Gun storage racks at Longreach, Queensland, for the 'E' model Fortresses of the 19th Bombardment Group, taken mid 1942. .

When required, guns were maintained and cleaned then stored on these racks before being bolted back into the Fortresses. The machine guns on the lower racks are .5 calibre Brownings, whilst above are a selection of M-1 carbines. On the floor to the right are a box of revolvers in their holsters, issued as survival gear before missions.

Later in the war, strict inventories of serial numbers of these machines were kept - which guns were assigned to which ships - so that in the event one disappeared its wreckage could hopefully be confirmed from gun serial numbers. This is still a useful took in identifying many aircraft wrecks in the Pacific today.

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