Guns in the Sky: The Air Gunners of World War Two

by Chaz Bowyer

The gripping true story of one of the deadliest roles of World War II.

Nicknamed ‘Tail-end Charlies,’ air gunners faced staggering odds, with fewer than one in three surviving their missions.

Who were these unsung heroes of the air forces? Why was their role so deadly? And what was it like to see a Messerschmitt hurtling towards you as you tried to fight them off and protect the rest of your crew?

Chaz Bowyer draws on a wealth of personal recollections from the USAAF, RAAF, and RAF to provide a remarkably detailed account of these courageous men. This poignant and gripping narrative brings to life the vital yet perilous role they played in the strategic bomber offensive of the Second World War. Bowyer also explores how the role of the air gunner evolved, tracing its origins back to the infancy of military aviation in World War I.

‘Excellent’ RAF News

‘Compelling reading for those who remember what it was like and for those who have the imagination and sympathy to be intrigued’ Journal of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators

‘Bowyer brings the hair-raising job alive’ Birmingham Post

Guns in the Sky is a fitting tribute to these brave men, vividly recreating their harrowing experiences while offering an in-depth exploration of the origins, evolution, and tactics of air gunnery.

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2025

About the author

Chaz Bowyer (1927-2008) was an aviation historian and author. He joined the RAF, aged 16, in 1942 and left it in 1969. Then he turned his hand to his life-long passion for aviation and started writing.

Reviews

[Drasko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book about unsung heroes of air warfare in two world wars. It gives good overview of tentative start in WW1 and follows development of air gunner art through Bomber Command developments finishing with computerized sights on B29 0f USAF. Coastal Command, Desert Air Force and struggle against Japan. Unfortunately only exploits of British air gunners are described in detail and enemy forces were not mentioned at all. Part of USAF is relatively short and patronizing as they dared to have their own strategy and not listen to British. Yes, they paid the price but they won the war. Another problem with the book is chapter about WW1 in which author gives impression that anybody in back seat having machine gun in front of him is, automatically, air gunner. After giving quick overview of society at that time he proceeds to explain that poor blue collar workers or similar made majority of backseaters, which is partly true for the second part of the war. At the beginning guy in back seat was a mid ranking officer and usually commanding the airplane and pilot was just a - driver. Commander was operating expensive and relatively complicated camera which top brass will not put in the hands of enlisted soldier. Also good part of officers were from artillery services as they had to coordinate firing of hundred(s) of artillery weapons in rolling barrage in front of thousands of infantryman during a major "push". Not really a job for junior NCO! At the same time such officers were not very familiar with Lewis MG so if attacked by enemy planes sometime result was dead officer surrounded by half dismantled gun as he was struggling to clear stoppage.
In one word book has it's moments but overall not such great success for the author who spent over 25 years in RAF.

[Pat Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way to many BIG words

Way to many BIG words. Way to many stories about Brit gunners. Should be Alf Brit and half American stories.