The rear gunner ...

[Pathfinder]

Got to portray a tail gunner at a few shows with the SBD. The above pic was at Selfridge. One afternoon an old Navy vet came up to the plane and gave me a critical look. He looked at his grandson and said, "See that, that's exactly what I wore up there..." We got to talking and I asked him again if my rig was correct. He said, "Well, you got it all there except one thing." When I asked what that was he said, "Flak jacket."

I was stunned. I had never heard of Navy gunners wearing flak jackets in the the rear cockpit. Never read that in a history book or saw a picture!

About an hour later an old Marine came up to the plane and told me he was a rear seat gunner in SBDs. He said all my gear was right except they wore utilities--or whatever they could get ahold of. "One thing missing though...where's your flak jacket?"

So twice in one day and direct from them that made the history.

Thanks for the GREAT pics, Mark!

[Mark_Pilkington]

Mark,

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the effort you go to, in hunting out these historic photo sets and sharing them on Wix for us all to enjoy.

Like Jack Cooks previous efforts, your postings have become a "must see" element of my Wix reading, please keep up the good work and know the silent majority appreciate it, even if we don't mention or thankyou for your efforts often enough.

"Thank You"!

By the way, its good to see Jack on the Board too.

regards

Mark Pilkington

[Sasquatch]

Mark,

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the effort you go to, in hunting out these historic photo sets and sharing them on Wix for us all to enjoy.

Like Jack Cooks previous efforts, your postings have become a "must see" element of my Wix reading, please keep up the good work and know the silent majority appreciate it, even if we don't mention or thankyou for your efforts often enough.

"Thank You"!

By the way, its good to see Jack on the Board too.

regards

Mark Pilkington

Seconded! Well said, Mark P. and very well done, Mark Allen, and Jack Cook before him. You bring much happiness and excellent discussion to the boards; I sure appreciate it!

-Tom

[Mark Allen M]

Thanks kindly gents. Always happy to try to post some interesting stuff. Just can't forget those vets if I can help it.


SBD Dauntless dive bombers pictured during a training flight near the Marine Corps Bombardier and Air Gunners School at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Centro, California,


SBD Dauntless dive bombers pictured during a training flight near the Marine Corps Bombardier and Air Gunners School at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Centro, California,


SBD Dauntless's Air Gunners School at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Centro, California, 1943-1944


A pair of SBD-5s attached to Bombing Squadron Five (VB-5) returning to USS Yorktown (CV-10)


SBD Dauntless


SBD Dauntless

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Thu Oct 09, 2014 7:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Allen M]

SBD Dauntless dive bombers pictured during a training flight at Marine Corps Bombardier and Air Gunners School at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California, 1943-1944


SBD Dauntless dive bombers pictured during a training flight at Marine Corps Bombardier and Air Gunners School at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California, 1943-1944


PBY-2 Catalina pictured at low level over the waters surrounding Pensacola, Florida, during a gunnery training flight.


SBC


TBD-1 of Torpedo Squadron SIx VT-6 joins an F3F-2 of Fighting Squadron Six VF-6 and an SBC-1 of Scouting Squadron Six VS-6

[CWBuff]

I'll toss one in here...


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)

[Mark Allen M]

A-24A towing a banner for aerial gunnery practice.

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Thu Oct 09, 2014 7:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Allen M]

.. and some nice T6 gunnery practice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdP-CG_8MWs

[CWBuff]

SBD towing a banner for aerial gunnery practice.

'Tis an A-24A...

I forget where I found this one...




Fade to Black...

[Mark Allen M]

'Tis an A-24A...

Where 'Tis you see that?


SBD Gunner on USS Ranger, June 1943


SBD Gunners Cockpit

[tom d. friedman]

the term "ass end Charlie" while mockingly called so as to aft gunners was a dark joke, but taken w/ respect. note the lack of armor for them in most pics...........

[Chris Brame]

I'll toss one in here...


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)

Thanks for tossing in an O-52!

[sdennison]

Question from the dummy division...did all rear guns have an interrupter to keep from shooting off the vert in the heat of battle?

[gemmer]

Question from the dummy division...did all rear guns have an interrupter to keep from shooting off the vert in the heat of battle?

Given that they were manually moved and fired, I would say no. One 8th AF group CO had a message to his waist gunners painted on the inside bottom of his B-24s vertical stabilizers."hit here, loose 1/2 pay." Top turrets did have stops to prevent hitting the tail and props.

Duane