During World War II air gunners made up a staggering share of bomber crew losses, leading British scientists to quietly question whether removing gun turrets and gunners could actually save lives.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Merrill E. Brewer, 26, of Monticello, Maine, was the waist gunner aboard a B-24 Liberator bomber ...