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The Stinger's Tail

2 episodes 88%4KCC

Inside the deadly evolution of bomber tail guns and the men behind them.

This two-part series traces the dramatic history of the rear gunner, from the earliest armed aircraft to the final era of the stinger's tail. Through bomber design, turret technology, and the brutal lessons of air combat, it reveals why so much depended on one vulnerable position. Sign up to see how this overlooked role shaped aerial warfare.

Episode guide

2 episodes
1
1The Stinger's Tail: Part 1
It was a run and gun battle 1,200 miles long high above Germany. Armed with the most sophisticated turrets ever devised, the air gunners from the United States Army Air Force and the Royal Air Force battled for their lives—and the key to Allied victory: strategic bombing.
29 min
2
2The Stinger's Tail: Part 2
The RAF and USAAF went into World War II confident that the bomber would always get through—but the determined opposition of the Luftwaffe challenged this military doctrine. Even with the most sophisticated turret defenses, bomber losses were heavy as the Allies clawed their way deeper into Europe.
29 min
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