B-17 Chin Turret query

[RAMC181]

Does anyone know when this variant of chin turret was introduced?



Looking at photos of 44-83884 at Barksdale AFB it seems she has this type fitted, albeit with the sliding panels missing.
LINKY to nice big photo.

As an aside, does anyone have a diagram showing how the zipper sliders on the regular type of chin turret attach to the gun barrels?

All the best,
PB

[the330thbg]

Like this!





Obviously the canvas was originally attached with rivets(must have been fun to replace). I imagine they tore quite a bit being at high altitude and stuck zippers etc.

Last edited by the330thbg on Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[RAMC181]

I'm trying to see how this barrel tube fits in relation to the zipper casting:



PB

[the330thbg]

That is obviously a type of 'muffler' to keep the gun barrels from lighting the canvas on fire. It looks like this would attach to the bracket that the barrel goes through as it comes out of the canvas opening.





You are looking for the 'bits' that go on behind the canvas and zipper. Looks like that could be the piece that attached to the 'Guide Springs' in the illustration above? Scott? Where r you?

I bet the Collings folks could assist?

Last edited by the330thbg on Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Second Air Force]

I'll look through my stuff tonight, Paul. I should have the IPC for the turret. Off to work........

Scott

[whistlingdeath77]

man i love that b-17. queen of the skies

[Fortress Fan]

Looks like its bolted to the cooling jacket

[the330thbg]

That is it!



Cool!

[Steve Nelson]

I've always been curious as to just how well those zippers actually worked in service. Seems like they would be prone to jamming.

SN

[RAMC181]

Thanks for all the responses, the things were hiding in plain sight all along.

More variations on a theme...
Oh dear, what can of turrety worms have I opened this time?

Canvas flush with the turret skin, broken zipper on right side of shot:



Canvas recessed into slots:



What seem to be zipperless canvas boots:









And when all else fails, nothing at all:



All the best,
PB

[the330thbg]

Lol. That last shot shows the groundcrew were tired of replacing that darn canvas!!!

[spriso]

I have a question about the B-17 chin turret: Why are they rotated to the side when the aircraft are parked? I have wondered about this for years and have asked several B-17 vets, and I have yet to find out the answer... The only thing I could figure is that it gets the guns out of the way for trucks, or other objects passing in front of the aircraft.

Can anyone enlighten me on the subject?

Thanks!

Michael

[the330thbg]

It frees up the access doors in the rear for reloading and gun inspection.

[spriso]

It frees up the access doors in the rear for reloading and gun inspection.

Where is the light-bulb icon (for my ah-ha moment?!) Now it makes total sense...

I have never seen images of that procedure being done... then it would have been obvious!

Thanks for your reply.

Michael

[whistlingdeath77]

i thought that the chin turret was swung so it would not interfere side with the bomb site during a bomb run. Also, to clean and take the guns out, it had to be swung to the side. I thought i read that somewhere but i could be off