B-17 Bomber, Using Ring Sights for Fighter Range Estimation

The intent of this video is to describe how WWII B-17 Bomber’s gunners used their gun’s ring sight to estimate fighter interceptor’s range. Topics include:
1. Calling out fighters using hands of a clock
2. Importance of maintaining the sight base.
3. Standard B-11 35 mil-rad ring sight
4. B-17 bomber gunner’s effective range of 600 yards.
5. Using the ring sight to estimate range example.
Library of B-17 Gunstations and Gunsights:
B-17 Tail Gunner Survivability (part 1): • B-17 Bomber Crew Tail ...
B-17 Tail Gunner Combat Effectiveness (part 2): • B-17 Crew Tour of Duty...
B-17 Ball Turret (part 1) Crew Survivability: • B-17 Bomber Ball Turre...
B-17 Ball Turret (part 2) External Features: • B-17 Bomber Ball Turre...
B-17 Ball Turret (Part 3) Combat Effectiveness: • B-17 Ball Turret, Comb...
B-17 vs. B-29 Gunsights: • WWII B-17 vs. B-29 Bom...
B-17 Gunsights for Ranging: • B-17 Bomber, Using Rin...
B-17 Gunsights for Tracking: • B-17 Bomber Tracking a...
B-17 Browning .50 Cal Machine Guns: • B-17 Bomber's Browning...

[@julianshawyer4718]

This is an excellent source of information about WW11 US Bombers. They really are first class.

[@kenc9236]

Great video.

[@eaglescout1974]

I can’t imagine how these guys were able to estimate firing positions when the enemy is flying by at lightning speed. It must have been incredibly difficult.

[@rickblackwell6435]

Your videos need much broader viewing. Not sure how one makes that happen.