Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

Pic to pick apart #14

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous' started by A-58, Jan 4, 2021.

  1. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2008
    Messages:
    9,030
    Likes Received:
    1,823
    Location:
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Well, is it the real McCoy or a bit of photoshopping?

    Takao, give it about 4 hours or 4 posts this time please.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Half Track

    Half Track Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2017
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    949
    Location:
    Chambersburg Pennsylvania
    I’ve read where some were modified with twin nose guns but not that far apart, from what I have seen. Looks a bit fishy? 7D580CA9-C5FB-4E4C-915E-05FE9D3DC990.jpeg CCC3BEE6-65C4-4E11-8851-EE898BC6D137.jpeg
     
  3. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2009
    Messages:
    9,263
    Likes Received:
    2,595
    When the pilot says, "I need more guns", and there's a wrecked Lancaster near by ........
     
  4. Half Track

    Half Track Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2017
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    949
    Location:
    Chambersburg Pennsylvania
    Could be from a Lancaster, but only. Not from a B24?
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2021
  5. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2009
    Messages:
    9,263
    Likes Received:
    2,595
    It's a B17 :D
     
  6. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2010
    Messages:
    10,025
    Likes Received:
    3,366
    It is a B17...with maybe a frontal powered turret...Maybe a Lanc turret...
     
    Biak and Half Track like this.
  7. Half Track

    Half Track Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2017
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    949
    Location:
    Chambersburg Pennsylvania
    Yep, I know, I forgot to add the word “from”, that’s why my photos of the B-17’s.
     
  8. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2009
    Messages:
    9,263
    Likes Received:
    2,595
    Different view. upload_2021-1-4_17-11-37.png
     
    Half Track likes this.
  9. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2010
    Messages:
    10,025
    Likes Received:
    3,366
    Also looks like the upper mid section is open...not unlike the Italian bomber...
    [​IMG]
     
    Half Track likes this.
  10. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,469
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    With even armoured frontal guns I bet facing armoured 20 mm frontal machine guns is no body's fun. I mean FW190 armoured planes.
     
  11. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,469
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    Tell me how many survived once the B-17 went into a dive after fatal hits? 2-3? The g forces simply alone would not let you jump away. It is awful to read how Schräge Musik in nachtjagd top scorers dropped 5 planes in ten minutes.
     
    Half Track likes this.
  12. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2010
    Messages:
    10,025
    Likes Received:
    3,366
    Plus no waist gun positions...
     
    Kai-Petri likes this.
  13. Half Track

    Half Track Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2017
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    949
    Location:
    Chambersburg Pennsylvania
    So, it looks like the op’s photo is the “real McCoy.”
     
    A-58 likes this.
  14. Takao

    Takao Ace

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2010
    Messages:
    10,104
    Likes Received:
    2,576
    Location:
    Reading, PA
    It was called "Project Reed", and nicknamed "Project Dreamboat".

    While the project's findings did enhance the performance of the B-17, the interruption to production was deemed not worth the cost. However, some of the projects findings were implemented in the B-29 & B-32
     
    A-58 and Half Track like this.
  15. Takao

    Takao Ace

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2010
    Messages:
    10,104
    Likes Received:
    2,576
    Location:
    Reading, PA
    Not necessarily a common modification, but it was done to several B-17s. They would fly wing on the lead plane to provide additional frontal firepower. Also, note the lack of a bomb sight - they would toggle their bombs when the lead plane dropped his. This modification was done away with when the chin turrets began arriving in quantity.
     
    Half Track likes this.
  16. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2009
    Messages:
    9,263
    Likes Received:
    2,595
    A-58 likes this.
  17. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2008
    Messages:
    9,030
    Likes Received:
    1,823
    Location:
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Takao wins again!
    I don't see how eliminating the waist gunners would be seen as a benefit. If the new nose turret was firing to the left, the right side would be vulnerable. And that open top gunner's position seemed like not a great idea. Maybe another turret or something like that would be better.
     
  18. Takao

    Takao Ace

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2010
    Messages:
    10,104
    Likes Received:
    2,576
    Location:
    Reading, PA
    It shifted the aircraft's center of gravity to a more advantageous position.

    It allowed for a much wider cone of fire than the previous pintle or ball-and-socket mounts.

    There is no free lunch. A power mount with 2 MGs and ammo would add a good bit of wieght. Not to mention shifting the center of gravity further aft. Also, if there is trouble, it is easy to dump the gun...You can't get rid of a power turret.
     
    A-58 likes this.
  19. mcoffee

    mcoffee Son-of-a-Gun(ner)

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2009
    Messages:
    1,224
    Likes Received:
    436
    Its a Consolidate A6 turret that was used as the B-24 tail turret. Also on the nose of some B-24's, many carried the Emerson A-15 on the nose.
     
    Half Track likes this.
  20. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2008
    Messages:
    9,030
    Likes Received:
    1,823
    Location:
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Yes from reading the article posted about it it made total sense, and also what you mentioned about the added weight of the extra turret. But what I was getting at was the lack of waist gunners providing cover from the flanks so to speak.
     

Share This Page