The Last Tail Gunners

[@fightertales]

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/fightertales Hellion's Website and Patreon: www.ratsnest.me/ patreon.com/lavendersoldier Falcon's Fighter-Town Discord: discord.gg/falconsfightertales

[@Bsquared1972]

Former B-52G gunner, 1980-1983. You covered all of the high spots well, we were quite proud of the two conformed kills in Viet Nam. Cheers!

[@fightertales]

Thank you so much for watching and for what you did. This is for you guys!

[@co2oblivious627]

Thank you so much for your service

[@CasualStrategist]

nice

[@CasualStrategist]

Thank you for your service

[@nightraven836]

next thing we know, we've got new bombers coming out with CIWS turrets to shred apart anything with balls enough to get into intercept range of the bombers.

[@destroyerofcringe3475]

Dude the fact that B-52s have been around for over half a century is nothing short of fantastic to me, there could be a family who have had something like 3-4 generations who have been in B-52s

[@timsmith618]

I am almost certain that not only have there been families with three generations of B-52 crew members, there have been families where all three of those generations have flown on the *exact same airframe.*

[@wagahagwa6978]

live by the b52, die by the b52

[@quillmaurer6563]

@@timsmith618 Would be interesting seeing conversations between father, son, grandfather about that same ol' bird.

[@Yabois_]

i hope not 4 generations...

[@Dezzasheep]

They are projecting that some airframes will make it to a century after modifications and updates.

[@zachwelch9862]

Hey, helis have ramp gunners, there’s still some hope for tail gunners

[@shaider1982]

Yup, I think, at present, that'a the only gun a V22 has.

[@acemcbeanpiff]

​@@shaider1982 I may be wrong and it's highly probable I saw this in a video game, but I SWEAR that the Chinook could have a ramp gunner

[@Alpha_0ne276]

​@@acemcbeanpiff It does, the British one has a GPMG in the back, I'm not sure about the American one

[@sargesacker2599]

@@acemcbeanpiff We can add the CH-53 family to that list.

[@user-vp9lc9up6v]

​@@shaider1982it has a belly gun too

[@teatanks6481]

the bomber gunner is a fantasy lauded mostly for its oddity in air combat: it's a flying box that has all these individual machine guns firing off like some sort of naval vessel. The almost bizarre nature of its existence combined with the fading relevance lends to that sense of wonder about its existence. Hopefully if the military does a Horseshoe back around itself due to too much advancement in technology we'll see a revival in the need for a tail gunner.

[@frostedbutts4340]

I'm choosing to believe that space bombers will have manned laser turrets and you can't stop me

[@Cyanfox3006]

I'm one of the believers of future multi turreted tanks and "tail guns". At this point, both can be revived (from technological aspect). Why did multi turreted tanks failed? Too heavy/unreliable/clunky. Apart from that they were formidable opponents, and now if we make a fully automated multi turreted (there can be semi-conventional design: one main turret + smaller AA/general purpose turrets on top of it). In fact, modern tanks which have sophisticated anti missile defense, its already multi turreted. So i believe in the return of defensive turrets onto strike/bomber aircrafts.

[@navinnakwek5851]

Something something space shuttle/ dropship tail gunner

[@TzunSu]

Some of the RAF thinking pre-WW2 was absolutely wild. They imagined fighters attacking in large formations, sweeping through like a unit of cavalry breaking infantry lines. They would stay in formation, and wheel and come back, all in formation. Took about a day of actual large scale dogfighting to show the ones still thinking this was a valid idea how bad of an idea this was.

[@pogchog6766]

"And that's why I shoot them from behind, no tail laser gun" - Space Oswald Boelcke probably

[@mitchellbanks197]

"And if you think I got something wrong, I can always learn, too." That sentence alone earned the sub. So many doc/history channels portray themselves as the end-all, be-all. Love the humility and never stop learning. Great video!

[@fightertales]

We're all in this together. The only thing I have is that I know how to edit a video. I don't have infinite knowledge

[@kane357lynch]

@laserpig

[@AnimarchyHistory]

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD, COMMENT FOR THE ALGORITHM!

[@callumsmodellingcentre6902]

Comment for the view's god!

[@fishkluch]

It is our duty

[@weon_absoluto]

agreed

[@Anthem76]

SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!

[@CHKNFRGZ]

All is comments...

[@Midewin]

my dad was a gunner on the g model and "end of an era" was a frequent saying when i was younger. his entire squadron felt the weight of the shift, but they were all trained navigators for their aircraft and wound up scattered in groups across the E8-C Joint Star and E-3 Sentry. they will ignore society, and interupt the worst moments if they run into each other though. its awesome to witness. my only gripe is the same as my fathers, by the gulf war they were navigators more so than tail gunners. he told me the computer did most of the aiming

[@pan2aja]

It was almost impossible to manual aim without the help of radar and computer

[@dantem4119]

Bubble canopy b52 is just amazing

[@paaat001]

Boeing designed the prototype B-52 that way, Gen LeMay hated the tandem canopy/cockpit design. The B-52A had side by side seating and it's been that way ever since.

[@SomeOrdinaryJanitor]

i always liked the XB-52's cockpit better, it always made it look like a fatter B-47

[@Laerei]

I was playing a mission against Tu-22s in DCS World the other day flying F-18C and this one Tu-22 was cranking like crazy and none of my missiles would track. So I switched to gun to save my missiles for other bombers in the air and when I pulled closer to that Tu-22 to shoot it down, imagine my surprise when I was greeted by a hail of bullets. I managed to land hits on it and it went down but I took a hit as well. Within a minute my engines died and power went with em, couldn't start it up again and my F-18 ended up splashing into the ocean. I ejected of course. That was the day I learned that some planes would still have tail guns so many decades after WW2.

[@alonespirit9923]

That must have been quite a, let's call it, Plot Twist. Also brings to mind a couple accounts from WW1 where German pilots thought they were pouncing on S.E.5 only to be greeted by the tail gunner of a Bristol F.2.

[@Genesis0Nieves0]

Would be interesting to see a video of how fictional films stay or not stay true to the logistics of flying. Loved the video! 💚

[@fightertales]

good idea actually

[@majorstrelok1754]

The Castle Air Musuem in California has a section of its indoor museum dedicated to the B-52 Tail gunners including a mock up of how the position looked

[@fightertales]

I'll have to go visit it.

[@bakomusha]

Castle is fantastic! Easily my favorite air museum in the state. (Don't Tell March, it's my 'home museum' but not as well maintained as Castle is.)

[@Kaninjadog]

Loved the video Falcon. Never knew the B-52 had air to air kills, awesome bit of history there. Thanks for sharing.

[@noggy3133]

Came for the thumbnail thinking it was a sick animation Stayed for the history lesson

[@fightertales]

Glad you stuck with it

[@milanmilan2]

Good job...the info about the sidewinder getting stuck in a MiG-15 was fascinating.

[@potatosinnato1767]

I'd like to imagine the return of the gunners in the form lasers that shoot down incoming missiles in the near future, no idea if that will actually happen but it would cool none the less

[@mill2712]

Once power concerns have been solved, you should expect laser point defense on a whole bunch of military planes. From bombers, to AWACS, to transports, and even fighters. Wouldn't be surprised if we see it within the next 10-20 years. Or even earlier.

[@Aeonearies]

There's already advanced jammer pods on dedicated electronic warfare planes, such as the EA-18 Growler, so I could totally see something that jams or disrupts a missile's guidance being built into a plane. Hell, eventually even full on LASER turrets to intercept missiles could be a viable option if shrunken down enough.

[@asherwiggin6456]

Not even joking, FedEx and UPS want to put anti-missile equipment on their planes so they can fly through dangerous airspace

[@catsndogs98]

Honestly that's possible on the b 52

[@PeachDragon_]

​@@mill2712 i am hyped for laser point defense because it will be the comeback of battleships

[@DefinitelyNotEmma]

"It's not the plane, it's the tailgunner!" - Maverick, if he was in the USAF instead of the Navy

[@djfailsafe]

Enjoyed this thoroughly, only note is in the USAF we use air force specialty codes (AFSC) rather than MOS after 1993, mine was retired/redefined in 2009 and then replaced again in 2021 apparently long after I retired!

[@fightertales]

Good to know! Thanks for that bit of knowledge!

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

I like the fact that the video clips that you show are actually compatible with the copy that you're reading, instead of talking about one thing and showing a video clip of something totally different like another content Farm I could mention.

[@fightertales]

There's no point in making a video on a subject if the imagery doesn't make sense

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

@@fightertales I couldn't agree more. That's my biggest gripe with the Dark ----, videos. They'll be talking about one subject, while showing a video of something completely different. They replied to me once about that and explain that it was hard to find enough footage of a particular subject, all the time. A few years ago that may have been true, but I think you demonstrate that that's not an excuse anymore.

[@fightertales]

@@geraldtrudeau3223 I wholeheartedly agree

[@certifiedidiot9625]

Back when I was a wee lad I got to sit in the ball turret of a B-17 at the Planes of Fame Air Museum. 10/10 would do it again.

[@fightertales]

I probably sat in the same one at Planes of Fame actually.

[@certifiedidiot9625]

@@fightertales That’s pretty cool! They had the ball turret gunner there with information about the position, and he took the “do not enter” sign and asked me if I wanted to get in.

[@VarangianGuard13]

I hope that someone is out there interviewing the last tailgunners, probably a fair few interesting, amusing (and potentially) exciting stories. Beyond that, nobody lives forever and their stories are quickly lost after they're gone.

[@WoobooRidesAgain]

3:01 Ah, yes, the U-Tapao base. Notable for being the home of the 4258th Strategic Wing - later the 307th - the only regular SAC wing stationed in Southeast Asia at the time, the site of an attack against the B-52s stationed there by communist insurgents, a host in the Cobra Gold exercises and its tenth level being occupied by thousands of battle droids.

[@zacklp3844]

I heard it was also a battleground betweem two Generals.

[@nursestoyland]

@@zacklp3844Hello There!

[@historyinbitesizedchunks5857]

The Air base that is near where I live has a B-52 as a gate guard. This specific B-52D (55-0676) shot down a MIG-21 on December 18th, 1972.

[@Swagmaster07]

Even when making planes in games like Kerbal Space Program and Simple Planes, i never thought about radar guiding turrets for planes! Genious, cant believe i didnt think of that.

[@OfficialUSKRprogram]

F-14s, technical terms like the Sa-2 casually used implying correctly that everyone watching knows what it is, and DCS footage? That's an instant subscribe!

[@defblasta]

I had a grand uncle who was a tail gunner in WW2. He was the only Ace in the RAAF who wasn't a pilot. He used to tell stories about shooting down night fighters over Germany, and he was once almost cut in half by one, but still managed to nail it when he regained consciousness. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Williams_(RAAF_officer)

[@darkalman]

The tail gun radar looked a lot like an anti aircraft radar... because well, it is one

[@MH5XXXX]

I have a friend that was IN GUAM where the ARCLIGHT MISSONS came from. Just inside the main gate there's a BUFF D MODEL in memorial of the ARCLIGHT MISSONS.

[@NA5AA]

The bomber near the front gate at Andersen AFB on Guam was a B-52D. The aircraft on display deteriorated due to weather and typhoon damage. It was replaced with a plaque and a full-sized silhouette of the B-52D on the ground with the current B-52D tail mounted on a raised platform. There was a plan to add a display of the tail of a B-52 H on a raised platform, but I don't know if that was ever done.

[@jasonharding96]

Having defensive aerial gunner as an mos made that man a unicorn in a bygone era

[@fernandochavez4312]

My father’s boss and my sister-in-law’s father were both tail gunners during WW2. Neither were small men. Both were good men. Thanks

[@strizhi6717]

Great video and I didn't know about two MiG-21's being shot down - I thought it was a one off but as you said learn something new. Fun fact - Tu-95MSM "Samara" the latest modernized Bear family also for the first time had it's tail gun entirely removed. There are no cockpit images but rumor has it it's been updated to glass cockpit standard. If it's true then that's true transformation. The most transformed bomber in my opinion has to be Chinese copy of the Tu-16 now called H-6K which also not only has tailgunner removed but entire cockpit layout redesigned including a airline style entry way for the pilots.

[@Opr8rKaz]

This feels like if PopoMedic decided to pursue aircraft related stories instead of military stories

[@charliegerrie]

2:08 the yb-52 with the tandem cockpit looks so cool!!

[@fightertales]

I know right?

[@brentatbluenovaproductions2136]

The last B-52 pilot, much less the last crew member, has yet to be born in 2023.

[@fightertales]

I mean, you might be right

[@brentatbluenovaproductions2136]

@fightertales just echoing what my USAF friends have told me for years sir. But i do believe that airframe will challenge the M2 HMG for longevity in service when it's all said and done.

[@oaw117]

There is a b52 at Fairchild air force base in Spokane Washington with a red star for it's air to air tail-gun kill. Really neat to see in person. Tons of people drive past it on the way onto the base without realizing it's there

[@fightertales]

That's probably Diamond Lil actually!

[@cosetteudx]

The one at Fairchild AFB is actually B-52D 56-676 (Mig Killer 1), the B-52 that Sam Turner was flying when he shot down the Mig. Sam Turner was substituting with my cre 8:42 w the day the picture was taken so I saw it being taken. B-52D 55-083 (Diamond Lil) is on display at the Air Force Academy

[@F-5E3_Tiger_II]

Keep up this top tier content and your channel is gonna blow up! when i first subscribed to lazerpig he had less subs than you do now. this channel is going places dude!

[@F-5E3_Tiger_II]

Also love the WAW black cats soundtrack!

[@wowthisisareallylongname9236]

"long ago you wouldn't see a single a single bomber design without some form of close end protection in the form of a turreted gun" Mosquito FB laughing in no protection

[@RockOnBuckethead]

I actually met one of the last tail gunners. Very nice guy

[@ZeonicZaku1-Zeon_Grunt_Suit]

I didn't know the B-52 had tail gunners. Nice video dude.

[@MALICEM12]

Nice vaporwave music, glad to see it's still popular. You played it at the perfect volume too

[@zclan9013]

I am glad someone covers bomber planes, including the B-52, it makes me feel like not everyone has developed Into "fighter plane best plane"

[@f104starfighter]

Shoutout to everyone who's spent time in the tailgunner position of a Volvo station wagon 🫡

[@IAmTheAce5]

Loving the comic-style thumbnail

[@BPD1586]

Thanks for uploading this. Was my dream AFSC, went to see a recruiter and signed up for 111X0 but got to MEPS and was told it was being phased out and to select another AFSC.

[@danielficke131]

I actually work at the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska, Home of the first B-52 delivered to the US Air Force, 52-8711, which was the 2nd production B-52 with twin 20mm tail guns

[@fightertales]

I'll need to check it out sometime

[@KuroHebi]

Any aircraft with the inclusion of the word "fortress" in its name is sure to impress.

[@JohnStallings-xs5rh]

There are 2 former B-52 Gunners still serving in the military. They are in the Guard and Reserves.

[@fightertales]

That's awesome! I'd love to know who they are to credit them in the description

[@N1GHTSTRIKER-45]

The Fact That The B-52 Outlived The Queen Of England Says Alot

[@fightertales]

God Save the Queen.

[@kevlarburrito6693]

TU-95s also began having their tail gunner positions removed a few years ago

[@JohnSmith-ii3cu]

The MiG-17 story gives a whole to meaning to the term 'captured enemy equipment'. Who would have ever thought *that* would be a way for weapons technology to fall into the opposing forces hands.

[@garrettharriman6333]

And that's how the B-52 has more air-to-air kills than the F22.

[@adaiku]

Thanks for the video. Interesting presentation style. Will def check out more.

[@jedironin380]

Nice video, I always admired the tailgunners. FWIW, several of the ships in Star Wars were equipped with tailgunners also!

[@trainknut]

I noticed you used Black Cats for the Vietnam scene's music, extremely appropriate

[@harrisjordan7492]

Idk if this is real or not, but i heard when the airforce removed the tail guns from the B-52 fleet. They left most of the wiring and machinery inside the tail and just removed the gun. I guess they thought that the tail gun might be useful some day.

[@fightertales]

Honestly wouldn't doubt it. If anything, leaving some components in would be good ballast.

[@deca0]

Karl kasey getting the usage he deserves with his music. well done

[@jehoiakimelidoronila5450]

Thanks by the way for discussing this to the audience. But many know it but some do like me. This will indeed go down as the last time tail guns & gunners downed enemy aircraft, *IN THE MODERN AGE.* Unless they'll show up one last time in the form of lasers or directed emps...

[@Er19421]

We might see a return of the tail gun in the form of anti-missile laser modules in the future. Probably not on anything flying now, but on new platforms with dedicated power generation.

[@cakemanlink2852]

I attended the retirement ceremony for CMSgt Wellbaum and we all received a commemorative coin

[@mr.factoid105]

The IL 76 also has a tail gun, which is interesting for a cargo airplane. weirdly enough that might actually get some use as an IL 76 is more likely to be used in brush conflicts against unsophisticated airforces. Like maybe a supertucano picks a fight somewhere down in Africa or something.

[@Yogasefski]

Nice references to By Dawn’s Early Light.

[@The-Red-Baron]

I think I might’ve found a gem of a channel.

[@AnimarchyHistory]

You have.

[@garycollard1981]

I didn't know the later B-52s had the vulcan cannon. I knew about the first 2 armament options but not that one. Learnt something new, sub earned :)

[@Touchdownbane]

Such a fun niche topic, great video!

[@PeacePetal]

I literally clicked on this video just because the thumbnail looked so cool. Your wingman did a great job!

[@Atarilas]

It’s never truly an American bomber unless it has at least one Browning Machine gun lol

[@fightertales]

This guy gets it

[@fl1tz4r]

I can't believe that we used .50s instead of a 20mm as late as Vietnam. Even more surprised that it had the ability to shoot down a plane as structurally reinforced as a supersonic jet.

[@fightertales]

A cluster of four fifties apparently works better against fast movers than a pair of 20mms. Puts more lead in the air I imagine. Of course the Vulcan is unbeatable in that regard.

[@fl1tz4r]

@@fightertales Makes sense. Still, the BUFF is built different. Accomplished with four .50s what the Saber struggled to to with six.

[@majorborngusfluunduch8694]

If the MiG is approaching you head on (from your POV as a tail gunner) what you're looking at are the nose intake and the cockpit. You could be throwing pebbles at him and you'd kill him.

[@sleepygryph]

In any other position on the aircraft you'd be right but with the tailgun position physics is your friend. In addition to the the bullets own kinetic energy the incoming threat is adding it's own as well. So the bullet leaving the bomber is going about 2700mph and that interceptor is probably closing at 1500ish mph. Plus once you start having "imperfection" in the aerodynamics of an aircraft the air resistance at that speed can peel the plane apart.

[@fightertales]

@@sleepygryph Science is so fucking cool

[@williamrocchia2728]

Just discovered your channel,best discovery of Easter NGL,you rock!💯

[@user-op8fg3ny3j]

I'm calling it now, your underated channel is going to blow up soon

[@fightertales]

Christ, I hope so

[@Jedi.Toby.M]

Love this channel, excellent work! For the algorithm!

[@Vinemaple]

This channel's kind of on the fringe of my interests, but I love how "real" your narration sounds, and how much effort you put into seamlessly mixing so many different sources of visualization!

[@smokejaguarsix7757]

Both my grandfathers were B17G tailgunners who fought over Nazi Germany including two trips each to bomb the dreaded Meersburg and Berlin. Both got shot down but survived and made it back to Allied lines, got back into B17Gs and went back to fight. They each had a BF109 kill. One of them had an additional shared kill on an FW190. Basically its miraculous that my father and I even exist. The odds of both grandfathers surviving the war as Tailgunners, let alone surviving shoot-downs AND evading captivity to go back and complete their tours are astounding. I have my Paternal grandfathers Air Medal and his Good Conduct Medal. As a side, both my mom and dad served in the USAF in Vietnam, my mom in AWACs and my dad doing...other things with Air America. I myself went Army as an officer and served 4 years overseas and participated in 3 wars and numerous operations before retiring. For all that to happen my grandfathers had to both survive being B17G tailgunners in WW2. Crazy huh?

[@JB4ker]

just found out about this channel and this video is a pretty good first impression, thanks for the info 👍

[@K-Sink1]

4:45 you thought we wouldn't catch Black Cats right there, didn't you?

[@anthonyf3647]

Awesome video! It's quite incredible that the Bear family of bombers and if I recall correctly even the IL-76 (a transport plane of all things) still retain tail guns despite the advent of far more advanced radar systems and missiles.

[@TCIVILWARD]

My father’s father or grandfather, i beleive worked or built i think both but he always is open to talk about the beautiful bird

[@catto191]

I SPOT DCS FOOTAGE, this is the first vid of yours I've watched, but I assume you do historical overview vids, but ill see you in the skies (maybe in Enigma's Cold War.) and happy hunting. Besides that, this gives me Flight Dojo, Dark Skies/Dark Footage (etc.), and Showtime112 vibes. I love the flow, editing, brevity, and most importantly scripting, please do more, I'd love to see you explode like Flight Dojo did (They gained like 250k subs in mere months), have a good day, and please create more of these works of great videography.

[@grafspee569]

great video you deserve a subscription and my gratitude for lighting up my day

[@benjaminalmquist1805]

Never forget what they took from us

[@flanfre_skarlett]

I love the thumbnail art

[@_Matsimus_]

Amazing video!!

[@fightertales]

Damn Matsimus, I totally missed this. Thanks for the kind words! Hope you're healing up well!

[@_Matsimus_]

@@fightertalesthanks!! ❤

[@fightertales]

When you're back up and at em I'd love to sit down and chat sometime

[@dictatormalenkov3522]

B-52 without a rotary cannon isn’t a chad B-52, but the Air Force does have its reasons for it so eh.

[@skyscall]

Speaking of absurd levels of guns on a bomber -- China used the aging Tu-4 bomber as their primary heavy bomber all the way up to 1988 when they were replaced with the Xian H-6. These bombers had *five* turrets with twin 23mm guns each -- a single shot enough to bring down most fighter aircraft. The Tu-4 is actually a development of the WW2-era B-29, so by this point these bombers were absolutely antiquated in many ways. It's crazy to think that a top of the line F-15 in the 80s could have shared the sky with what is essentially an upgraded Superfortress.

[@MrAjfish]

Nice work here mate. Thanks to Animarchy for the recommendation. Consider yourself subscribed to.

[@fightertales]

Welcome aboard!

[@billyvernetti2983]

I put in for EOD and tail gunner. They gave me crew chief KC-10. Anyone who is crazy enough to volunteer for those two jobs with high ASVAB scores gets the good jobs.

[@Jaeger958]

I was very much distracted by the song starting at 4:45. Then it hit me it is from Call of Duty: World at War Black Cats mission. So many memories on completing that on veteran difficulty.

[@BurningWulf]

Luv the video. Major thumbs up.

[@solarflare623]

Russia also has the IL-76 which is a cargo plane that has a tail gun.

[@DrillerKiller1337]

It was clever to use "DCS" to generate vivid video footage! 😁

[@marcusott2973]

Much awaited, much appreciated excellent insights as always from you.

[@QVCatullus]

Thanks for a great video, and the art is spectacular as always

[@fightertales]

Thank you for watching!

[@GammerNii]

Tail gunners really had there work cut out for them

[@Oqualquer]

The possible future of tailgunners would be tail turrets with SAM's

[@nazarsalama7503]

I like how he used DCS world for some of his footage

[@fightertales]

Always do!

[@hazmatt3250]

At the Global Air Power Museum on Barksdale AFB, there’s a B-52D with a MiG-21 sitting maybe 5 feet from it as a homage to downing two.

[@barnacle_bill2257]

5:15 love that strike fighters 2 "you got em!" sound

[@DesertPunks]

It's still so surreal to me that bombers had gunners going into the Gulf War. Like a strand of WW2 DNA surviving into the jet age.

[@kevincho1187]

To add a little to discussion I think one of the last planes to be designed with a tail gunner was the soviet il102

[@dukeofwar1003]

Fun fact: a modernized variant of the gun found in the Backfire was fired in space and completed a 6-round burst.

[@VagabondTexan]

Great video! You tell a good story, and the imagery works very well with it. Keep it up.