Douglas A-20B upper flexible gun

[=FB=VikS]

Hello Everyone!

A-20B had an .50 M2 at top installed, but there is some questions:

- is there any schematics of this mount available?;
- some sources say it had an E-8 gun adapter - any information about it available?;
- gunsight installed at top is a kind of a telescopic gunsight (check attached pic) - any information about it? what kind of reticle it had? Magnification present? etc.

 

 

Thanks!

[MiloMorai]

Not about the gun but might contain info needed.

http://migrate.legendsintheirowntime.com/LiTOT/A20/A20_Av_4401_DA.html

[Matt]

No schematics, but a high quality photo of the mount on the B-17, which appears to be the same model.

[Gunsmith86]

Hello Everyone!

 

A-20B had an .50 M2 at top installed, but there is some questions:

 

- is there any schematics of this mount available?;

- some sources say it had an E-8 gun adapter - any information about it available?;

Page 102

- gunsight installed at top is a kind of a telescopic gunsight (check attached pic) - any information about it? what kind of reticle it had? Magnification present? etc.

Page 145

 

telescopic_gunsight.jpg

 

Thanks!

 

 

http://www.avialogs.com/index.php/en/army-manuals-and-guides/usa/army-air-forces/index-of-aeronautical-equipment-volume-5-armament.html

[DD_Arthur]

@ Gunsmith .  Check out page 145.

[LukeFF]

@ Gunsmith .  Check out page 145.

 

Good catch! 

 

From that page, it looks like that drawing number would yield more information. Question is, can it be found anywhere?

[MiloMorai]

Willis L Nye made 4 pages of highly detailed drawings of the A-20 for Model Airplane News in 1959. One  drawing has the rear gunner's mg mount.

 

 

Another of the drawings

[Bohica_Ice]

The Scope appears to be M84 or M82 Scope. It was a sniper scope not normally used on aircraft. This picture might be a rare situation.  Check third scope down in this image. http://s160.photobucket.com/user/swdobek/media/m82001.jpg.html   I maybe wrong but that is my guess.

 

In terms of the mount. The E-8 was used on the B-17 for a flexible mount that included spade grips and possibly a recoil reducer. Source: https://books.google.com/books?id=gla3CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=e8+gun+adapters&source=bl&ots=8SBqArYkHx&sig=JNl35eLz1dcnPP9qIxdUW1f4bvg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBsKzO8r_QAhVG8GMKHR8QA9QQ6AEIKTAC#v=onepage&q=e8%20gun%20adapters&f=false    You will find more info and reference images for that mount in terms of B-17 Waist Gunners using it. It is the exact same mount used on all B-17 E variants  and early F variants.

Edited November 23, 2016 by Bohica_Ice

[Custard]

Did the A-20B not have the same dual .30 gun mount as the DB-7B?

 

Pictured here: