The Lancaster rear gunner AKA "Tail End Charley" not only did much more than fire his guns - in fact he was expected not to fire at all, if possible! Due to the good maoeuvrability of the Lancaster bomber, instructing the pilot to perform evasive action like "corkscrewing" was often a much better choice for Arse End Charley than firing away at an approaching fighter who, until the tracers began to appear, may not even have been aware of the Lanc! Here follow some of the instructions given to (rear) gunners on the Avro Lancaster, making clear that unnecessary firing was not encouraged at all.

 

• Search the sky before take off and landing, when your a/c is most vulnerable.
• If you perceive gun fire, search for fighters and ask for evasive action.
• Always watch your own tail.
• Conserve your ammunition; if you’re fired upon from long range, instruct pilot to use evasive action.
• Use good team work with the rest of the crew.
• If using tracer at night, remember it tends to momentarily destroy your night vision; hold your fire until necessary.
• The aim of an enemy fighter is to destroy; the aim of a bomber air gunner is to get safely to target and back to base.
• Never fire until fired upon. Again: never fire until fired upon.
• All aircraft approaching are considered to be enemy until unmistakably identified otherwise.
• Remember: to be surprised is to be dead.
• If your own guns fail or are damaged during an attack, use your brains and ingenuity to outwit the attacker.