During WWII head-on attacks targeting the pilot and bombardier were common at one point. What you will see here was an attempt to ward that off.
This B-17G was fitted with an experimental chin “turret” armed with 6 fixed .50 cal. machine guns, strange but in wartime, you try everything… The design was made by Armaments Officer Mike Mazer and guns were fired by the pilot.
It was more of a fixed forward-firing gun pod than a turret and the ammunition was stored in the nose compartment. You can see the feed chutes going up through the lower part of the fuselage.
Aircraft 42-31435 “West End” successfully completed many operational sorties with the new nose gun installation but, while conclusively proving the mechanical practicability of the design, a temporary cessation of head-on attacks by enemy prevented the proof of its effectiveness.
“West End” crash-landed on an RAF airfield due to flak damage and unfortunately the landing destroyed the front turret.
Short version:
Nazi pilots: “We’ve learned its best to attack these bombers head-on.” American Engineers: “Hold my beer…”
Couldn’t prove its effectiveness though, as Nazi pilots stopped attacking head-on.
West End also had perhaps the first azmuith tail turret to be tried overseas. See photos at flying fortress 1936 1945 on facebook.