Details on He111 Beam positions

[Tim O.]

Hi Kenny

The standard crew of an He111H was initially four. The pilot did not normally have a gun (although there are images of aircraft adapted to carry an MG for the pilot). The observer manned the forward gun, the radio operator the dorsal gun and either a flight engineer or gunner manned the ventral gun. Often the ventral gondola had guns facing front and rear - the rear gun was standard and for defence and the forward gun was either an MG or 20mm cannon field modification for hitting ships or ground targets. The same crew member had to choose one or the other of these ventral guns. Combat experience showed vulnerability to side-on attacks and field modifications added an MG15 each side and an additional crew member to man them (sometimes a member of ground crew). As with the ventral guns, one man had to operate both guns. The maximum crew was therefore most often 5 as opposed to the 10 in a B17.

The Germans used ball mounts for a lot of the guns placed in windows. These allowed a wide arc of fire and bars were sometimes added to restrict movement and avoid shooting bits off the gunner's own aircraft. As the beam guns were typically field modifications the means of fixing them will have varied but ball mounts would be one option. You can find images on line or in the decent books on the He111 and they will vary but rather than an open window you may find a ball mount within a glazed window.

Good luck with your project.

Best wishes
Tim O