B-17 Ball Turret oddity

ramc181 · Post by **ramc181** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 1:13 pm

Does anyone have any ideas what this is on this ball turret?

I'm trying to ID the individual aircraft, and I've narrowed it down to two, one of which had a standard turret, the other had a PFF radome.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks in advance,
PB

C-47B · Post by **C-47B** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:14 pm

Just a guess: Maybe it's damaged. Photo isn't that good.

C-47 John

b29flteng · Post by **b29flteng** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:41 pm

Entrance hatch being open?

jpeters · Post by **jpeters** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:55 pm

It's really hard to tell given the poor quality of the image. In all of my research on the ball turret and it's various models I've never encountered one with protrusions like this. The "Mickey" radome was rather slender and wouldn't give this type of irregular shape.

I guess it's a mystery!

John

ramc181 · Post by **ramc181** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:46 pm

Thanks all.

I was wondering if a damaged turret could look like this, or whether a PFF radome could delaminate in such a way as to appear that way.

The "lump" certainly looks more likely to be a panel from a ball turret.

All the best,
PB