Behind the Brownings – Bomber gunner tales

Ground crew feed this B-17G’s 12 hungry Browning machine guns. Flying Fortresses usually carried between 6,000 to 10,000 rounds of ammunition on a mission. (Original WW II Kodachrome photo)

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High in the clear azure skies over Europe, parallel lines of white contrails were raked in lacy streams behind hundreds of bombers as they flew towards their assigned targets. Aboard each plane were 10 young men. Six of them were charged with protecting their plane, their squadron, their group, and most of all, each other from the savage attacks of German fighters. They were the air gunners of the United States Army Air Forces. The...

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All the stories featured in Flight Journal are as unique and varied as the airplanes and warriors who flew them. From popular warbirds like the P-51 Mustang and Me 109 to the Lockheed SR-71 and futuristic hypersonic fighters, we cover the whole spectrum of aviation. We’ve heard from countless readers over the years about how much they enjoy the compelling stories and beautiful photography.