HE111 Tail Machinegun

[Tapper]

Hello,

I have just seen an interesting picture of an MG17 in the tail cone of a HE111. The picture shows it during installation or maintenance with the cone off. Although the HE111 is on its own undercarriage, so tail down, the MG17 does look to be angled slightly up i guess to place rounds slightly higher than the aircraft and behind...but at what distance...does anyone know.
Also who operated this weapon, a gunner or the pilot and was this installation dropped after the Battle of Britain? I think the HE115 had two, one behind each engine??

[Julian]

Not sure when or how long installation was operated. The Heinkel that crashed at Down Hall Essex in Sept 1940 had one and others well into 1941 had these and tail grenade launching devices. Im assuming since the MG17 device afforded additional direct rear defences they may even have been used up until the cessation of hostilities. Am sure there are far more qualified people here who could define this better than me....Jules

[Pilot]

This one?