[ARC5] [Milsurplus] Name This Bomber

[J. Forster]

> On 21 Mar 2012 at 7:52, J. Forster wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> The aft ball turret(s) are on the side of the plane. The center of the
>> ball lines up just about exactly with the beginning of the fillet
>> from the fuselage to the vertical stabilizer.
>
> Hmmmmm....those don't sound like "turrets" to me, but observation
> blisters.
> Are there guns in them? I would doubt it, but can you tell for sure?

I can see guns:

Nose 2x
Tail 1x ?   in shadow
Side 1x

Also, the notes say:

6 turrets 500 rds 50 cal
1000 rds in tail

>> The pic says 6 turrets, but I only see 4 (3). I missed the tail turret
>> before. I presume the side turrets are symmetric.
>
> From the other typo (200 miles vs 2000) I would think that whoever wrote
> the
> captions was not really familiar with aircraft. Therefore, they may call
> observation blisters, "turrets".

Maybe, but the ammo description says otherwise.

>> Does a turret have to have a gun?
>
> In my experience, yes. Turrets are turnable to follow attacking aircraft:
> observation blisters are not, but to the untrained eye, they could look
> the same.
>
>> There is a transparent hemisphere on
>> the top of the plane, somewhat aft of amidships.
>
> That is an observation blister for the navigator to take star and sun
> sights.
> This indicates a long-range aircraft of some sort. Generally, short-ranged
> aircraft did not need observation blisters for the navigator...at least
> not large
> ones.
>
> Is this a high-wing type of plane or a midwing?

To me, looks more high than mid.

Is it a flying boat?

No. It looks to have swtuff down low.

> Is the wing "cranked"?

No

> I am thinking of the Martin Mars. There were several
> replacements for the PBY, some of which were fairly "rare" in that not
> many were built. There were only 7 of the Martin "Mars" built. The Mars'
> wing was not cranked, but it was a high-wing, single-tail, 4 engined
> flying boat. Quite large.

IMO, not a flying boat.

> Your description of that observation blister reminds me of something
> which I cannot quite place or complete in my memory, of some sort of
> long-range observation aircraft or bomber and a story by the navigator
> that went with it which I read on the net some time ago.
>
> The plane in that story was not a Mars though.
>
> Ken W7EKB


Best,

-John

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