Dear members of the AAF.com Forums,
 
I am new here, but found your forum while searching for information on the B-32 Dominator's Sperry A-17 Ball Turrets that were installed in the nose and tail of the aircraft.  The Dallas/Fort Worth Wing of the Commemorative Air Force has had one of the 4 remaining B-32 A-17 Turrets in its collection for some time and has now decided to restore the turret to, at minimum, a mechanically complete status which would allow for manual operation of the turret using the turret's in-built manual operation cranks.
 
Our immediate need/desire is for the manuals for the A-17 turret so that we can effect a complete inventory of the turret and determine what parts are missing so that we can begin locating and/or fabricating replacements.  After that, we intend to begin the restoration process in earnest.
 
Here are some pictures of the turret as it is now -
 
Overview

 
Right Side

 
Left Side

 
Outer Right Side

 
Flight suit heater control unit

 
Oxygen Regulator

 
Oxygen Gauges

 
Control & Gunsight Pedistal

 
Right ammunition feed drum

 
Gun clamps

 
Maintenance Panel with some controls and adjustments

 
If you wish to visit the D/FW Wing and see the turret, we are open on Saturdays & Sundays, generally from 9AM until Sundown or a bit thereafter.  Our wing website is - www.dfwwing.com.  We are located in the 2nd hangar on the north end of the Lancaster Municipal Airport in Lancaster, Texas, (KLNC).  To reach our hangar, just take Belt Line Road east from I-35E or west from I-45 to Ferris Road and turn south.  Belt Line Road runs right in front of the airport, so it's not especially hard to find.  We hope to see you soon!  If you have anything that could help us or would like to donate to the project, please send me an e-mail or Private Message and I will give you further information on how to ensure that we receive your offered assistance as quickly as possible.
 
Thank you.

CAP, I feel cheated .... Robert Collier told me he was gonna give me this turret as a birthday present !    Seriously, I was just talking to him a week or so ago and he was telling me about ya'll getting started on the restoration.  GOOD LUCK !
 
Have you got in touch with the guys at Kingman ? They have an A-17, and sell/trade lots of turret parts, maybe they can help. See link below
 
http://www.depot41.com/turretpts.htm

SHAEF1944 American Veterans Museum

Actually, yes, we have contacted them, however I have not heard if we've gotten any reply yet.  Right now, I think we're so early in the project that we're trying to see what we can find and then start collecting parts once we get a manual and find out what's available where.  Since turret restoration is new territory for us, we're feeling along for a while. :)

CAPFlyer,
 
Welcome to the forum. I started here quite some time back, in fact long before Gary got me hooked on the Ol' 927 project. Ellen is certainly glad you started with the turret, I had tried to talk her into letting me try to "adopt" it from you folks! Have you visited with anyone at Walnut Ridge to see if they have any B-32 parts or manuals? We know a couple of great folks that are involved with their museum if it will help.
 
Scott (Second Air Force)

Scott,

First, good to see you here.   I'm seeing a lot of friends from around the net on here too.  I'm hoping Mark Beaumont will stop by this thread at some point. 

Second, I'll ask Charlie if he's tried Walnut Ridge yet.  If not, it will be on the list.

BTW, if you want to come and help, feel free to stop by.  It'll be easier now that Ol' 927 will be nearby.   If not, I'll probably see you at Addison sometime in the next couple of months.

Well, it's been a while since I put anything up here, but I thought I'd give a quick update.  Not a whole lot more has been done on the turret that can really be seen in pictures.  We got our stand in and assembled and the ball attached to it for the restoration.  We power washed the turret to get out as much of the accumulated dust and junk in it from 25 years of rotting away in Midland and Lancaster.  We also found that there is a section of relatively undeteriorated lexan still present on the turret which we will save for posterity.

Anyway, on to the pics!









We have made progress on our fundraising efforts towards the needed parts, paint, and replica guns, but we are still a ways off.  If you are interested in donating to the project, please send me a PM and I will give you the contact information on where to send your donation.

Oh, BTW, the stand is not in its final configuration.  When the restoration is complete, there will be a plate added to the bottom and a bearing on the restored bottom of the turret to allow it to swivel and the top will be hard mounted to the arm on a swivel as well.  This will allow for the proper support to keep it rigid within the frame for people to be able to climb in and try out the mechanisms.