What It Was Like As A B-17 Tail Gunner

A Tail Gunner’s POV

Ever wondered what it was like to be a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress?

In this video, WWII veteran Monte “Joe” Boitnott, a former tail gunner from the 34th Infantry Division assigned to the 99th Bomb Group, shares his firsthand experience and memories from his missions.

When he first learned of his assignment, fear set in.

“I was more scared when we took off than at any other time during the flight,” he recalls.

Being a tail gunner meant seeing the battle from a unique and often disorienting perspective.

“When you’re in the sky, there’s nothing to measure by. You don’t realize the danger until you see your field of fire. In the tail gunner’s section, the world has already passed you by—you’re looking at the back end of it.”