tail gunners
Aft defensive crew
Tail gunners were crew members stationed at the rear of military aircraft, operating guns to defend against attacks from behind.
The position was particularly dangerous during World War II, with high casualty rates among bomber crews.
The term extends figuratively to anyone guarding the rear or watching for threats from behind: He played tail gunner, making sure no one followed us.
- flakIntense hostile reaction
- flak jacketTorso armor against projectiles
- bombersAircraft designed for airstrikes
- ball turretRotating aircraft gun mount
- gunnersThose who operate cannons
crewmen · turrets · gunships · aim · burst · defensive fire · enemy · gunsight · tracer · Tuskegee Airmen · strategic bombing · positions · fear · Luftwaffe · bullet · last man standing · heavy bombers · aircraft
- RAF airmenfighter pilots, bomber pilots, wing commanders, air marshals, aircrew
- Naval Aviationnaval aviation, naval aviator, flight deck, fighter squadrons, air wing
tail gunnerspilots
Those who fly aircraft
bombardiers · navigators · flight engineers · cockpit crew · co-pilots
tail, gunner, tails, tailed, tailing, tailless, guns, gunned, gunning