Doing some research for a story. What would be the ranks of crewmen, specifically gunners, aboard a U.S Army Air Force B-17 flying fortress during world war two?
The officers on a B-17 (and B-24) were the Pilot, Co-pilot, navigator and bomb aimer (generally Lieutenants with the pilot sometimes being a captain). The radio operator, flight engineer and gunners were generally sergeants or similar non-commissioned officers.
I have heard rumours that this was to ensure better treatment if the crewmen were captured, but I can't verify that claim.