B-17 turret available

[Taigh Ramey]

I have put a Sperry B-17 top turret for sale. Part of the proceeds will go toward our PV-2D Harpoon project so please spread the word to anyone who you think might have the slightest interest as we need as much as we can get. The more money raised from this sale the more the Harpoon gets so email this link to all who may be interested or at least anyone who might be able to spread the word for us.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181119277704

This is a display ready turret that rotates and elevated by hand. It isn't a complete turret as you can see but its the upper portion of the original ring casting, gun platform and dome mounted on a roller bearing ring gear so it moves very smoothly and elevates easily by hand. The turret is mounted on a three legged stand but it can also be easily mounted in a flying aircraft with some straight forward work to make the installation airworthy.

The Sperry upper is the hardest turret to find today so it is quite sought after by turret Geeks, collectors, museums and B-17 owners. It is a fact that there are more surviving B-17's around today than there are Sperry upper turrets. Most of the turrets on flying B-17's today are original, reproduction or fiberglass domes only with guns that are fixed in place. I believe that none of the turrets in B-17's flying today can rotate or elevate.

This turret has a factory original dome complete with its WWII Olive Drab paint on the outside and the Army Bronze Green paint on the inside still intact. It is a true museum piece as it was still sitting in the factory that made it in WWII. Thanks Albert for saving it! This dome and the gun platform are both unrestored and are original just as they were made. I did replace the center plex of the dome as it was missing when I got it but it has been replaced using the original hardware except for five screws and nuts.

What is cool about this type 6 dome is it is painted OD green which means it is from an early model B-17G as the later natural metal aircraft had domes that were painted silver.

Here is a YouTube video of my daughter taking the turret for a spin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp0kdA4znkQ

And a few photos:



















The turret is for sale here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181119277704

Here is a web page with more photos and information about the turret:

http://www.twinbeech.com/sperryturretforsale.htm

Thanks for spreading the word about this. As I mentioned the more it sells for the more the Harpoon gets and we sure can use every dime possible to keep the old gal up and running.

[Pat Carry]

Now that would be cool to have!

[Mark Allen M]

Well isn't that interesting. Anyone have a value for something like that? A discrete PM would be fine if public disclosure is inappropriate due to Taigh's ebay auction. Thx Mark

[Dan Johnson II]

I spy P38 style drop tanks under the wing of that Poon!

[hang the expense]

Well isn't that interesting. Anyone have a value for something like that? A discrete PM would be fine if public disclosure is inappropriate due to Taigh's ebay auction. Thx Mark

Its more than a dollar three ninty eight and worth every penny it fetches.

[Mark Allen M]

Its more than a dollar three ninty eight and worth every penny it fetches.

Looks like it's beginning to fetch some good pennies, good to see.

[m50a1ontos]

Shared it on my Facebook page.

[Taigh Ramey]

Shared it on my Facebook page.

Thanks for spreading the word. The more exposure the better chance we have of more bidders and more $'s for the Harpoon.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[gary1954]

for anyone not interested, the auction timed out with the highest bid of 22 bids reaching 7,600.oo Reserve not met.

[wendovertom]

ARGH! How is it that I always seem to miss these? Wendover needs a turret for display! Oh well - maybe taigh will put it up again?!

Tom P.

[Chris Brame]

Have any of the owners of current B-17 restoration projects expressed interest? In particular, I was wondering if it would be correct for the movie Memphis Belle, which currently has the turret from the Black Cat Pass B-17E, which in turn would be correct for Desert Rat/Tangerine.
Just a thought, of which I seem to have too many...

[gary1954]

ARGH! How is it that I always seem to miss these? Wendover needs a turret for display! Oh well - maybe taigh will put it up again?!

Tom P.

Call Taigh and make him an offer he can't refuse, don't wait around for him to post it 'cause someone is going to beat you to the punch! He wants the money for his project, it's not a public service he's offering. These things don't happen very often, if ever - do it!

I would venture a "Speculation" that the reserve on this was "probably" around the 10K figure but Taigh will know the secret to that one