Wow, I had no idea the top turrent gunner was practically standing up while he was in the firing position. Very cool. THANKS for sharing! Keep 'em flying!
I saw a video of Kermit Weeks' restored A-26. The upper turret had a switch to slew it forward and lock in position at Zero Azimuth [12' O'Clock] and Zero Elevation [level] and connect fire control to the pilot's salvo switch. Is the B-25 similiarly equipped?
I don't believe this could be done in any versions of the B25 Bendix upper turret that I am aware of. Being it was manned without any remote control, to fire forward it would have taken the gunner to do so in cooperation with the pilot. There is an interphone jack in the turret so the gunner has voice comms with all other crew. I believe the A26 used a remote periscope station for gunnery similar to B29s so in that system locking forward seems reasonable. I'd like to see that video of Kermits if you can send a link?
@@Type99mg Yes, I think you're right. The A-26 gunnery suite was a later system than the B-25's, even though the B-25H,/J were concurrent with the A-26B/C. If Douglas was also subcontracting on the B-29s, that would be the technonogy bridge to make the Invader more advanced. A B-25J with an 8 gun nose, and 4 more .50s in side blister packs didn't really need that much ''weight of metal'' in the forward salvo that another pair of .50 calibers would bring. I will look for the Kermit Weeks A-26 video I saw on UA-cam.
Wow, I had no idea the top turrent gunner was practically standing up while he was in the firing position. Very cool. THANKS for sharing!
Keep 'em flying!
I saw a video of Kermit Weeks' restored A-26. The upper turret had a switch to slew it forward and lock in position at Zero Azimuth [12' O'Clock] and Zero Elevation [level] and connect fire control to the pilot's salvo switch. Is the B-25 similiarly equipped?
I don't believe this could be done in any versions of the B25 Bendix upper turret that I am aware of. Being it was manned without any remote control, to fire forward it would have taken the gunner to do so in cooperation with the pilot. There is an interphone jack in the turret so the gunner has voice comms with all other crew. I believe the A26 used a remote periscope station for gunnery similar to B29s so in that system locking forward seems reasonable. I'd like to see that video of Kermits if you can send a link?
@@Type99mg Yes, I think you're right. The A-26 gunnery suite was a later system than the B-25's, even though the B-25H,/J were concurrent with the A-26B/C. If Douglas was also subcontracting on the B-29s, that would be the technonogy bridge to make the Invader more advanced.
A B-25J with an 8 gun nose, and 4 more .50s in side blister packs didn't really need that much ''weight of metal'' in the forward salvo that another pair of .50 calibers would bring.
I will look for the Kermit Weeks A-26 video I saw on UA-cam.
Very cool!