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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 1340.PDF
JULY 12TH, 1945 [ Superfortress; and Features of the Famous American )otnber : Remotely Controlled Turrets : Ration Over Target Area : High Degree of Control Response TAIL TURRET NON-PRESSURISED EQUIPMENT AND STORAGE COMPARTMENT CONNECTING TUNNEL OPERATOR . TUNNEL ENTRANCE J.P MIGATOR General layout arrangement of the Superfortress with, inset, the pressurised compartments. Wing span 141ft. 3in., length 99ft., height 27ft. 9m. All-up weight 97,000 lb., wing area 1,734 sq. ft., wing loading 55.9 lb./sq. ft. Take-off power loading 11.02 lb./h.p. is a result of the cabins being deflated suddenly, as has been suggested. As may be seen from the accompanying drawings, the nose and midship compartments are joined by a spine tunnel, over the unpressurised twin bomb-bays, where intercommunication between the two emplacements is facilitated. The tail gunner is in a little pressurised com- partment of his own which is isolated from the others. Originally, the tail gunner had a 20 mm. cannon in addition to his two o.5oin. machine guns, but the cannon has since been deleted. All guns are remotely controlled, electronically, from sighting stations, and a singular fea- ture of fire control is that the government of individual turrets, or barbettes, can be undertaken from alternative sighting stations. Thus, the nose gunner (bombardier) controls both upper and lower forward turrets ; the mid- upper gunner controls the upper and rear turret, and can also handle the upper front turret if the nose gunner is not using it. The side gunners control the lower rear turret and can also control the lower front and tail turrets if the nose and tail gunners are otherwise engaged. Such a system affords great flexibility toward combating diversified attacks. Sighting motions and firing impulses of the gunner at his station are transmitted to a unit which • compensates for relative speeds, range, bullet drop, windage and parallax, and operates the turret or turrets accordingly. Surface Charactistics The high aspect ratio (11.5) wing used on the Super- fortress is something of a departure from Boeing's past practice, yet is claimed to have excellent characteristics among which are ample stall warning and a gentle stali. Modified Fowler type flaps are employed, and, when fully extended, increase the wing area by no less than 19 per cent. Tailplane and elevators are of the
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