Just for further confirmation - I got a response to this query from Sara Randle, Project Manager, The Fighter Collection at TVAL :
"... As a gunner in FE2b's you would be unable to fire flat directly behind the aircraft - it was a real blind-spot and something enemy aircraft took advantage of.
There is a large area behind the fuselage and to either side of the fuse that was very prone to attack, The Luffberry circle (or possibly Luftberry - can't remember) was a famous defensive tactic developed with Fee's where if attacked, a formation would enter a circular tail-chase where each following aeroplane covered the rear of the aircraft in front. (Obviously this tactic has its own pitfalls!)
I have crewed the Fe2b's here many times as gunner and take it from me (being a girl) that you cannot shoot directly behind you and in fact your field of fire is very limited when using the gun to the rear. Over the top wing is fine and the higher up you can stand, the better angle you can get over that wing. I absolutely believe that gunners stood on the rims of the nacelles to get a greater range of fire, especially if they were shorter in stature and once they became familiar with this aeroplane. Many people dispute this but I don't believe any of those people have actually flown in an FE2b. ...."
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