What rank was Snowden in Catch-22?

He was the tail-gunner that dies in Yossarian’s arms–what rank was he? Does Heller ever say?

I thought he was a corporal, but I don’t know if Heller ever says.

Is corporal likely for a tail-gunner? What were the air force ranks of yesteryear’s tail-gunners?

I don’t recall but he was a fresh crew replacement. Probably, he would have been very low rank.

He would undoubtedly have been a sergeant. Because the Germans treated NCOs better than regular enlisted men when they were taken prisoner, the AAF promoted all the enlisted men who flew combat missions to sergeant. This included my grandfather, who was a tail gunner on a B-24.

Thanks minty for the insight.