WW II B-17G bomber waist gunner by danapommet
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
The last of the B-17G postings. The waist gunners, one on each side, used the same 50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns as the rest of the gunners, on this bomber. The waist gunners were back to back – defending each side of the bomber. I can’t imagine the noise. This opening has a Plexiglas window and keep in mind that this is a fantasy flight seeing tour aircraft. In actual combat, back in World War II, this was an open gun port and while in use, the waist gunners were most likely standing up, with bullet casings ejecting all over the place. It was very noisy, cold and not the smoothest of rides.
To my friends that don’t like guns, and this airplane was loaded with them, I apologize for the violence this series portrays.
This photo was taken January 22, 2010. Some data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft and/or Wikipedia.
Thanks for stopping by, taking a look and for all your previous comments and favs.
Dana
Comments (18)
Faemike55
Also, these aircraft and others prior and after were instrumental in winning the war, not to mention our massive industrial complex... great photo series Thank you for the ride
mgtcs
Excellent Dana, great photo really a wonderful job!
kbrog
Did you ever here simi-auto fire? These make way more noise! And in a metal shell! You might as well spent christmas morning in a bell-tower. Excellent capture!
Richardphotos
where would we be without them, under a hitler type a-hole?outstanding shot and you can not please everyone
blinkings
For the people who don't like guns......I don't either, but remember its guns like these and the brave men behind them that gave us the freedom we now take for granted.
psyoshida
What a horrible job to have, it's good to see what those who had to use them endured. Great photo.
BessieB
I agree with some of the comments, I hate guns and what they do however reality must not be ignored - a super series Dana, so thought provoking
bmac62
Hi Dana, Just been looking through your B-17 series of pictures. Isn't it some coincidence that auntietk and I just met a 50 mission crew mwmber (waist gunner) of a B-17 and posted his picture on January 31st. This was beyond a shadow of a doubt, a cold and dangerous place to fly and fight. The aluminum skin of the B-17 offered little or no protection against flying steel from flak guns or German machineguns. Excellent shot.
jendellas
Great close up, how many bullets does that thing fire, scary!!!!!
flavia49
fantastic picture and series. I must confess that I like guns. We have to fight in order to keep our freedom and my parents always told me to be grateful to people who gave our freedom back, that even if they got a lot of bombs in the process.
sandra46
superb, great!!!! I'm pacific, but never been a pacifist in my life!
goodoleboy
Terrific lighting, and not too harsh, so we can see the wonderful textures of the interior or the B-17, plus the machine gun and bandolier, of which I can't make out any bullets. And I, for one, like guns, of all shapes and sizes.
Alex_Antonov
Excellent!
mariogiannecchini
Great photo really a wonderful job!
MagikUnicorn
Awesome shot of the MACHINE GUN and Big Bullets ;-)
jocko500
very danger job but had to be done to win over the bad guys. very good shot. well compose too
Chipka
Intriguing and you provide a glimpse into something too few of us actually get to see or understand. Wonderful work on that level and this is a great photo as well. It brings home a lot of what's been forgotten lately, in this country at least, that freedom and all of that good stuff comes at a price. You have to defend it, stand up at a waist gun in the noisy, bumpy cold, and do what's right. I prefer this to push-button Nintendo Warfare, despite my aversion to warfare of any sort. This is an excellent picture and a wonderful reminder of what must often be done in order to protect things now taken so utterly for granted that many of us can't even think of them any more. I love this series for that alone, and that's not even touching on the great photography involved. Wonderful work!
Katraz
Great shot