Wings of Freedom: B-17G Waist Guns

B17-G Waist Gun

Behind the ball turret are the two waist gunner positions, a .50 caliber machine gun on each side of the plane. As this is a B-17G, it features some improvements at the waist guns that were not present on earlier B-17 models.

B17-G Waist Gun

Most notable is the Plexiglas windows. On earlier B-17s, these windows were open to the outside, leaving the waist gunners exposed to the cold, 200mph wind. This left the gunners at risk of frostbite; they wore heated suits to fight the cold.

B17-G Waist Gun

Also, the B-17G's waist gunner positions are staggered; on earlier models they were directly across from one another, meaning the gunners sometimes got in each others way.

Here are the waist guns from inside the plane.

B17-G Waist Gun

B17-G Waist Gun

B17-G Waist Gun

B17-G Waist Gun

These positions proved to be more useful as a deterrent than they were at actually shooting down the enemy. The waist guns could not strike an enemy attacking head on. German fighter pilots discovered this early on and started attacking B17s head on, so the waist guns couldn't strike them until they had passed. As a result, a waist gunner would usually take the place of another gunner if injured, or would help the flight engineer make repairs if he needed help. If one of the waist gunners was away from his position, the other waist gunner would man both guns. The waist gunners were enlisted men, usually Sergeants or higher.

B17-G Waist Gunner’s View

B-17G Rear Compartment

This is a look at the B-17's rear compartment, looking toward the back. One of the waist guns and the rear hatch are visible. Beyond that is the tail, and the tail gunner's position.

Continue to B-17G Tail Gun…