B-17 thing Interest Check

[John]

Hey all!

I am Callaghan and I would like to pitch my side mission RP to you!

So what I was thinking is an RP that follows the crewmen of a B-17G. This was a bomber in the service of the United States Air Force during the Second World War.

The Flying Fortress had 10 crewmembers who will be explained below. She carried either 8000 pounds or 4500 pounds of bombs depending on the mission (Short and long respectively).

So basically, we follow the crew as they go through the missions over the skies of Europe. Now, I don't have a set date yet, and thus it remains discussable. What is also still discussable is the station. Do we fly from England, or from Africa and later Italy?

Crewmembers:

Officers:
Pilot / Commander
Co-Pilot
Navigator / Flexible Gunner
Bombardier / Flexible Gunner, Chin Turret Gunner (B-17G)

Enlisted Men:
Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
Radio Operator / Flexible Gunner
Ball Turret Gunner
Left Waist Flexible Gunner
Right Waist Flexible Gunner
Tail Turret Gunner

NOTES:
Flexible Gunners had one .50 Caliber Machine Gun.
Chin, Top, Ball and Tail Turrets had two .50 Caliber Machine Guns.

[CTWDaBearJew]

Loved this era and the army air corps. I'm down.

[John]

Awesome

[Cabel]

I'm interested, probably with the Co-Pilot's position.

[Wax™]

I'm interested, not as the Ball Gunner though... Flying targets there... And I'm pretty sure once you were in the ball, you couldn't get out till landing? Unless I am confused with a different plane.

[John]

Awesome! If there are 2 more people, I'll put a character creating thing up!

[Guardian Cat of Yappa's]

I'm in, probably for a gunner (Not ball gunner though just because they were an easy target), though I did look it up out of curiosity of Wax's comment. The Ball gunners on the B17s did not actually enter the turret until they were airborne. As a safety precaution in-case the landing gears failed.

[Wax™]

Oh, ok... So they did enter it when the plane was air-born... I also heard that ball gunners were the ONLY crew men who would not wear parachutes due to the fact that the ball gun was that cramped, it would not fit.

[Guardian Cat of Yappa's]

Yeah that part is true, though if you were small enough (and we're talking SMALL like under 5'4 small) you could fit a chest parachute (though that sounds incredibly painful >,<)

[John]

Taken from the following wikepedia page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_turret

"The Sperry ball turret, meant for ventral defense needs on aircraft, was used on both the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator as well as the United States Navy's Liberator, the PB4Y-1. The Sperry ball turret was very small in order to reduce drag, and was typically operated by the shortest man of the crew. To enter the turret, the turret was moved until the guns were pointed straight down. The gunner placed his feet in the heel rests and then crouched down into a fetal position. He would then put on a safety strap, close and lock the turret door. The gunner sat in the turret with his back and head against the rear wall, his hips at the bottom, and his legs held in mid-air by two footrests on the front wall. This left him positioned with his eyes roughly level with the pair of light-barrel Browning AN/M2 .50 caliber machine guns which extended through the entire turret, and located to either side of the gunner. The cocking handles were located too close to the gunner to be operated easily, so a cable was attached to the handle through pulleys to a handle near the front of the turret. Small ammo boxes rested on the top of the turret and the remaining ammo belts were stowed in the already cramped turret by means of an elaborate feed chute system. A reflector sight was hung from the top of the turret, positioned roughly between the gunner's feet.

The turret was directed by two hand control grips with firing buttons similar to a one-button joy stick. Hydraulics normally powered elevation and azimuth. Hand cranks were available for backup. The left foot was used to control the reflector sight range reticle. The right foot operated a push-to-talk intercom switch.

On the B-17 the turret was close to the ground, but had enough clearance for takeoff and landing. However, the gunner did not enter the turret until well into the air, in case of landing gear failure. In the case of the B-24 the Liberator's tricycle landing gear design required that the turret mount be made upwardly retractable into the lower fuselage while the aircraft was on the ground, since with the ball turret deployed for operation, the shell of the turret would be too close to the ground. For both aircraft types, there was no room inside for a parachute, which was left in the cabin above the turret. A few gunners wore a chest parachute."

[RiddL]

Well... Im in as Navigator

[Wax™]

I wouldn't mind pilot or rear gunner.

[John]

I'm going to take the pilot for myself, so I can guide the RP along easier

[MrKill]

While the ball turret WAS a target, it was also the safest position to be in terms of battle injuries. I mean, think of it, you're in a metal sphere (Complete sphere other than the aiming port) that actually bounced incoming rounds off the turret. That, and the gunner was in a fetal position.

In reality, the bomber was the main target, not just the turret in question. That being said, this was just a reference. I don't actually want to participate in the RP, so good luck with it.

[Armory]

Co-poliot or the Tail gunner would be my first pick, but you know what I will volunteer for the ball gunner or any other positions if needed  

[AlphaWolf]

I'll do bombardier or navigator.

[CTWDaBearJew]

Flight Engineer/Top gunner sounds fun.

[John]

Alright! I will have the CC Thread up today!

[John]

CCT is up!