying (but if you can't, static's cool too)!

[DiggerWW2]

Taigh, Wow!! Really?? That's awesome.... I Hope they have the Vets wear Original WW2 AAF Flight Gear during the Mission for added authenticity. I'm sure the local AAF Reenactor Chapter would be glad to help out...

I smell a "History Channnel" or better yet "Discovery Channel" Documentary??
(That might be Me I smell though, I haven't washed up yet & often smell like the History Channel)
Did You let the PBS Stations know about this?? Without a doubt, it sounds like a very interesting & historical Event.
Complete with a nice little Donation $$$$ for the Colling's Foundation afterwards... Dig

[rwdfresno]

We are going to recreate a simulated combat mission and fly from Stockton Field to bomb Ryan and Joe Davis’ Eagle Field in the B-24.

I knew we should have invested in an air raid siren.

Ryan

[Taigh Ramey]

Hey Ryan,

I could have sworn that I saw an air raid siren at your place. You are certainly going to need one!

[Roger Cain]

At our gunnery symposium a few years ago Wilbur Richardson, an 8th Air Force ball turret gunner, gave a talk about his experiences. We had just mounted the ball turret on its stand and he demonstrated it for the crowd. He told me that the height limit for a ball turret gunner in WWII was six foot two but that they had a limitation on the length of the leg from the hip to the knee. If you were too long in the leg you would not fit.

A few pictures from the symposium on the SAH website with Mr. Richardson in the turret: http://www.sfahistory.org/gunnerysymposium2004.htm

[Michel C-GNCJ]

Wow !

I had always wondered how it could have been down there... now I know !

Awesome.