During WWII, one of the least-envied jobs in the Army Air Corps was the tail gunner position on a bomber. Completely isolated from the rest of the crew, and virtually "sewed in," the chances of surviving a shootdown of the bomber were slim to none. Enemy fighters loved to come in from the rear, and so facing a hail of bullets out there on the end of the plane was routine.
This is a picture of a mannequin (T/SGT Manny Quinn) installed in that position to give you some idea of the environment. This is a restored B-17G; I took the picture at an air show last year. My hat's off in remembrance of these guys and their crew mates who faced almost certain death in daylight bombing runs over Germany and elsewhere during the war.
John

This is a picture of a mannequin (T/SGT Manny Quinn) installed in that position to give you some idea of the environment. This is a restored B-17G; I took the picture at an air show last year. My hat's off in remembrance of these guys and their crew mates who faced almost certain death in daylight bombing runs over Germany and elsewhere during the war.
John