Modified B-17 Waist Positions

[Steve Birdsall]

Interesting photo showing a unique B-17 interior. The only one I know of that was fitted out this way was 41-9043 "Peggy-D". Roger Freeman described the modifications as heavy and unwieldy and "soon deleted".



https://www.ebay.com/itm/325788938425?h ... Swq6Nkyk3C

[cfin2001]

Steve,

That does look like a rather heavy and unwieldy modification. I'd never seen a modification like this before. Thank you for sharing!

-Connor

[terveurn]

Interesting photo showing a unique B-17 interior. The only one I know of that was fitted out this way was 41-9043 "Peggy-D". Roger Freeman described the modifications as heavy and unwieldy and "soon deleted".

Heavy, unwieldy is an understatment. Presuming this photo is looking forward (the blast deflectors are forward) you are looking at ammo boxes near the tail, and the crap armour around the weapons all adding to a tail heavy condition.

I would hate to be in this ship with the CG thrown to the rear.

[terveurn]

there is another seller also with several shot showing the same set-up

gun armour 1.JPG

gun armour 2.JPG

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385044650121?h ... Sw2V5f7iHF

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384741981942?h ... Swd3FfEcfe

[cvairwerks]

Be willing to bet that the armor plate forward of the receiver weighs in at just about three times what the piece at the trigger end weighs. That would end up being almost a wash on balance.

[Steve Birdsall]

Margaret Bourke-White from LIFE took this photo of the contraption on the 97th Bomb Group's "Peggy-D".

[Steve Birdsall]

Another 97th Bomb Group B-17E with a modified waist gun was this one, 41-9174 from the 340th Bomb Squadron.

On the left is Major Paul W. Tibbets and next to him Sgt Chester C. Love, then John Hall in front of the waist window, and Sgt Arthur Napolitano and Lt Theodore Van Kirk in front of the star. Others not positively identified yet. Margaret Bourke-White photo.

[Steve Birdsall]

Turns out this is Sgt William N. Ewing from the 342nd Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group. He was a waist gunner and flew the August 17, 1942 mission with Lt George D. Burgess in 41-9042, The Berlin Sleeper. I’m not sure whether he was always part of the Burgess crew. This photo from the Roger Freeman Collection.