Poem of the ball turret gunner

[Louis]

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,​

And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.​

Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,​

I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.​

When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.​

​

by Randall Jarrell - (May 6, 1914 – October 14, 1965) In 1942 he left the university to join the United States Army Air Forces.

 

[PoorOldSpike]

Hey I just remembered we had a fun caption contest for the above pic earlier this year..
Here are the contributions again in alphabetical order-

Airborne Bob:- "Welcome To Brown Bag Airways...here you go sir..enjoy your flight. And remember to buckle up!"
BanquosGhost:- "Remember to wear your flight socks, you don't want to be getting a DVT"
Mehlsack:- "So, if you have to poop - just open this little door and let it fly. We call it a cluster bomb...!"
POS:- "Yeah it's a bit cramped but the view of Germany and flak bursts and Messerschmitts is great from in there"
Rico:-"Introducing Ryan Air's new "seat with a view"!

 

[PoorOldSpike]

Another one:- guy in turret is saying- "Er...guys, has my transfer to the navy come through yet?"

 

[Wigam]

Nice poem Louis.

Theres no way you could get me in there, physically or literally. Joys of being 6 ft 3 inchs.

 

[Hedgehog]

The thought of being coccooned in that bubble is scary, my hat comes of to those air crew's

 

[PoorOldSpike]

It seems the ball gunner has the last laugh, it was the SAFEST place on the plane according to this..