How Rear Gunners on SBD Dauntless Avoided Accidentally Shooting Their Own Plane’s Tail

The SBD Dauntless, a renowned dive bomber and torpedo aircraft, faced a critical challenge during its service—in preventing rear gunners from accidentally shooting their own plane's tail.
The issue stemmed from the risk of ammunition impacting the rudder, leading to serious damage upon landing. An infamous instance involved a TBD-1 torpedo bomber, which was modified with a twin-mount gun system. Due to a misguided belief that sufficient space existed between the two guns to shoot accurately backward without danger, the rudder was significantly damaged after the aircraft landed, necessitating a costly replacement.

Training and Precautions Against Friendly Fire

While this incident may seem comical or even absurd, it points to a critical oversight in early training programs. In reality, the military recognized the potential for friendly fire and established rigorous training courses to instill the importance of avoiding such errors.
High-ranking officials in bomber and fighter commands were acutely aware of the risks and designed various mechanical and safety mechanisms to prevent such mishaps. It wasn’t seen as a series of hiccups but rather as a critical part of combat readiness.

The article humorously suggests that no aspiring aerial gunner could graduate without overcoming the temptation to target the rudder. This highlights the depth of awareness and the necessity for robust training to instill reliable discipline.

Mechanical Safeguards for Aircraft Like the TBM Avenger

The TBM Avenger, a torpedo-bomber similarly equipped, incorporated a power gun turret with a sophisticated prevention system. This turret featured a horizontal ring cam with nodes stopping the guns from firing when aligned with the aircraft. Additionally, there was a mechanism preventing the guns from hitting the cockpit canopy as the turret was rotated.

For U.S. aircraft, top turrets followed a horizontal ring cam with nodes designed to halt firing when aimed at the aircraft itself. However, this feature did not prevent friendly fire incidences on accompanying aircraft, leading to casualties and damage.

Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Self-Damage

Several strategies were employed to mitigate the risk:

Reliable Gunner Training: Trainees were instructed to avoid targeting the tail section of the aircraft, recognizing its critical role in flight stability. This technique, though simple and effective, relied heavily on discipline and situational awareness—a challenge in the heat of combat.

Deflection Cams: Mechanical blocks enabled gunners to limit their firing range by creating a hard stop when the target approached a certain angle. This forced the gunner to reposition the guns and fire laterally, ensuring safe aim.

Electrical Interrupts: These technology-based solutions deactivated the firing solenoids when the guns approached self-inflicted danger. As the target tracked, the guns would resume firing, ensuring they always targeted the enemy.

Aerodynamic Design: In some cases, tail gunners were positioned so far aft that they had a clear field of view, free from the risk of damaging the aircraft.

These multifaceted approaches demonstrated the significant efforts made to ensure the safety and effectiveness of rear gunners in critical missions.

Understanding these measures reveals the complexity and importance of aerial combat training and aircraft design in ensuring that brave soldiers and airmen can fulfill their duties without endangering their aircraft or fellow crew members. The lessons learned from the SBD Dauntless go beyond this specific aircraft, offering valuable insights for modern military and civilian aviation operations.