T/Sgt R.G. Scharch

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T/Sgt Scharch Rogan Crew (20 Jul 1943)

T/Sgt Scharch back home in Milwaukee (1944)

303rd Bomb Group (Delta C) - 358th Bomb Squadron (VK-F)

Section thru ball turret

Gunner's clock

303rd Bomb Group

Ball turret gunners sat inside and worked two 50 cal. machine guns.

Inside the B-17: Located below yellow oxygen tank, the Sperry

ball turret and gimbal apparatus swivels 360 degrees.

It's hard to imagine a worse position to fight in during the war onboard a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress than the Sperry ball turret - in the belly of a heavy bomber.

Isolated from the rest of the ten-man crew, the ball turret position was cramped quarters for anyone who didn't have claustrophobia and there was no space to wear the parachute issued.

BT gunners sat in a fetal up position inside the ball turret, maneuvering the sphere to aim and fire the twin 50-caliber machine guns at enemy aircraft. The turret swiveled a full 360 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically. The attitude of the gunner's position varied from lying on your back to standing on your feet, which were spread apart with stirrups on each side of the 13" diameter port window through which he aimed.

A post war study of fatality records revealed the ball turret gunner's position was actually the safest job on a B-17 plane, with pilots having the greatest risk.

Official Training Film 1944 War Department

A Production of the

First Motion Picture Unit Army Air Forces

Target For Today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80SNbQmACZ0

Richard G. Scharch

(1921 - 2013)

Richard G. Scharch, 92, passed away peacefully at his home in Camarillo, CA on December 13, 2013 with his family at his side.

The eldest of six children, Richard and twin sister Rose Mary were born on January 14, 1921 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to George and Magdalene Scharch. He married Florence Ruth Denton on June 1, 1946 and together they had five children and celebrated 67 wonderful years of marriage.

Richard was employed as a tree surgeon for the City of Milwaukee and later for the Los Angeles School Board until he retired to Camarillo in 1983. During his life he devoted himself to his family, service to the Catholic Church, helping relatives and friends, and to his love of carpentry and wood carving where he found an outlet for his artistic talent. He was proud of completely building his own house in Milwaukee. He was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Camarillo and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

During WW II Richard served in the U.S. Eighth Army Air Force 303rd "Hell's Angels" Bomb Group in England. He completed 26 missions serving as ball turret gunner on a B-17 "Flying Fortress" in the 358th Squadron, chosen to fly in the perilous Regensburg-Schweinfurt Mission in 1943. He was awarded the Air Medal with (3) Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial combat. He is mentioned by name and a photograph with his squadron appears in the book "Half a Wing, Three Engines and a Prayer: B-17s over Germany" by Brian O'Neal. Richard was a quiet, modest man blessed with many talents. At the end of a long and fulfilling life he leaves the loving legacy of his art and helping others in the homes of his family and friends, and he will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife Florence, 91, children Bill Scharch, Fay Zuhde, Dan Scharch, Richard Carl Scharch and Roseanne Caya, six grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his twin sister Rosemary Gieg, his sister Magdalene Berg, and his brothers Edward, George and James.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Camarillo at 25 Los Posas Road on Friday Dec. 20, 2013 with graveside services to follow at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park 2052 Howard Road Camarillo, Ca 93012.

Published in Ventura County Star from Dec. 19 to Dec. 22, 2013