Didn't the E or F version have a gun in the radio operators compartment?
The B/C/D versions without the turrets and tail guns had twin 50s in the radio room as well as twin 50s in a tub under the fuselage about the same spot the ball turret would later go. Single 50s in larger waist windows too. To cover the tail the pilot would have to kick rudder back and forth to let the waist gunners try and get a shot. In desperation some crews rigged a MG with tracers in the tail after removing the tail cone that was fired by one of the waist gunners pulling a chord hooked to the trigger so they could try and scare off fighters on the tail.
The E/F/G had single 50s with the radio room hatch being removed in the E and F and early G, with later a mount in the hatch itself on the later G and finally the gun was removed and the radio man covered one of the waist guns when they went to a 9 man crew fairly late in the war.
B17Es on Midway. The one going right has the remote turret, the other has a ball turret.
A really early in the war formation of 17s with a C/D in the mix with early Es with the remote turret.
A B17B upgraded to C standards at the training base Hendricks Field, Sebring Florida, 1942
Pre-war B17Bs. Note the waist window and the early gun blister under the fuselage.
I kinda like B17Bs. Only one saw combat in the Aluetians in 42 when it was pressed into service.
RAF took B17Cs into combat on July 7, 1941 with minimal success.
