the title say it all . tail gunner joe be a tag give to the senator which rely upon the ignorance of the public about world war ii aircraft . the rear facing move gun rely upon a latch that would prevent the rear gunner from shoot off the tail of the airplane by prevent the gun from fire when it point at the tail . when the senator be practice on the ground one day and he succeed in shoot off the tail of the airplane . he couldn not have do that if the gun have be properly align . the gunnery officer responsible for that admitted and in public and before a camera and that he be responsible he have make the error and not the senator . the fact that the film do not report that fact and show how one side it be . this film be design to do one thing and destroy the reputation of a complex person . a much good program be the pbs special do on him . he be a hard working and intelligent and ambitious politician who overcome extraordinary disadvantage to rise to extraordinary height . he make some mistake and some serious mistake and but shoot the tail off an airplane be not one of them . the popularity of this film be due to the fact that the public like simple story and one equal side story and so that they do not have to think .