B-29 Gunnery Training Equipment
Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:36 am
I realized that I was hijacking Tulio's halftrack/gun turret thread, so here is a new one pertaining to the B-29 CFC training program. All the photos here are from the AFHRA archives at Maxwell.
In my research of 2AF Phase Training Bases, I've run across quite a lot of information pertaining to the Central Fire Control gun system used on the B-29. This system was so different from any other flexible gunnery equipment used before that special and intense crew training was necessary for the best possible results. As with many other programs, the gunners needed considerably more schooling than they had received in initial gunnery school, and it fell to the Phase Training stations to complete the instruction.
The first thing that occurred at the Nebraska and Kansas fields that had trained B-24 and B-17 Groups was to clean out the school buildings and gun ranges of the now-obsolete turrets previously used in order to install the new GE CFC system. The first few photos are from the Base History from Fairmont.
The exterior of the Gunnery School building:
Sighting station indoor mock-up--notice the camouflaged turret cover:
A close-up view of the upper sighting station:
This is titled "E-14 Trainer" and depicts a tail and side blister mock-up:
This photo was taken in January of '45 and shows a rather rough CFC outdoor mock-up that would train the gun crew of one B-29 in the methods of the CFC system. Nice B-17 nose piece!
This picture was quite secret when taken, and depicts an APG-15 radar-guided tail turret. This equipment was used to train 16th Bomb Group tail gunners during their time at Fairmont.
More later,
Scott
Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:45 am
Great stuff!
Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:12 pm
Scott,
Ever think of tryin' to restore that -29 gunnery trainer the CAF has? Or is it too incomplete?
Ever think of tryin' to restore that -29 gunnery trainer the CAF has? Or is it too incomplete?
Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:54 pm
Awesome stuff Scott. Keep 'em comin'!
Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:38 pm
SAR,
I would have indeed liked to restore the turret trainer--I think it would be an excellent display alongside FIFI during her winter hibernation. I only looked at it once right after the Squadron obtained it, and haven't had the time to look at it lately. Once they get the big bird flying again it would be a great project, and it fits my airfield/training research perfectly, but I don't suppose it will happen.
Scott
I would have indeed liked to restore the turret trainer--I think it would be an excellent display alongside FIFI during her winter hibernation. I only looked at it once right after the Squadron obtained it, and haven't had the time to look at it lately. Once they get the big bird flying again it would be a great project, and it fits my airfield/training research perfectly, but I don't suppose it will happen.
Scott
Last edited by Second Air Force on Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:52 am
Okay, Taigh--
Here are some more CFC related photos from the Processing Center at Herington, Kansas.
This trio was taken at Herington. If you aren't familiar, Herington AAF was the final processing station for around 60% of all B-29s that went to the combat zone. Kearney processed most of the rest, with Topeka contributing a smaller number. After all training was complete, crews were sent to these processing centers to get all paperwork and physical requirements tidied up, sometimes moving as an entire Bomb Group, sometimes as individual crews. Many times, crews were assigned a brand new ship direct from the mod centers at Herington. One of the maintenance headaches with the B-29 was synchronizing the remote turrets to the gunsights. After much experimentation, a system was perfected by some ingenious personnel that employed the targets in the next photos. I found these photos buried in an obscure 2AF document at AFHRA, almost as though no one was supposed to see them!
This is the side blister targets set up by the left wing. The gunsight was lined up with the target and the guns line-sighted to make sure they were also on the target, or adjusted if necessary.
This is the tail turret target ready for use.
This is the entire target set lined up for inspection. Yankee ingenuity at it's best, including the requisition
of a maintenance stand to build the tail target. According to the Harvard AAF Maintenance records, a Harmonization Range was constructed on the north end of the apron using plans obtained at Lowry AAF. This allowed the gunsight syncronization process to be done in three hours versus up to two days using the original method devised!
I have also researched the use of gun butts at the B-29 Phase Bases for live fire sychronization. So far, the only Kansas or Nebraska field that I can definitely confirm was so equipped was Walker. Their gun butt is still standing, north of the flight line, and has a rather large apron and taxiway.
This picture was shot looking east. The fence posts were added after the war, I assume to keep the cattle from falling off the face of the butt!
Scott
Here are some more CFC related photos from the Processing Center at Herington, Kansas.
This trio was taken at Herington. If you aren't familiar, Herington AAF was the final processing station for around 60% of all B-29s that went to the combat zone. Kearney processed most of the rest, with Topeka contributing a smaller number. After all training was complete, crews were sent to these processing centers to get all paperwork and physical requirements tidied up, sometimes moving as an entire Bomb Group, sometimes as individual crews. Many times, crews were assigned a brand new ship direct from the mod centers at Herington. One of the maintenance headaches with the B-29 was synchronizing the remote turrets to the gunsights. After much experimentation, a system was perfected by some ingenious personnel that employed the targets in the next photos. I found these photos buried in an obscure 2AF document at AFHRA, almost as though no one was supposed to see them!
This is the side blister targets set up by the left wing. The gunsight was lined up with the target and the guns line-sighted to make sure they were also on the target, or adjusted if necessary.
This is the tail turret target ready for use.
This is the entire target set lined up for inspection. Yankee ingenuity at it's best, including the requisition
of a maintenance stand to build the tail target. According to the Harvard AAF Maintenance records, a Harmonization Range was constructed on the north end of the apron using plans obtained at Lowry AAF. This allowed the gunsight syncronization process to be done in three hours versus up to two days using the original method devised!
I have also researched the use of gun butts at the B-29 Phase Bases for live fire sychronization. So far, the only Kansas or Nebraska field that I can definitely confirm was so equipped was Walker. Their gun butt is still standing, north of the flight line, and has a rather large apron and taxiway.
This picture was shot looking east. The fence posts were added after the war, I assume to keep the cattle from falling off the face of the butt!
Scott
Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:40 pm
Wonderful stuff Scott. I can't get enough of the CFC material. I love the trainer set-ups with the real early two gun upper forward turret (painted OD too!) and the sights that were pre gyro.
The APG-15 radar in the tail turret is a rare shot. You hardly ever see that up close.
More? Please? More? Oh pretty please?
The APG-15 radar in the tail turret is a rare shot. You hardly ever see that up close.
More? Please? More? Oh pretty please?
Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:33 pm
You liked that APG-15?! The whole 315th Wing program is becoming the subject of yet another book I'll never get printed. I have only just begun the research on the B-29B, Eagle, etc.--AFHRA has been good to me so far, but I need to get back to Maxwell to continue digging. I'll post a few more pictures later.
Scott
Scott
Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:50 am
Since we've mentioned the 315th Bomb Wing and their special B-29B aircraft, here are a couple of photos of the bombing radar antenna they used:
This picture was taken at Fairmont Army Air Field, and depicts the APQ-7 "Eagle" radar antenna mounted on a B-24 used as a radar trainer.
The APQ-7 linear antenna array gave much better resolution for radar bombing than the parabolic antenna used on the standard APQ-13 installed on most B-29s. A few B-24s flew combat missions as Mickey ships in the ETO, but it appears this was a test program. The 315th Wing used seven B-24/Eagle trainers to travel to the four Nebraska bases in order to train bombardiers and radar technicians in proper operation and maintenance. This "remote" training ceased after a very short time and the crews were then sent to Victorville AAF, California to receive this highly specialized and secret schooling.
Here is a photo of another Eagle-equipped Lib at Kingman, and I believe this photo was taken by Bill Larkins.
This picture was taken at Fairmont Army Air Field, and depicts the APQ-7 "Eagle" radar antenna mounted on a B-24 used as a radar trainer.
The APQ-7 linear antenna array gave much better resolution for radar bombing than the parabolic antenna used on the standard APQ-13 installed on most B-29s. A few B-24s flew combat missions as Mickey ships in the ETO, but it appears this was a test program. The 315th Wing used seven B-24/Eagle trainers to travel to the four Nebraska bases in order to train bombardiers and radar technicians in proper operation and maintenance. This "remote" training ceased after a very short time and the crews were then sent to Victorville AAF, California to receive this highly specialized and secret schooling.
Here is a photo of another Eagle-equipped Lib at Kingman, and I believe this photo was taken by Bill Larkins.
Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:50 am
Since I've illustrated a couple of B-24s being used in the B-29 training and development program, I decided to lump a few more of them here.
The B-29 was a VERY expensive airplane to be used as a procedures trainer. In addition, there were no "extra" Superforts available during the early part of the program to support training, and the B-24 turned out to be a good substitute. A couple of plusses to using the B-24 to train crewmen for B-29 units was that there were plenty of them rolling off the assembly lines, their dependability, and their size. In fact, the B-24 made a better procedure trainer than the B-29 because there was more room in the 24 for instructors and students. Libs were used as flight engineer trainers, with several stations installed to give training to more than one man at a time. CFC gunnery training was helped along when the B-24 was converted into a Central Fire Control aerial trainer. Here are a few photos of CFC birds:
This first one is a very historic airplane, having been the first B-24D ever equipped with a nose turret. Connell's Special flew combat, returned to the States, and ended her days as a CFC trainer. Notice the SWPA tail wheel that we all talked about on another thread.
An overall photo and close-up of the nose of Z-35. I don't yet know how many of these aircraft were converted, but the number was substantial. Larkins photo.
This pair of Peter Bowers photos show another typical CFC trainer. Can anyone here determine if these photos were taken at Kingman or Las Vegas?
These last two are, once again, radar controlled tail turret photos.
This first photo is of #166 again, and shows that it was fitted with the APG-15.
This airplane shows that someone was becoming more confident in radar guided turrets, as they stuck the operator in the fuselage! In actual fact, the APG-15 didn't work all that well in the short time it saw combat. However, the installation in this airplane is quite similar to what would see service in the early B-36.
Scott
The B-29 was a VERY expensive airplane to be used as a procedures trainer. In addition, there were no "extra" Superforts available during the early part of the program to support training, and the B-24 turned out to be a good substitute. A couple of plusses to using the B-24 to train crewmen for B-29 units was that there were plenty of them rolling off the assembly lines, their dependability, and their size. In fact, the B-24 made a better procedure trainer than the B-29 because there was more room in the 24 for instructors and students. Libs were used as flight engineer trainers, with several stations installed to give training to more than one man at a time. CFC gunnery training was helped along when the B-24 was converted into a Central Fire Control aerial trainer. Here are a few photos of CFC birds:
This first one is a very historic airplane, having been the first B-24D ever equipped with a nose turret. Connell's Special flew combat, returned to the States, and ended her days as a CFC trainer. Notice the SWPA tail wheel that we all talked about on another thread.
An overall photo and close-up of the nose of Z-35. I don't yet know how many of these aircraft were converted, but the number was substantial. Larkins photo.
This pair of Peter Bowers photos show another typical CFC trainer. Can anyone here determine if these photos were taken at Kingman or Las Vegas?
These last two are, once again, radar controlled tail turret photos.
This first photo is of #166 again, and shows that it was fitted with the APG-15.
This airplane shows that someone was becoming more confident in radar guided turrets, as they stuck the operator in the fuselage! In actual fact, the APG-15 didn't work all that well in the short time it saw combat. However, the installation in this airplane is quite similar to what would see service in the early B-36.
Scott
Last edited by Second Air Force on Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:11 am, edited 2 times in total.
Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:25 pm
I neglected to post this little blueprint from Grand Island Army Air Field dated 8/5/44 that depicts the General Electric Poorman Gunnery Range. The range was located adjacent to the field and had fifteen stations. Each station was equipped with a remote sight and turret. I'm not certain that all fifteen stations were actually constructed as the blueprint is a preliminary document.
This photo shows all that remains of the McCook Poorman Range. The green peninsula of grass protruding into the tilled field is the concrete remains of where the turrets and sighting stations were located.
The thin strip of concrete to the left is a remnant of the east/west taxiway.
Scott
This photo shows all that remains of the McCook Poorman Range. The green peninsula of grass protruding into the tilled field is the concrete remains of where the turrets and sighting stations were located.
The thin strip of concrete to the left is a remnant of the east/west taxiway.
Scott
Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:28 pm
I'm embarrassed to say I have never really given too much thought to the bomber crew training programs beyond the obvious. It was interesting to learn about the bombadier program at Midland while I was down there too. Thanks for the education. 
Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:49 pm
Just so y'all know (Scott and Old SAR pilot), Taigh is currently working on making the front, lower turret on FIFI operational. He already has a nice, new turret that I gave him to get working and we may end up using some of that stuff from the turret trainer here in Midland.
Gary
Gary
Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:33 pm
Just so y'all know (Scott and Old SAR pilot), Taigh is currently working on making the front, lower turret on FIFI operational. He already has a nice, new turret that I gave him to get working and we may end up using some of that stuff from the turret trainer here in Midland.
So Gary....
When are we gonna see some posts on THAT project, eh????
Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:54 pm
Old SAR pilot wrote:
So Gary....
When are we gonna see some posts on THAT project, eh????
You'll have to ask Taigh about that one. I'd be curious to see them as well. It's gonna be a cool project for sure.
Gary