The turret in question could be found at the bottom of a B-17 bomber — a plexiglass ball containing two .50-caliber machine guns and a very short gunner. The sphere could pivot to fend off attacking ...

The ball turret in the B-24 was electrically raised and lowered, unlike those on B-17 bombers, which had to be manually cranked into the fuselage. Otherwise, there was no way to exit into the ...

WWII veteran William Bieber, famed for his bravery as a ball turret gunner in the Army Air Corps, was celebrated for his remarkable service.

Janet Hill talks with Lloyd Gabriel during his 100th birthday party at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 379 in Yakima Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. Gabriel was a ball-turret gunner on a B-17 in World War ...

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters ...

In February 1944, during the notorious Big Week campaign, a ball turret gunner was forced to take the controls of a heavily damaged B-17 bomber. With nearly no flight training and surrounded by ...

Clair Smith of Huntington served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a ball turret gunner. Here are some experiences he shared about his time in the war. HUNTINGTON-- Shortly after Pearl ...

After 35 missions as the ball turret gunner in the "Fort Worth Jailhouse" crew's B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II, Flagstaff's Sgt. Vern Hammond said he is lucky enough to be around today ...

Decades after being shot down over Germany, WWII veteran brought home Francis Wiemerslage, a native of suburban River Grove, was a 20-year-old ball turret gunner on a B-17G Flying Fortress bombing ...

The cramped quarters meant the gunner was the only crew member who could not wear a parachute during a mission. He had to exit the turret into the fuselage to put it on.

As 101-year-old Lester Schrenk climbed into the front seat of an open-cockpit bi-plane, he impressed the pilot who was about ...