Switch to full style
This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Post a reply

Gun Mount ID needed- B-17 radio room?

Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:07 pm

Recently acquired this E-11 gun mount. When it arrived I was surprised to see the front mountings and I do not recognize what it was used with. I am thinking early B-17 radio room based on the low res image below.

Image

Image

Image

Image

The gun mounts in the E-11 in the normal fashion with a front trunion adapter. The gun recoils within the E-11. The cooling jacket will retract inside the front bushing/mount when the gun is firing. The paint over the whole mount and the adapter matches and is Army bronze green. The hardware attaching the front adapter and the adapter itself is cad plated steel and brass and looks to be period authentic.

I can think of three styles of B-17 radio room machine gun mounts, four if you count the YB-40 I suppose. I think the mount above may be from this style but I am not sure

Image

Anyone have a higher resolution image of this shot or another one with enough detail to help identify this gun mount to see if it is actually from the radio room of a B-17?

If not from the radio room then any other ideas?

Thanks in advance for any help

Re: Gun Mount ID needed- B-17 radio room?

Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:25 am

That is a cool find for sure.IIRC the C and D models had dual 50s in the tub.

Re: Gun Mount ID needed- B-17 radio room?

Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:10 am

The posted pic shows the radio room yoke type gun mount first used on the B-17C. The same mount was used in the bathtub. The Cs were upgraded to D standard which used twin .50s on a ring type mount in both positions. Single gun ring mounts as well as the earlier yoke mount were used on B-17Es and Fs in the radio room.

Duane
Post a reply