Chargen benefits for enlisted personal

[dean]

In a WWII US air squadron, Intel officer was an additional duty, not a primary duty; as an LT, he wasn't in an office doing intel; he was in a tailgun and doing the intel briefs before missions.

Most of the WWII aircrews were officers; radiomen and tailgunners often weren't, but Pilots, Copilots, Navigators, and bombardiers were, flight engineers sometimes were officers or warrants (tho' NCOs were common), and staff officers often filled the enlisted gunner positions due to shortages. I've gotten this from 4 different aircrew officers of the USAAC from WWII. And one PAF flyboy.

An intel officer as additional duty to being a tail gunner? Nope, backwards. Tail gunner as an additional duty to being intel officer, as I said in my original reply. i guess he could have had yet other unnamed duties, then also served as the intel officer, but his functional role that made him an officer wasn't tail gunner.

He was the intel officer, he provided intel briefs and debriefs (an "officer" function in the WWII USAAF TO&E). Again, if one happened to be the one who "filled the enlisted gunner position due to shortages" he was still an officer who happened to man a tail gun, not an officer level tail gunner.

Surely, the bombardiers and flight engineers on the multi-crewed bombers were typically officers, and they did indeed man a gunner station, but they were officers due to their expertise at their assigned role, not because they were chosen for their gunnery skills.

 

[aramis]

An intel officer as additional duty to being a tail gunner? Nope, backwards. Tail gunner as an additional duty to being intel officer, as I said in my original reply. i guess he could have had yet other unnamed duties, then also served as the intel officer, but his functional role that made him an officer wasn't tail gunner.

He was the intel officer, he provided intel briefs and debriefs (an "officer" function in the WWII USAAF TO&E). Again, if one happened to be the one who "filled the enlisted gunner position due to shortages" he was still an officer who happened to man a tail gun, not an officer level tail gunner.

Surely, the bombardiers and flight engineers on the multi-crewed bombers were typically officers, and they did indeed man a gunner station, but they were officers due to their expertise at their assigned role, not because they were chosen for their gunnery skills.

Most squadron's intell officers were pilots first, intel boys second. Especially WWII USMC, according to Col. Boyington. And Tailgunner Joe was a marine.

 

[dean]

Most squadron's intell officers were pilots first, intel boys second. Especially WWII USMC, according to Col. Boyington. And Tailgunner Joe was a marine.

Sure, I get that. Intel officer second.
No officer was made a tail gunner and then made intel officer as a second duty, is all I am saying. And the Marines waste no man, so if they didn't have a plane for him, or whatever his primary duty was, sure he'd go up in the gunners seat.

 

[aramis]

Sure, I get that. Intel officer second.
No officer was made a tail gunner and then made intel officer as a second duty, is all I am saying. And the Marines waste no man, so if they didn't have a plane for him, or whatever his primary duty was, sure he'd go up in the gunners seat.

He wasn't a qualified anything-aviator but gunner.