Originally Posted by
Downwind.Maddl-Land
Here's a question I ought to know the answer to, but don't!
As a generalisation, standard Bomber Command 'heavy' crew composition (101 Sqn excepted) was:
Rear gunner
Mid/upper gunner
Radio Operator
Navigator
Flt Eng
Pilot
Bomb aimer/front gunner.
Many Lancaster Mk IIs and later Halifaxes were equipped with under defence armament (FN64 and Preston-Green positions respectively); my question is: who manned these positions, or was the crew increased to 8?
I have always believed that the Wop/Ag manned the the ventral or 'dustbin turret'.
They were fitted on numerous Bomber Command Aircraft.
They were in Wellingtons' early in the war, featuring in the early attacks on the German Navy in 1939.
Most people don't realise that the Lanc was originally designed with a ventral turret and early versions of the Halifax had them as well.
Also, the Preston Green turret, was a simple fixing with a .5 MG through the floor. It was fitted I think to all MkIII Halifaxes, but was removed due to H2s.
I think the Canadians were the main users of this.
Looking at casualty lists, there does not seem to be any extra crew member carried for it,
so the Wop/Ag would have been tasked with its operation.