Central Station Fire Control AND THE B-29 REMOTE CONTROL TURRET SYSTEM
CREATED 2-1-06
The Remote Control Turret System (RCT) or Central Station Fire Control System was first used in the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. This system, which was developed by General Electric, was a very advanced weapon system for its day. Instead of the gunner being inside the turret, between the guns or at an open waist window in the 30 below zero wind, he was located inside the pressurized crew compartment. If the gunner was in a more comfortable heated environment, could wear fewer layers of clothes, wasn't restricted inside the turret it was reasoned that he would be less encumbered and less fatigued than his brother in the manned turret.
Click on any image to see a larger picture
Here is the operational B-29 turret system that we have assembled here at the Stockton Field Aviation Museum. This is just one of several systems that make the entire Central Station Fire Control system used in the B-29. This is the upper or ring sighting station and the upper aft two gun turret. We are looking for the other components to complete the B-29 system so if you know where we can find other components please contact me at taigh@twinbeech.com or you can call at the number below. We especially need Amplidyne motor generators, control or junction boxes, cannon plugs and technical manuals and information. Thanks in advance for your help.
What a great caricature of the B-29 gunner from Adrian Narducci. Thanks for letting me use this Adrian!
There has been a lot of confusion about which gunners can control which turrets. These three charts from the Gunner's Information File should clear up that confusion.
This is a display in our museum of part of the Remote Control Turret System that was used in the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. This mockup is of the upper gunner or Central Fire Control (CFC) gunner. The sight is the ring type and under it is the pedestal seat or Barbers Chair as it was sometimes called. On the wall are many of the typical components of the RCT system. There are two Amplidyne motor generators, one Dynamotor, servo amplifier, Navigator's hand set and the control box. The missing component is the computer which is shown below.
I have heard much about our remote control turrets, and the supposition seems to be that they were next to worthless. Personally I can't say
enough good things about them. They did the job when need. I used to do quite a bit of squirrel hunting as a youth.. When I came home empty
handed I didn't blame the shotgun. Personally. while flying 31 missions I never had any gun to fail, and if you knew the wing span of the fighter, and
set your sight right, he was a dead pigeon. The Officers on our crew each gave 10 dollars, to be given to the first gunner who brings down a enemy. The attached envelope will show you who got the fifty dollar. We had a fine gunnery system.
When Lemay ordered all guns except in the tail removed during low level night time missions, our crew disobeyed the order and put 100 rounds in the lower aft turret, just in case. On two separate night missions the left gunner shot down a night fighter by sighting on the muzzle blast. We could not claim the kills in fear of Court Marshal. Another point for the accuracy of the CFC system in my book. I'm able to talk about it today. (11 lives spared at the time) This is just the highlights of the incident, Blackie
Frank (Bud) Farrell who was a Blister Gunner in the B-29 during the Korean War is seen here at his station. Thanks for the picture Bud! For more pictures of Bud and to find out how to get a copy of a book about his experiences as a gunner in the Korean war click here.
Here is Bud (standing on top of the fuselage) loading the guns of the upper forward turret of his B-29 No Sweat. To see a great color shot of No Sweat click here.
Here Bud is at his station at the left blister of the B-29. His pedestal gun sight has an AN-N6 gun camera (rectangular device in the upper left corner) mounted to it which tends to pitch the sight over from the weight.
This is the breakdown of the courses that Bud took for gunnery school.
Here is Bud's certificate of graduation from a B-29, B-50 and B-26 turret system mechanics course at Lowry Air Force Base on September 15, 1951.
(Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image) Here is a photo of a CFC class at Lowry Field thanks to Neysa. She writes:
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Here is a shot of Sergeant First Class F. Jack Stevens CFC gunner in his position in the barbers chair. Jack was in the 883rd bomb squadron and flew in Z square 51. I want to thank his son Wally for sharing this photo with us. I also want to thank Olivier Tyrbas who took the posted photo and corrected the cracks, folds and blemishes to give you the clear image that you see above. Thanks Olivier for taking the time to fix this for us. The internet is a wonderful place simply because it is made up of great people, like Olivier, around the world who are generous to share their information, time and talents.
I told you about 3 years ago I would send you my records from my time in the Air Force. At Lowry RCT, and Gunnery training schools. Randolph B-29 crew training (I was there twice once in 1951 and an other in 1953) and did time at Barksdale 8/1951 to 6/1953 in the 376th Bomb wing 514 Squadron, where we were trained to load, carry, and drop "A" bombs, very secret. In June of 1953 that duty was turned over to the new B-47. No gunners needed so we sent back to Randolph for an other B-29 crew pick up. After the 20 week course the new crew was sent to Forbes AFB to get ready to be sent to FEAF. But with it over in Korea we gunners were surplus. I was offered B-36 tail gunner or KC-97 boom operator, but I chose early out and was discharged. Went to work at Northwestern Bell Telephone next 35 years and now on 26th year of retirement.
S/SGT
Ron Johnson
P.S.
I thought I had better get this done as I now am 81 years old and had to get a
heart pacemaker on last July 1st when my pulse went down to 20 bps.
I was in the MN Nat'l Guard 1st so that is why my serial number begins with a
#2.
An old B-29 RCT and Tail Gunner.
Thanks for sending in the information Ron and thank you for your service.
MY NAME IS MICKEY GOTLIN [GOTLINSKY]. I WAS A B-29 GUNNER IN WW11. I
WAS TRAINED IN LAREDO TEX. AND WAS ASSIGNED TO PYOTE TEX. FOR A CREW
ASSIGNMENT THEY MADE ME A CENTRAL FIRE CONTROL INSTRUCTOR.IN 1945 I WAS SENT
VENLO HOLLAND BECAUSE THEY HAD A NEW TWO ENGINE BOMBER CALLED AN A-26 TO
REPLACE THE B-26 SHORT RANGE BOMBER.IT HAD THE SAME CENTRAL FIRE
CONTROL AS THE B-29
MY QUESTION IS ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO REMEMBERS ANY OF THIS.I WOULD LIKE TO
HEAR FROM THEM..
M
MICKEY GOTLIN---E-MAIL
-SHEIL66@AOL.COM
3-1-2018
I read with great interest all of the information you have
placed on the web about the B-29 gunnery system. My interest, however, is
more nautical than aerial.
If anyone out there has any information on the B-29 gunnery
system installed on the PT boat or anything else floating I’d sure like to hear
about it. I can be contacted at
bgmarshall@aol.com or 301/642-9410.
Silver Spring, Maryland
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