Warbird Information Exchange

Long time lurker, second post. I don't yet know how to post pics, but the famous shot of this fort over Marienburg seems to show the waist guns stowed. Has anyone else noticed this? It seems odd to me since they are relatively close to the target. Any thoughts?

Chris

A very good question! Someone here would know.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I believe they merely pushed out of the way for the time being. If there were stowed, the entire gun would be inside the airplane, and the muzzles wouldn't be showing at all.

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

Anyone have the picture. I would like to see it.
Thanks

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When you meet a Veteran shake his or her hand and thank them, they earned your freedom.
I plan to fly in as many B-25 as possible be fore I die! B-25 for ever!!!

Here is the picture in question.

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

my two cents it looks to me like all guns are pointed rearwards and to the right maybe there was an incoming enemy fighter these guys did comunicate with each other!!

As I recall, this photo is of the Marianberg raid on the Focke-Wulfe plant in 1943. Unfortunately I'm traveling so don't have access to materials needed to confirm this. However, note red-ringed national insigna used only in mid-43.

During this period of the war two waist gunners were considered SOP.

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Daviemax
Researcher of Post-War B-17 History
Maintains database of B-17s used from 46- on.