Ventral Turrets
{{storedairimage,ventralturret.jpeg,float:right;width:400px;margin-left:10px;,Orginal Ventral Turret. Discontinued
early.}}
As originally designed the Lancaster was provided with ventral defence in the form of a Nash and Thompson
FN64 turret, which was fitted to some early production aircraft. However, in common with all other periscope sighted
ventral turrets, the narrow viewing angle made it almost impossible for gunners to acquire and track targets,
and the few turrets which were installed were soon removed from service.
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{{storedairimage,2_DS707_7-6-44.jpg,width:400px;,Note: 50 cal gun pointing at 45°}}
{{storedairorigimage,Mod_925ventral50calMG-1.jpg,width:400px;,Original Drawings. Right click for larger view.}}
{{storedairimage,3 _W4766.jpg,width:400px;,W4766 from 61 Squadron}}
The ventral .50 inch (50 calib) was approved as Lanc Mod.925 during February 1944, and was one of a number of
unsuccessful
measures taken to counter night fighter attacks from below.
The growth of the Luftwaffe night fighter force was followed by an increase in the in the number of attacks from
below, exacerbated from August 1943 onward by the introduction of aircraft equipped with Schrage Musik upward firing
20mm cannon. A number of responses were considered by Bomber Command including a free mounted ventral .50 calibre
Browning machine gun, which was approved on the Lancaster as Modification 925 during February 1944.
The modification was very basic, consisting of little more than an enlarged bicycle seat for the gunner and a simple
free mounted gun with open sights which fired through the ventral turret/H2S aperture. On aircraft with bulged bomb
doors the mounting (often unpainted) was incorporated into the fairing at the rear of the doors.
Non-H2S fitted aircraft were sporadically equipped with the gun from February 1944 onward, although a clear plan for
installation appears to have been lacking.
The quantity of aircraft which actually had the gun installed is unknown and photos of the mounting with a Browning
actually installed are very rare.
Serious problems quickly became apparent, as noted in the following V Group monthly newsletter for
April 1944:- "With the gunner strapped in his seat it is difficult to follow the gun round on the beam;
it is difficult for the gunner to get his head down behind the sight as it tends to push the oxygen mask upwards on
the gunners face; and also considerable vibration is experienced on the sight when the gun is fired."
These problems, plus the gradually more widespread introduction of H2S saw the gun fall out of use quite quickly,
although it does appear to have been retained on some aircraft until war's end (most notably in 3 Group).
The quantity of aircraft which actually had the gun installed is unknown and photos of the mounting with a Browning
actually installed are very rare.
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{{storedairorigimage,75SqnORBextractMarch1945.jpg,float:right;width:400px;margin-left:10px;,75 Squadron ORB March 1945}}
Notice on these aircraft the extra position in the eight person crew of Mid-Under-Gunner.
Winnipeg, ManitobaAddendum: MYNARSKI, Pilot Officer Andrew Charles (J/87544) - Victoria Cross - No 419 Squadron - Awarded as per London Gazette dated 11 October 1946 and AFRO 1042/46 dated 1 November 1946. Born in Winnipeg, 1916; home there (fabric cutter); enlisted there 29 September 1941. Trained at No 3 BGS (graduated 18 December 1942). Presented by AOC, No 2 Air Command to his mother in Winnipeg. The citation reads - "Pilot Officer Mynarski was the mid-upper gunner of a Lancaster aircraft, detailed to attack a target at Cambrai in France, on the night of 12th June, 1944. The aircraft was attacked from below and astern by an enemy fighter and ultimately came down in flames. As an immediate result of the attack; both port engines failed. Fire broke out between the mid-upper turret and the rear turret, as well as in the port wing. The flames soon became fierce and the captain ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft Pilot Officer Mynarski left his turret and went towards the escape hatch. He then saw that the rear gunner was still in his turret and apparently unable to leave it. The turret was, in fact, immovable, since the hydraulic gear had been put out of action when the port engines failed, and the manual gear had been broken by the gunner in his attempts to escape. Without hesitation, Pilot Officer Mynarski made his way through the flames in an endeavour to reach the rear turret and release the gunner. Whilst so doing, his parachute and his clothing up the waist were set on fire. All his efforts to move the turret and free the rear gunner were in vain. Eventually the rear gunner clearly indicated to him that there was nothing more he could do and that he should try to save his own life. Pilot Officer Mynarski reluctantly went back through the flames to the escape hatch. There, as a last gesture to the trapped gunner, he turned towards him, stood to attention in his flaming clothing, and saluted, before he jumped out of the aircraft. Pilot Officer Mynarski's descent was seen by French people on the ground. Both his parachute and his clothing were on fire. He was found eventually by the French, but was so severely burnt that he died from his injuries. The rear gunner had a miraculous escape when the aircraft crashed. He subsequently testified that had Pilot Officer Mynarski not attempted to save his comrade's life, he could have left the aircraft in safety and would, doubtless, have escaped death. Pilot Officer Mynarski must have been fully aware that in trying to free the rear gunner he was almost certain to lose his own life. Despite this, with outstanding courage and complete disregard for his own safety, he went to the rescue. Willingly accepting the danger; Pilot Officer Mynarski lost his life by a most conspicuous act of heroism which called for valour of the highest order. Detail provided by H Halliday, Orleans, Ontario
Recherche de France-Crashes 39-45
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
International Bomber Command Centre
www.findagrave.com
When a Gunner Fought Through Hell To Save a Friend -YouTube
Wikipedia
Squadron History (Bomber Command Museum)
