CAF Missouri Wing's strange turret
Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:33 am
Here are some images of the CAF Missouri Wing's unusual Emerson Aero-14 turret. I'm trying to find the missing electronic control boxes and ammo cans in my pile of Emerson stuff. Now that the turret is in my hangar, I can see that I've got lots of small parts for it but I have not been able to find any manuals or history for the Aero-14. One source indicates it was built to replace the upper deck Martin 250 turret in the P2V-7 Neptune. Another rumor is that it was built for the Martin P4M Mercator. It had two Hisso 20mm guns and was fitted with some type of Radar targeting system. It's a real odd ball but very interesting. Can any of you WIXers help with more information? No, that's not me sitting in it. That's one of the guys who works in our factory. He's about 110 Lbs soaking wet and just barely fits in this thing.
Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:56 am
That IS an odd-ball looking turret. Two 20's!?! WOW! Must be a beefy build! I know they experimented with a 20 in the tail of a B-17 and quit when it started popping rivets! Don't know if I'd want my head that close to two 20's cranking rounds downrange!
Fantastic!
Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:22 am
Great photo Dan. I've been searching for info on the Aero-14 on and off for at least a month. The only reference did say "developed for the P2V-7 and that's a -7 Neptune! No Aero-9 nose turret, no Aero-11 tail turret but just the Aero-14 upper deck turret? Strange! I was thinking that maybe the reference to the -7 Neptune was an error because as far as I knew, they were never armed with guns. I think I owe you some TBY turret parts for this piece of research work. Well done. 
Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:10 am
Aww shucks, Albert... twernt nuthin'.
Be sure to scroll down on that link, though, as the site gives the Bu # along with the pics of that Neptune as well as a couple of other -7's with the Aero 14 turret.
I've got absolutely nothing for tech info though. Would it be worth contacting one of those VP vet boards for someone who just may have hung on to an old manual?
Be sure to scroll down on that link, though, as the site gives the Bu # along with the pics of that Neptune as well as a couple of other -7's with the Aero 14 turret.
I've got absolutely nothing for tech info though. Would it be worth contacting one of those VP vet boards for someone who just may have hung on to an old manual?