Waist Gunner

So, Sergeant B - a B-17 waist gunner during a pass by a FW-190, eh? Like this?

(reputed to be a photo of the former Marine while waiting for Engine Start)

Hi-res, click here.

If this post doesn't make any sense to you... read the comments in this post. I just felt like I needed to get something up (Thanks for covering, Dusty!). Due to a massive changeover in client IT structure today, all my planned posts are in email limbo... I don't post from the office - but today it didn't matter - email is locked up tight due to, well, unanticipated problems. Or perhaps they were anticipated... but we're just gonna live with 'em while they work through this reconfig!

SGT B - I *am* interested in the simulated pass by the FW-190's - I know of one that is in restoration to flyable condition - but I didn't know of any that were flyable... was this one of the 3/4 scale kit birds? Or has that 190 gotten into the air and I just missed it?

BTW - if you didn't already - go back up and click on the link to SGT B's post about his private motor pool. Oh heck. Just click here!

Update: Castle Neophyte MCart (thanks, Barb!) proves you don't have to be a Denizen to have Good Stuff to contribute. Yanked up from the comments because it's a good story I hadn't heard before:

There are many incarnations of the B-17. For instance the prototype YB-40 saw actual combat. It was an attempt at providing long range escort for the bombers. P-38's were having cold weather mechanical problems with their Allison engines, and no other long range escort craft were forthcoming. Overall the program was considered a failure, but a interesting attempt none the less. They removed the bomb carrying capacity, added a chin and top turrets, dual .50 waist gunners, and armor plating for the crew. Unfortunately it couldn't keep up with the regular 17's after they had dropped their payloads.

One of them was involved in an interesting encounter. It bagged an Italian ace, Guido Rossi. In 1943 a P-38 ran out of fuel and ditched outside Sardinia. The pilot was overwhelmed by locals before he could use his pistol to ignite the tanks and burn the craft. Rossi had the clever idea of using the captured P-38 to kill wounded B-17's returning from bombing missions as stragglers. He bagged several bombers this way. One B-17 Pilot, Lt. Harold Fisher survived an attack, and had trouble convincing others that he was shot down by a 'friendly'.

Fisher was persistent and obtained command of a prototype YB-40 gunship, and flew several missions lagging behind the rest of the bombers trying to lure out the 'Phantom' P-38. As intelligence was gathered in Italy, they discovered Rossi and his captured '38 did indeed exist and had a wife in Constantine. Allies occupied this city, so when the nose art was applied to the YB-40, the artist used a photo of Rossi's wife, and named the gunship after her, 'Gina'.

Fisher flew a mission on August 31st that year, and was actually damaged in the bombing raid, so with two engines out, the YB-40 was even slower, and flew back completely solo. Sure enough, a P-38 approached, one engine feathered, and asked to join up for the trip back in very good english. Fisher almost fell for the same trap again. With the extra firepower of the friendly P-38 along, everything was being unloaded, guns, ammo, armor plate, anything to keep the YB-40 in the air. At this point Rossi came over the radio with an innocent question. "Gina, nice name. Your girl?" Fisher froze and ordered his men to keep their guns, and started baiting Rossi with details of his 'relationship' with Gina of Constantine.

Rossi became enraged, fired up the 'dead' engine, and circled around, intending to fire right through the nose, cockpit and the entire length of the YB-40. The '40 had an innovation that was later added to all B-17's, a chin turret. As Rossi came in, he faced down a total of 8 forward firing .50's. As the P-38 came apart Rossi even tried to ram the YB-40, but could not maintain flight. He ditched and was picked up by Allied pilot rescue and remained a prisoner for the remainder of the war.

Lt. Harold Fisher received the Distinguished Flying Cross for the encounter, and Major Fisher was killed during a crash in the Berlin Airlift. Former Lt. Guido Rossi attended his funeral out of respect.

I found a website with pics. Keep it up, MCart, you may find yourself on the Denizen roster... and the cancer in Shaitan-in-Redmond will grow deeeeper!