Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
“Nine-O-Nine”

Here, I am kneeling under the flight deck area, looking aft. The two bomb bay doors are open and the ball turret and tail wheel can be seen. The B-17 Flying Fortress is known as a "tail dragger" due to its lowered tail position relative to the nose section.

A tail wheel lock is situated on the cockpit floor and operated by the co-pilot. The lock must be unlocked and locked often during taxiing, especially on curved taxiways. When it is time for take off, the pilot lines up the Flying Fortress and the co-pilot locks the tail wheel.