| Ball Turret | |
|---|---|
 A crewman poses with the Sperry ball turret of a Royal Air Force B-24, Burma, c.1943-1945 | |
| Service history | |
| Used by | United States, United Kingdom, China |
| Wars | World War II |
| Specifications | |
| Caliber | .50 BMG |
A ball turret is a spherical-shaped, altazimuth mount gun turret, fitted to some American-built aircraft during World War II.[1] The name arose from the turret's spherical housing.
It was a manned turret, as distinct from remote-controlled turrets also in use.[2][3] The turret held the gunner, two heavy machine guns, ammunition, and sights. The Sperry Corporation designed ventral versions that became the most common version; thus, the term "ball turret" generally indicates these versions.[4]
- ^ Aircraft Fire Control. Great Neck, New York: Sperry Gyroscope Company. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ Holley, Irving B. Jr. (June 1947). Development of Aircraft Gun Turrets in the AAF, 1917-1944 (Report). Army Air Forces Historical Studies. AAF Historical Office, Headquarters, Army Air Forces. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "My Dad Was A Ball Turret Gunner In World War II". HuffPost. 2015-11-11. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ Aircrewman's Gunnery Manual. Aviation Training Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. 1944. Retrieved 26 May 2020.