My Father was a waist gunner during WWII flying over Europe and bombing Germany as a part of a B24 crew.
Thought someone else might appreciate the video. https://www.youtube.com/embed/iKlt6rNciTo?rel=0
Dad said the crews called the B24 a flying coffin because most of the fuselage being below the wings. If the landing gear got shot up and wouldn’t lower the odds weren’t good for the crew.
My stepfather flew 37 missions as the ball turret gunner of a B-17 over Europe. I have a list of every mission target along with other items. Awe inspiring to say the least.
As a aircraft mechanic currently working on C-130’s, I’m amazed how much time it takes to fix things on these large cargo planes that are approximately the same size as the older WW2 bombers. All four engines hang from two truss mounts each that are both bolted and held by hi-locks on the spar of the wing....it takes us 2-3 days to change one truss mount....I’m sure that technology hasn’t changed much in the past 70 yrs...WW2 aircraft obviously didn’t have the same avionics, but the mechanicals are pretty much the same, except improved I’m sure. God Bless our WW2 aircraft pilots, air crew and mechanics.