Us Official Photographs

B-17 Waist Gunners On Alert

8th AIR FORCE B-17 FLYING FORTRESS --- Waist gunners keep sharp look-out for "Bandits". They also keep on the alert that ball-turret gunner and tail gunner (both in isolated positions) are Okeh -- that their oxygen hasn't gone out, or heating suits gone out, or their interphone gone "dead". Shown here swinging their guns through the waist windows are (L to R): S/Sgt. Basil J. Crone, Wichita, Kan., 28 missions, air medal with 3 clusters; and S/Sgt. Gilbert D. Spangler, Winston-Salem, N.C., 20 missions, air medal with 2 clusters. Long cylindrical tubes running along gun-butt are oil buffers absorbing jarring chatter of machine gun enabling steadier aiming.