The life and death of a tail gunner...

[Photon440]

Billy was the first to die.​

In the afternoon of October 15, 1942 Joseph William “Billy” Dubroy of Ottawa, crushed out his Gold Flake cigarette, blew a last long stream of smoke out the side of his mouth and pushed himself out of the tired brocade armchair in the Sergeants’ Mess at RAF Pocklington. At 21 years, 5’ 6” and just 120 lbs, he was no more than a boy in stature and age, but the two-year struggle to get to this point had left him worn, hard and edgy.

Read the whole (true) story here: The DuBroy Sacrifice – Billy — Vintage Wings of Canada

 

[Budnicks]

RIP Billy,
you were a tough hero of sorts

 

[Richard Cranium]

On a related note, a good friend restores tail & ball turrets for WWII bombers.

http://northamericanrestorations.com/Video/BallTur.MOV

http://northamericanrestorations.com/images/turrets/ptboat/turretdemo.mp4

http://northamericanrestorations.com/images/turrets/ptboat/leofilms.mp4