The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner

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“The death of the ball turret gunner”

“The poem Death of the ball turret gunner” by Randall Jarrell describes the life of a world war two ball turret gunner, on his mission of protecting his B-17 while on it is on an air raid, bombing Germany. Jarrell somehow shows, in vivid detail how harsh and unforgiving war is, and the shear courage and resolve of what has now become known, as the greatest generation in only five lines. (Gale)

Jarrell also shows us, that the men fighting on both sides are in a way innocent much like children, who have been taken from their sleeping mothers, and forced to go to war, and face its horrors and possibly death. (Bassett)

To fully understand this poem one must first know what a purpose of a ball turret gunner is, and the dangers that this particular position presented to the man inside the ball turret. Like any gunner on an aircraft the ball turret gunner is changed with defending the aircraft from attacking fighters, but the role of a ball turret gunner is extremely important to the survival of the slow and unmaneuverable bombers more so than almost any other position.(Bassett)

The ball turret is positioned on the underbelly of the aircraft, although having this position provided great protection to the underside of the aircraft; it also poised a great threat to those who manned this position for multiple reasons. Including, its construction which was almost entirely of plexi glass which provided, the gunner no protection from enemy bullets, another was the systems used to power the movement of the turret. Which could easily become damaged and prevent the turret from moving to a position allowing the gunner to escape in the event of a wheels up landing. Throughout the war this occurred many t...

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...M. Galens. Vol. 41. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 20-21.

Literature Resources from Gale. Gale. Alabama Virtual Library Remote Access. 30 Nov. 2009 .

Humphrey, Ted. "An overview of “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner”." Poetry for Students. Detroit: Gale.

Literature Resources from Gale. Gale. Alabama Virtual Library Remote Access. 30 Nov. 2009 .

Travisano, Thomas. "Randall's Jarrell's Poetics: A Rediscovered Milestone." Georgia Review. 50.4 (Winter 1996): 691-696.

Rpt. in Poetry Criticism. Ed. David M. Galens. Vol. 41. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 691-696.

Literature Resources from Gale. Gale. Alabama Virtual Library Remote Access. 30 Nov. 2009 .

Galens, David. "Vol. 41". Poetry Criticism. Detroit: Gale, 2003 p691-696.

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