Guncam footage - why aren't those gunners doing anything?

[choctaw111]

Originally Posted by Skarphol

I think it might be very difficult to see that the gunners are firing back at you. The tracers will probably not be visible as the bullets are coming towards the camera, and the muzzle flashes are probably washed away by the 300 km/h wind.

Skarphol

Here is an interesting fact regarding tracers used in bombers and gunner positions.
There was a special tracer made solely for the purpose of the enemy being able to see them.
They were designated the M21 Headlight and were several times brighter than a normal tracer. Some versions even had holes on the side of the bullet so the tracer element would burn out the side and even more visible.
The idea was to distract or intimidate the enemy pilots.

[Letum]

Gun footage in which the enemy fires back isn't usually kept.
If you show rookies image of the enemy firing back then there aren't as likely to try such effective (yet somewhat suicidal) approaches on the bomber's six.

[Royraiden]

Originally Posted by Letum

Gun footage in which the enemy fires back isn't usually kept.
If you show rookies image of the enemy firing back then there aren't as likely to try such effective (yet somewhat suicidal) approaches on the bomber's six.

Would be nice to see them though.There should be several guncam footage archived in different places.Would be nice to have access to every film we could.

[Fergal69]

I found the B17 getting shoot at by the ME110 a sad & poignant piece of film.

If there were crew in there, you are watching what could be their last moments, especially the tail gunner as that got a fair pounding.

[Sven]

Originally Posted by Fergal69

I found the B17 getting shoot at by the ME110 a sad & poignant piece of film.

If there were crew in there, you are watching what could be their last moments, especially the tail gunner as that got a fair pounding.

Yes nature can be very sad some times, hence the big red X on the right top of your screen.

The material was useful though for the Luftwaffe, finding weak spots in the aircraft, improving of accuracy for next sortie and more.

[BadAim]

Originally Posted by Sven

Yes nature can be very sad some times, hence the big red X on the right top of your screen.

The material was useful though for the Luftwaffe, finding weak spots in the aircraft, improving of accuracy for next sortie and more.

I'm curious what the hell war has to do with nature, and why a man has to be ridiculed for having feelings? It seems being a man at all has gone out of style.

[Sven]

Originally Posted by BadAim

I'm curious what the hell war has to do with nature, and why a man has to be ridiculed for having feelings? It seems being a man at all has gone out of style.

I didn't want to redicule anyone, but you have a choise you know to look the other way when you face sad events in history. Some of us do appreciate this all is available, and not poignant.
As far as I know BadAim, there's no alien life present here, so everything has to be nature, you'll see likewise events on Animal Planet, where the hunter hunts for the weakest prey and eats it, even though the prey could hardly resist himself or protect itself.

[BadAim]

Originally Posted by Fergal69

I found the B17 getting shoot at by the ME110 a sad & poignant piece of film.

If there were crew in there, you are watching what could be their last moments, especially the tail gunner as that got a fair pounding.

Yeah, mate. It's the price of freedom. Payed in those days by men who feared being found a coward more than they feared death, I fear that there are few of them left.

[MD_Titus]

Originally Posted by Fergal69

I found the B17 getting shoot at by the ME110 a sad & poignant piece of film.

If there were crew in there, you are watching what could be their last moments, especially the tail gunner as that got a fair pounding.

concur.

ball gunner as well, the turret takes a lot of hits.

[TheDawg]

Wasn't this a film of either a captured or DOA bomber used for propaganda? I spent a minute or two trying to find the original and the explanation that went with it without luck, trying to think of the site it first appeared on 5-6 years ago.