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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1437.PDF
JUNE 3RD, 1943 FLIGHT 579 AIR GUNNER TRAINING flown in Whitleys with Frazer Nash turrets. Now they are in the process of changing over to Avro Ansons with Bristol turrets. The sleeve targets are towed by Lysanders and Martinets. While practising air firing the pupils wear full flying kit and Mae West in order that conditions shall be the same as on operations. The shooting must not be haphazard. The cadets are " briefed " before they fly, they receive instructions as to the type of attack to be made. At the end of the flight they are interrogated in the same manner as they would be on returning from an actual raid. Rear Observers In addition to their duties as rear gunners'the cadets are expected to be rear observers also. This has proved very valuable on many occasions when the rear gunner has spotted something which had escaped the notice of the rest of the aircrew. Usually there are four pupil gunners in the Whitley who take their turn in manning the rear turret, and each uses different coloured ammunition so that a trace of colour is left round the hole which is drilled in the drogue. This enables the counting to be done without any possibility of doubt about who made the hits. An instructor flies with the pupils to watch their methods, give them advice, and see how their errors occur. When the Lysander returns the drogue is dropped on the airfield, to be retrieved by a motor cyclist, who brings it to a hut for counting the hits. By the time the drogue\irrives the pupils are leaving the aircraft and hurrying back to see what successes have been achieved. They count their score,, and a member of the W.A.A.F. marks with black ink the holes which have been counted, so they will nof be counted twice. Then there is firing practice with the aid of a cine camera gun. The cadet sits behind the cine gun in the turrets of an Anson or Whitley, on which a mock attack is made. From the developed film the instructor ca,n assess the degree of success achieved and show the pupil how he has erred. Emphasis at this station is, of course, on air firing, but there is plenty of ground practice too, on ranges and shoot- ing at clay pigeons. Time which is not spent in the air or in the classroom is utilised for practice on a row of various turrets—Frazer Nash, Boulton Paul and Bristol—- which are set up in a row outside one of the hangars. These all have power available, and sights can be made at the aircraft using the airfield. This ground practice is also carried out in full flying kit. Other Duties Besides his gunnery training there are other things that an air gunner must know. He has lectures on first aid. " Flight " photograph. Practising on a Frazer Nash 64 periscopic-s:ghted turret. A mirror sight between the two Brownings reflects the image up a tube to the mirror shown just in front of the face mask where it is viewed through a lens. This type is used for under-blister turrets. high-altitude flying, dinghy drill, air/sea rescue and the use of pyrotechnic signals. He is also responsible for the flares which are dropped to light up the targets or to take night photographs. In the early days of the war it was the gunner's job to load the flare shoots and release the flares. Now, of course, most of the flares are dropped by the earlier aircraft, and such photoflash and other flares as are dropped by the bombers are electrically released by the bomb-aimers, who use remote controls. While a cadet is on this course he has to work hard with- " t'Htjht " photograph. A sergeant instructor, wearing the air gunner's single wing, shows a pupil how to clear a jam in a .303m. Browning " Flight" photograph. Shooting on the range with a Boulton Paul four-gun turret trolley. The target represents an Me no.
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