I have just aquired a WW2 .50 cal aircraft gun and i’m in the process of restoring it. It came from a P38 crash, that happened at Goxhill Airfield in ’44. I’ve been thinking of changing it to the type of gun used in the waist of the B17 and wondered if US gunners ever had names on their guns, or had kill markings on them similar to aircraft?
By: QldSpitty - 9th February 2009 at 22:01
Not on the guns but kill markings went on the skin just outside their stations.
By: J Boyle - 9th February 2009 at 21:45
None that I’ve seen.
The most basic treason: guns were frequently removed from the aircraft for servicing or when the aircraft was parked between missions.
I doubt if bomber gunners knew (or cared) if they had the same weapon twice. They may have had to check them out of a central armory and their serial number would be noted, but I doubt if they paid much attention.
The only time I’ve head of guns having names is in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars.
That piece of trivia courtesy of Patrick O’Brian’s “Master and Commander” series.
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February 9, 2009 at 8:57 pm