Page 16 - Peter Brown

Air gunners on the firing range using the tripod mounted ·303 calibre Twin Browning
machine guns. These weapons were standard to all the Frazer Nash turrets fitted to
Bomber Command heavies. It was realised that this calibre of weapon could not
match in range the Luftwaffe’s 20 mm cannon fitted to the night fighters that were
nightly intercepting bomber crews, and by 1945 No.1 Group was being re-equipped
with the Rose turret mounting the larger ·50 Browning machine gun. Two ·50’s
replacing the 4 x ·303 Browning’s mounted in the standard Fraser Nash turret. This
modification was overseen by No. 1 Groups Air Officer Commanding A.V.M. Rice in
conjunction with Rose Brothers of Gainsborough.