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Central Fire Control (CFC) 
Through this observation bubble, it all happened! This is where the rubber met the pavement as far as defensive armament on the B-29. With just a couple flips of a switch this gentleman could control up to 10, 50 Cal. machine guns divided among 4 remote operated turrets. With the assistance of the two waist 'scanners' and the Tail Gunner the team made the B-29 a formidable target for and enemy determined to bring her down. |
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A look up at the famed "Barber Chair". Here is where the CFC sat and rotated himself around to chase away approaching enemy aircraft. The chair was good at giving the enemy a close shave. 
CFC Sighting Station
The high tech sites of the 1940's. Amazing technology for the time. With the B-29's remotely controlled turrets and computing system, the gunner actually has a second brain. The computer took the guess-work out of "Point and Aim" because it figured all of these out: |
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A. Range Estimation
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B. Bullet Drop
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C. Gunner's Deflection
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D.Target Deflection
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E.Windage Correction |
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F. Parallax compensation
of guns to sights
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G. Increased range
far beyond the usual 600 yds by automatically establishing the correct
lead.
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This was my Dad's CFC TSGT William J. Nickels. All Nickels told his son about the war was "my job was to keep enemy planes away". That is an understatement.
This shows the layout of the turrets and their associated control funtions. This was a redundant system designed more for the improbability that one or more gunners may become imobilized, then another gunner could take up firing of that particular turret. Back to B-29 tour |
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This site was last updated 06/30/2003
