Ball turrets were rotating casings for weapons on aircraft during WWII. They allowed gunners to fire on attacking aircraft but were difficult and dangerous to operate. Modern aircraft use remote weapon systems instead. Replicas of ball turrets can be seen in military museums.
A ball turret is a rotating casing for weapons mounted on the body of an aircraft to allow the gunner to fire on attacking aircraft. This particular type of weapon system was used during World War II. Modern aircraft generally employ remote weapon systems, eliminating the need for a case large enough to accommodate a weapon and its operator.
The ball turret is designed to rotate, allowing the gunner to change position to hit oncoming aircraft. It essentially works like a big, hollow ball bearing. In some aircraft designs it retracts when not in use, while in others it is permanently locked in place. The most famous design of World War II was probably the Sperry ball turret. The spherical shape was barely large enough to support the gun, ammunition, and gunner, and the gunners were forced to curl up in a fetal position to fire the gun. Even more inconvenient, the rotation could leave the gunner upside down while he handles the gun and ammo.
Serving in a turret was difficult and unpleasant work. He was isolated from the rest of the crew and communication was difficult at times. The exposed position made the weapon operator vulnerable to enemy fire, increasing fear of being wounded or killed while the rest of the aircraft crew survived. While pilots were statistically in greater danger, the idea that the gunner’s position was the most dangerous persisted at many airfields.
Free-standing replicas of ball turrets can be seen on display at some military museums, for people interested in seeing what they looked like. Complete aircraft with ball turrets in place are also available for display in some areas. Some of these aircraft have been painstakingly restored and cared for to mimic 1940s conditions as accurately as possible. As people who get the chance to sit in one will find, the quarters are cramped and there is limited cushioning for comfort.
A famous poem published in 1945, “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner,” highlights the isolation and risks of serving as a gunner. The poet’s author, Randall Jarrell, summed up the experience in just five lines, concluding: “When I died they hosed me out of the tower.” The poem has been widely reprinted and discussed in school curricula, and like many authors who became famous for just one of their pieces, Jarrell sometimes lamented the popularity of this particular work.
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