I understand the B-24 Liberator (and other aircraft  such as the B-26 Marauder) used the Martin Upper Turret.  When the guns were fired, were the expended cases and links collected in bags under the guns, or did the cases and links fall to the floor of the aircraft and get collected later?  I have seen pictures/drawings of the Martin turret, but they don't show any bags for the cases and links.  Drawings of the Bendix and Sperry upper turrets show bags under the guns.

Can anyone confirm if bags were used to collect the expended cases and links for the Martin upper turret?

Thanks.

Ron

Ron:

I remember reading an anecdote about a shell casing from the top turretbouncing around in a B-24 and winding up in the bomb bay and jammingthe roller bomb bay doors. I'm afraid I don't remember the source.

I think they put bags in the "high hat" turret, but I don't know forsure. Nor when or which models, versions from which factories, etc.

Ken

Ken Alexander
Son of 1st Lt. Clair B. Alexander Jr.
Pilot, B-24s: 10/12/1944 - 04/24/1945
15th AF, 49th Wing, 461st BG, 764th BS
Torretta Airfield, Cerignola, Italy

Ron,  Like Ken, I could not ind anything specific in literature, however, I can tell you what was standard installation at FO WR.  When the Martin-Type A-3D top turret was installed as standard production, it was without the casing bag as far as I know, but modifications could have been made at MOD centers. Here is the standard production description for FO WR.
"Local control (gunner inside turret). Power: electrical. Volt age: 27.5 volts DC. Sight: reflector ring reticle compensating type. Guns are charged individually by manual charger. Protection: armor plate below ring in front of gunner.  Diameter of turret: 42"; Heights:60"; Weight: 564 lbs. Azimuth rotation: 360 degees; elevation of guns from 3 degrees to plus 85 degrees, depression of guns 8 degrees below horizontal.  Ammunition storage: 480  rounds per gun stored in containers suspended from turret ring in front of gunner."
With the progression of top turret engineering modifications, more plexiglass was added until the overall effect became the "high hat." A lot of information can be found in the book: The B-24 Liberator by Allan Blue.  Again, I could find no reference to the spent casing bag.  I'm sure, Ron, that someone on the Site will pop in with a recollection or find a reference.  Best Regards!  Steven  

Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian (RET.)
"Home of 8685 Ford Built Liberators"
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

Ken and Steven,

Thanks for your responses to my question.  Yes, it would appear that bags were not used to collect the expended cases and links on the Martin turret.  I have looked at numerous sources, and there doesn't seem to be any reference to the case collection bags.  I would have thought that the cases and links would have created quite a clean up job in the B-24  - especially given where the upper turret was located.  I have seen a couple of pictures of the upper turret in the Collings Foundation B-24 "Witchcraft" - and it seems as if collection bags are installed.  However, these may not be accurate given everything I have read.  ( Since the Sperry and Bendix turret used bags, maybe someone assumed that the Martin turret used them as well).

The Martin turret was also used in the  B-26 Marauder.  It was located near the back of the aircraft, and expended cases and links falling to the floor may not have been as big a clean up issue.

If anyone comes across any additonal information, I would be very interested in seeing it.

Thanks again.

Ron