While reading the 'general hints' for the AGs(433 Sq RCAF) of the War, I just wonder how they had to work alone in the toughest conditions, unaided at very high altis, specially during nights of some 70 yrs back! The most desperate trap shooting champions but lone fighters of the War, they were the aerial gunners, by the numbers no less than 350,000, including volunteers. I know you keeps a very good list of the air or tank Aces, but how many of us keeping such list of AG Aces? We should not forget that many hundreds of aircrew members survived the War because of these onboard dedicated gunners. I admit that it was there too critical to determind their individual 'kills', but do you think that it was the only cause they remains 'unsung'? http://thewhpfamily.com/airgunner/AG story.html
USN radio-gunners credits for enemy aircraft destroyed, probably destroyed, and damaged Format: Name || Squadron || Destroyed || Probable || Damaged From the back seat of a SBD ARM3c John Liska || VS-2 || 3.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c Wayne C Colley || VS-10 || 2.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c William Joseph Hisler || VB-16 || 1.000 || 1.000 || 0.500 CDR Walter Gabriel Schindler || TF-17 (VS-5) || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM2c Clifton R Bassett || VB-3 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Joseph V Godfrey || VB-3 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c G J Ferrell || VS-3 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c C M Gunter || VS-3 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM2c H H Caruthers || VS-5 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c Achilles A Georgiou || VB-6 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c Milton Wayne Clark || VS-6 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c Walter G Chochalousek || VS-6 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c William C Miller || VS-6 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 S1c John Warren Snowden || VS-6 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c George F Martz || VB-8 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM2c Eudora B Wilson || VB-9 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Frederick S Shaffer || VB-9 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ACRM Gordon Gardner || VB-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM1c Clifford Schindele || VB-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c Clarence Halman Garlow || VS-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c John Liska || VS-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c Ray E Reames || VS-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c John A Moore || VS-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Elgie Pearl Williams || VS-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Nick Baumgartner Jr || VS-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM3c Clint T Steed || VB-11 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c Brunetti || VB-11 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c Seneker || VB-11 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ACRM P E Stafford || VB-16 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c A B Baxter || VB-16 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c A J Lynch || VB-16 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c John Albert Landaker Jr || VB-16 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c Lyle H Faast || VS-71 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c Bruce Rountree || VS-2 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c A W Dobson || VS-3 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM2c Floyd Delbert Adkins || VS-6 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Samuel P McLean || VB-8 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c William Berthold || VB-8 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Wilson C Lineawever || VB-8 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c George Yanick || VS-71 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c William Arthur McElhiney || VB-16 || 0.333 || 0.000 || 1.500 ARM2c Anthony Charles Maggio || VB-16 || 0.333 || 0.000 || 1.500 ACRM G F Wilson || VB-12 || 0.333 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c A D Wells || VB-12 || 0.333 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c C J Day || VB-12 || 0.333 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c Leo Ouila LeMay || VB-16 || 0.333 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c G C Gardner || VB-2 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM2c F G Stanley || VB-2 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM2c Olson || VB-11 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM1c Forest Beryl Webb || VB-12 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM1c D C Musgrove || VB-12 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM1c Michael Aloysius Banazak || VB-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM2c Richard LeRoy Bentley || VB-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c Daniel David Dowdell || VB-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c Henry Francis Kelly || VB-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c John Albert Landaker Jr || VB-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c Leo Wilfred Boulanger || VB-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c Theodore Henry Lemieux || VB-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM3c John Williams Sample || VB-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM2c Leo Dale Estrada || VB-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500
USN radio-gunners credits for enemy aircraft destroyed, probably destroyed, and damaged Format: Name || Squadron || Destroyed || Probable || Damaged From the back seat of a SB2C ARM3c Stanley E Wallace || VB-17 || 2.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Peter J Trombina || VB-15 || 1.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM1c John Abbott Puryear || VB-14 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 ARM1c M A Patillo || VB-2 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.333 RadioElec Raymond B Bailey || VB-8 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c Lenny Bay || VB-18 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c James Francis Burns || VB-19 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c C E Cosby || VB-18 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c C F Curries || VB-8 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Ernest Joseph Elias || VB-19 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c W T Farrow || VB-18 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c William O Haynes Jr || VB-17 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM1c J G Pope || VB-18 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c Joseph Serensis Jr || VB-14 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c John Allston Hendrick || VB-19 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c E D Kufeldt || VB-11 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c E T McElroy || VB-2 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c A F Pierce || VB-11 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM1c H E Borja || VB-13 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM3c R J Brammer || VB-3 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM2c William J Campbell || VB-17 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM3c W F Hayatake || VB-2 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM1c James R Langiotti || VB-8 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Albert L McPhee || VB-17 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM2c James W O'Brien || VB-8 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM2c O'Neill || VB-2 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM1c Wilks || VB-2 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM3c C S Christiansen || VB-13 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.000 ARM2c W D Crook || VB-12 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.000 ARM2c W J Fike || VB-13 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.000 ARM1c W F Hale || VB-12 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.000 ARM3c W K Kirts || VB-13 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.000 ARM3c L B Widing || VB-13 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.000 ARM3c J J Betsekas || VB-11 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM3c Maurice E Cahill || VB-17 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM3c Edwin W DeGraff || VB-17 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c George John || VB-15 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM3c Walter F Kelly || VB-15 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM3c D C Killary || VB-2 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM3c Rober I Lemieux || VB-15 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM3c Charles Frederick Studley || VB-9 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c Earl William Ward || VB-9 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c Robert Dean Borrison || VB-14 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 ARM2c Robert Lawrence Dorrington || VB-14 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 ACRM Robert Cassort Runyon || VB-14 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 RadioElec Robert N Varonette || VB-8 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 ARM2c A E Albertalli || VB-2 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.333 ARM3c G Bottrell || VB-2 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.333 ARM2c Daniel Seymour DeVoto || VB-14 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.200 ARM2c Nathan Alonzo Lathe Jr || VB-14 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.200 ARM2c Robert Dale McClintock || VB-14 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.200 ARM3c Alvin Matthew Pratt || VB-14 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.200 ARM2c George Gorham Wahrer || VB-14 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.200
USN radio-gunners/turret gunners credits for enemy aircraft destroyed, probably destroyed, and damaged Format: Name || Squadron || Destroyed || Probable || Damaged From either the turret or tunnel gun of a TBF/TBM AM2c Rexford Beverly Holgrin || VT-10 || 2.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM1c Andrew Koolstra Vanderwall || VT-7 || 1.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM2c William Abner Combs || VT-11 || 1.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AMM1c Jack William Webb || VT-16 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM2c J S Warakomski || VC-23 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM3c Theodore J Niedzwick || VT-17 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 LTJG Harry Charles Thomas || VT-16 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM1c C Phillips Nick Jr || VT-8 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM2c D F Farrell || VT-2 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM2c F E Kingsbury || VT-18 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM2c Gerald W Hart || VT-45 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM2c L B Davis || VT-12 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c Floyd Gilbert Norman || VC-27 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c Herbert A Hopp || VGS-11 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c P J Donohue || VT-9 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c Virgil Carson Thomas || VC-22 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM1c Richard Buster Taylor || VT-7 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM2c A J Myers || VT-9 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM2c C W Brunson || VT-19 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM2c N F Nolalon || VT-17 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM2c Paul || VT-11 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM3c C J Kisser || VT-17 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c C E Monroe || VT-8 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM2c G L Hicks || VT-8 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Clarence T Wall || VT-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c A S Moore || VT-9 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Billy Grant Hunter || VT-18 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Carl R Gibson || VT-3 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Charles Edward Shinneman || VT-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Floyd Gilbert Norman || VC-27 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Julius Felon || VC-84 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Valenzuela || VT-11 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 L W Hughes || VT-10 || 1.000 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM2c K Bratton || VT-12 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 2.000 ACRM R W Morey || VT-12 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM2c Eldred William McGraw || VC-85 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c A S Andress || VT-23 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c James E Barker || VT-45 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM1c Haywood C Jenkins || VT-45 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM2c E M Hockman || VT-19 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM2c R L Pennock || VT-23 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM2c V R English || VT-19 || 0.500 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM1c R E Blakemore || VT-12 || 0.333 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM1c R L Misner || VT-12 || 0.333 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM1c R R Radney || VT-12 || 0.333 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c Bill Stowe Jr || VC-81 || 0.250 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM3c Horace Vincent Hinckley || VC-81 || 0.250 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM3c J D Barber || VC-81 || 0.250 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM3c Ralph Edmund Davis Jr || VC-81 || 0.250 || 0.000 || 0.000 A C Burt || VT-13 || 0.200 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM1c Harold Joseph Shane || VT-13 || 0.200 || 0.000 || 0.000 AOM1c J B Ellzey || VT-31 || 0.200 || 0.000 || 0.000 ARM3c Francis James Ploger || VT-13 || 0.200 || 0.000 || 0.000 C M Thomas || VT-13 || 0.200 || 0.000 || 0.000 J W Metcalfe || VT-13 || 0.200 || 0.000 || 0.000 AMM1c Grady Lester Stanfill || VT-16 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 1.000 AOM3c M F Fox || VT-9 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 1.000 AMM2c Alfred J Raslowsky || VT-3 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AMM2c C A Gatto || VT-13 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AMM2c R H Garwood || VT-9 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AMM2c W J Deptula Jr || VT-9 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AMM3c E Dodge || VT-13 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AOM1c Coy W McClendon || VC-75 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AOM1c M R Hall || VC-68 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AOM1c S B Barlotta || VT-2 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AOM2c J R McGee || VT-13 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AOM3c John William Stephens || VT-7 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AOM3c Robert D Gray || VT-23 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM1c Gerald G Auleck || VT-3 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM1c L J Singleton || VC-23 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 ARM3c R H Grinswan || VT-17 || 0.000 || 1.000 || 0.000 AOM1c E F Wendt || VT-8 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.500 ARM1c Gerald G Aulick || VT-8 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.500 Antonich || VT-8 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.000 ARM2c Frank Max Chick || VT-25 || 0.000 || 0.500 || 0.000 AMM2c Arthur C Ryley || VT-45 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 2.000 LTJG Lawrence E Johnson || VC-3 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM1c J K Coburn || VT-8 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM1c Joseph J Lorenzo || VT-84 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM1c Phillip Jackson Layne || VT-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM2c Herbert E Thornburg || VT-45 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM2c Noel J Bussey || VC-27 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM3c B M Winans || VT-80 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM3c C L Merlo || VT-44 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM3c E Stump || VC-23 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM3c G E Hamilton || VT-10 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM3c L H Herman || VT-8 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM3c W A Shelton || VT-13 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM2c I K Davidson || VT-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM2c Paul Forsythe Brown || VC-20 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM2c R Sanchez || VT-13 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM2c Richard E Hufford || VT-45 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM2c S N Rule || VT-17 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM3c C d Kisser || VT-17 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM3c D Fleming || VT-13 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AOM3c W T Curttiris || VT-17 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM1c E J Buckie || VT-9 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM1c Francis Ora Frede || VT-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM1c Howard J Klingbeil || VT-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM1c Merville W Rinehart || VC-75 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c A H Bemer || VT-13 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c D N Hammond || VT-8 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c F B Patterson || VT-15 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 ARM2c W H Coleman || VT-15 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 1.000 AMM1c F P Viverette || VT-8 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 AMM1c J S Pike || VT-8 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 AMM2c W W Whaley || VT-8 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 AMM3c Kenneth R Soter || VC-20 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 AOM2c J C Thomas || VT-16 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 AOM3c George J Aboss || VT-32 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 CM1c H E Doliver || VC-65 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500 Gottwald || VC-75 || 0.000 || 0.000 || 0.500
Thanks a lot for your excellent support to the thread, R Leonard! Here are some aces from the RAF/RAAF/Commonwealth etc..at The Great Britain & Commonwalth gunners on bombers > http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories/ww2-commonwealth-gunners.html
Sgt John D Foley, a company typist appeared as an aerial gunner, without any formal training astonishingly! His first kill was an A6M Zero fighter near Rabaul in '42(though he was reluctant to it), despite his knowledge of using a gunsight even! This earned him nick name 'Johnny zero', later on a song also released as sheet music by Vee Lawnhurst, was 'Johnny Got a Zero'. However he successfully completed 31 missions over Europe but within 60 days. I must thank God he survived three B-26 crashes but scored no less than 6 confirmed kills. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=1544
