50-caliber machine guns in the top, or dorsal, turret. Directly behind the flight deck were two, twin. The pilot typically manned the controls while the co-pilot operated landing gears, engines and firing controls. Twin yokes allowed the pilots to operate and control the aircraft. Inside the B-17 Flight DeckĪbove and behind the nose of the B-17, two officers occupied the flight deck-the pilot on the left and the copilot on the right. The most vulnerable aspect of the B-17 was a head-on attack, and many bombardiers and navigators were lost in missions.
B 17 bomber crew positions plus#
50-caliber machine guns out of the nose, one for each officer, plus a remote device for the machine guns on the chin turret. The navigator sat at a mounted table just behind the bombardier, where he laid out charts and maps to navigate the best course. The bombardier perched at the extreme front end, protected only by a Plexiglas window. Two officers occupied the nose of the B-17.
Lack of armor plating on the B-17 meant crews were also at risk from ground explosions which could penetrate the aircraft. Each gun could fire about 700 rounds per minute. 50-caliber machine guns for the waist gunner to defend the aircraft against side attacks. The main cabin was unarmored and outfitted with two, twin. The crew also required oxygen above 15,000 feet and oxygen tanks were located throughout the aircraft. Outlets in the sides of the aircraft allowed the crew to plug in electric suits to stay warm. Flying at altitudes above 27,000 feet meant it got very cold in the aircraft, often below freezing temperatures. The main cabin was barely tall enough for the crew to stand up straight. Crews of 10-a pilot and copilot, bombardier, navigator, radio operator and five gunners-occupied the small cabin for six to eight hours per mission. The first thing you’ll notice when peeking inside a B-17 is that it was built for combat, not comfort. There were two machine guns in the main cabin, operated by the waist gunner, in addition to several more throughout the aircraft. 50-caliper mounted machine guns, and is capable of carrying up to a 6,000-pound bomb load in a single mission. Built for strategic daylight bombing, the four-engine, heavy bomber B-17 is equipped with 13 Browning M-2.
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