B-24D with 5 50.Cals in the nose

[Second Air Force]

Our condolences to family and friends. It's never easy to hear of these folks passing away.

We had our annual airbase reunion at McCook AAF two weekends ago and only one veteran and two civilian workers from the WWII era were able to attend.

Scott

[Steve Nelson]

THREAD SEMI-HIJACK ALERT!

I've been doing some research on Ploesti Raid B-24s, with an eye on building a model of 41-23782 "Boiler Maker II" of the 98th BG. She crashlanded in a cornfield after being shot up, and was restored to flying condition by the Romanians using parts from several other B-24s that were shot down that day.

Anyway, the in the pics I've found of her nose-down in the cornstalks, it looks like she had twin .50s in the waist..can anyone confirm? Since Tidal Wave was a very low-level mission, I suppose the extra guns might have been considered useful for strafing.

SN

[the330thbg]

looks like twin 50's to me as well.

no hijacking concerns here. I love the -24. She was one of my favorite giant Monogram 1/48 builds back in my youth. Maybe it was the Cletrac that came with the kit.., but I always loved that airplane. My father on the other hand was always thankful he never had to fly it!!!

[Pogmusic]

My question after reading this string is this.
Obviously the pilot fired .50s weren't an issue; but, how many of the remaining ones in the nose could be fired at one time? I don't think there would be enough room in the nose to fit more than one, maybe two, crewmen to fire them.

[the330thbg]

Agreed. It would have been just the Nav and Bombardier jockeying for position.

[Pogmusic]

My dad started out as a nose gunner in a B-24J. I would think that the turret arrangement was better than those multiple guns with crew scrambling over each other to fire.
http://www.b24bestweb.com/merryboozer1.htm