A short story in 1st person; Death of the Ball Turret Gunner

[NotWise]

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

Randall Jarell

 

[Handley_Page]

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

Randall Jarell

A similar sentiment is expressed by "Tail-end Charlie" notably in Lancasters.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Also the recurrent scene from Catch 22, where Yossarian goes back to help Snowden the gunner, who is cold down the back of the bomber.