The tail gunner on a military plane operates the rearmost gun, protecting the aircraft from attacks from behind. Equipped with powerful guns, the tail gunner can fire directly at oncoming aircraft and warns the crew of any imminent threats. However, the position is also vulnerable, and the gunner is often one of the first casualties.
A tail gunner operates the rearmost gun on a military plane. Protecting the aircraft from attacks from the rear, the tail gunner fires when approaching enemy aircraft and alerts the other gunners to any imminent threats approaching from the rear. Commonly equipped with two .50 caliber machine guns or an electric Gatling gun, the tail gunner packs enough firepower to stop most threats. The accuracy of the tail-mounted gun is so great that many pilots do not want to engage any aircraft equipped with this gun. On bombing missions, the position of the tail gun also registers the success and accuracy of the bombing as the plane moves away from the target.
An airplane is typically most vulnerable from behind, as the pilot often has little or no vision of approaching the aircraft from behind. By placing a tail gunner at the rear of the plane, the attacking aircraft must face a barrage of bullets if it tries to bring the plane down with a rear strike. Unlike a waist gunner who must take his aim into account on a fast moving plane, the tail gunner is capable of firing directly at an oncoming aircraft, resulting in a much better hit and kill rate.
The tail gunner position is also responsible for warning other crew members of any aircraft or plane formation approaching the plane from the rear. This advanced rear-facing gunner warning allows the crew to ready their weapons and be alerted to the oncoming attack. By virtue of having the best view of a target as the plane leaves the target area, the tail gunner records bomb strikes, calculates target damage, and often takes photographs of the target area. These photos and reports are commonly used to determine requirements for return strikes at a destination.
Unfortunately, the tail gunner’s position is also a very vulnerable position, as approaching aircraft are able to fire directly at the rear of the plane. Lacking heavy armor, the tail gunner is often one of the first casualties of the aircraft’s crew. This is also true when a plane is hit by fire on the ground or the crew is forced out for whatever reason. The tight position at the tail of the plane makes it difficult or impossible for the rear gunner to escape through the rear hatch. Especially difficult is escape from a rotating plane, as inertia makes it almost impossible for the gunner to get out of the plane.
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