Warbird Information Exchange

A big thanks goes out to Robert Kropp for helping identify these two parts as gun mounts for a B-17G Bendix Chin Turret. I was curious if anybody out there knows of any B-17G's that might be in need of one of these? I've already contacted the Urbana guys and I know Desert Rat never had a chin turret. Any others currently going through restoration? I'm also curious if anyone out there might have a ballpark on what one of these might run? I've never seen one so I'm guessing they are kind of rare.

Thanks in advance!

John

Hey John,

If they need a home, you're more than welcome to donate them to VFM! We'll gladly accept donations of any kind of B-17 parts.

Unfortunately, Chuckie doesn't have a chin turret...

Cheers!

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

That's what I was thinking...get a chin turret on Chuckie! What do ya say, I see you have two, could you part with one? Besides, they aren't really ball turret parts... IF we need to, perhaps another WIX fundraiser?

-Dennis S.
Greeley, CO

_________________
"We must bond together and fight as brothers or we will all die as fools."

(Pat, correct me if I'm wrong here)
I have talked with Doc about a turret on Chuckie and he has no desire to put one on. He talks about Pathfinders without the turret and about more drag on the airplane and some other concerns.

Now if any one has parts for the H2X Radar installation in the ball turret sopt let Doc know.


http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/wwii/photos/gallery_005/B-17%20pathfinder%20with%20H2X%20radar.jpg

_________________
Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Zane:
"Chuckie" did indeed have a chin turret on it at one time. However Chin Turrets are in pretty short supply today. I'd love to get my hands on one. Just a fun piece of triva, "Chuckie" did NOT have a radio operators gun installed. By that point in production it was determined that they were of little value in combat.

Patrick Mahaffey
B-17 "Chuckie" pilot/mechanic

I know at least two 8AF B17 pilots that flew "G" models without a radio compartment gun. One was surprised to know that any 8th AF G models had a gun in the radio compartment.

So the question is: did any 8th AF "G" models have that gun, or is it my faulty memory?

thanks all.

Hi

I send you a PM, I what to buy one of these mount for a restoration.

Thank you

Got the P.M. Ricardo and just sent you back a response. Thanks also for the information on these parts going to a B-25 upper turret as well. I never knew that before but then again, I guess it makes sense since Bendix made both types of turrets.

John