The Most Interesting Aircraft Turrets of WW2

Before we had missiles that locked on their targets, we had to make do with machine guns and cannons in dogfights. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting aircraft turrets of World War II:

1. Lioré et Olivier LeO 451

This French medium bomber had one 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon paired with two 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns containing a total of 800 rounds.

2. Junkers Ju 288

Germany’s prototype bomber could have boasted a top speed of 407 mph while armed with four 13mm MG 131 machine guns and one 15mm MG151 cannon.

3. Tupolev TB-3

The Soviet Air Force’s heavy bomber, which was introduced in 1932, placed 2 of its 8 gunners right under its wings!

4. Mitsubishi Ki-21-II

Introduced in the Second Sino-Japanese War, this WW2 heavy bomber from Japan featured a remotely-controlled 12.7mm machine gun in its dorsal turret.

5. Savoia-Marchetti SM.92

Savoia-Marchetti’s SM.92 was a two-seat Italian heavy fighter prototype with only two built. This very ambitious design also boasted a remote turret at the back, integrated into the plane’s vertical stabilizer.