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Posted by Alan Morton Here's some additional information you might find informative about your relatives position as a Waist Gunner on the B-17 bomber. You mentioned something about an injury to Charles in connection to the Waist Gunners position. Immediately forward of the two Waist Gunner's positions was a Ball Turret that hung partly outside the aircraft. It was a sphere that could be entered from inside the fuselage by the Ball Turret gunner with the aide of the Waist Gunner. The two gunners worked as a team. Once the Ball Turret was physically turned with the two 50 caliber guns pointing down toward the earth it exposed a entry hatch, when opened allowed for ingress and egress by the Ball Turret Gunner aided by the Waist Gunner. The Ball Turret Gunner's life depended on the Waist Gunner's support. Usually, but not guaranteed ... the Ball Turret Gunner would be a short stature person that could easily roll up in a contorted ball and stay inside this contraption for extended periods of time over enemy territory to protect the Bomber's underside from German fighter pilot attacks. I mention this Ball Turret position for I flew as the bomber's Flight Engineer and operated the Top Turret. I wanted to see and feel getting into this Ball Turret. I was just over six feet tall. I was helped by our Waist Gunner as to how to step down into See: http://457thbombgroup.org/walkthru/b17-11.jpg I mention the above because Waist Gunner Charles Hrubos could have easily been hurt by this Ball Turret and explains his extended hospitalization. Here's another idea to explore! Call or write the Swedish Embassy in Washington, DC and ask for their help. Send all the information I provided herein about the Lt. Robert Krumm B-17 Bomber and crew's internment back in 1944 and the specific mission date and German target. Sweden has all the data regarding the Krumm crew during WWII and their eventual release. Good Luck.
on 5/6/2007, 9:49 pm, in reply to "Charles Hrubos"
75.83.113.51
Hi Marie ...
this little sphere and straddle my legs around a gun-sight and have two 50 caliber guns and ammunition on each of my sides. Then the turret hatch was closed and locked over my back. The controls to operate this Ball Turret were over and behind my head.
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