Taken from the AN11-45C-5, HANDBOOK OF OPERATION AND SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL FOR UPPER DECK TURRETS, TYPES A1, A-1A, and A-1B.

 

The Sperry designed Upper Turret was a product of both Emerson Electric Manufacturing Company of St. louis, Mo. and the Steel Products Engineering Company of Springfield,  Ohio.

 

This upper deck turret was expressly developed for installation in B-17 airplanes, and has been used exclusively in the upper-fuselage deck of this particular bomber. Its primary function is to provide a local- control gun station mounting two, caliber .50 machine guns, and having all the necessary mechanism for operation of these guns. Of equal importance in the exceptional effectiveness of its gunfire, made possible by the automatic computing sight for which the turret was especially designed.

 

Sgt Michael Holowaty, the upper turret gunner, is currently missing in action (MIA).  There has not been a substantial amount of the upper turret found yet, but the pieces recovered have a positive insight that the upper turret went with the aircraft and on the wreck site. The pieces recovered are from the internal mechanical subsections in the azimuth and elevation controlling gears and assembly. It would be difficult for these parts to "just fall out" and the rest not have been on site. It is hoped that additional material will be recovered and that our missing airman, Sgt. Holowaty is there.