| Garde de Paris | 14 Oct 2018 9:20 a.m. PST |
link I understand this raid was "pushed" to get the Army Air Corp turned into the US Air Force, independent arm. Dozens of B-17's had to turn back to bases for mechanical problems; 60 B-17's shot down; ?17? that returned judged too shot up to repair. Close to 25% of aircraft "lost." GdeP |
| Garde de Paris | 14 Oct 2018 9:20 a.m. PST |
Sorry! It did not look like my posting was registering!C My bad! GdeP |
| Thresher01 | 14 Oct 2018 12:32 p.m. PST |
Yep, lots of planes lost, and the rate of those shot down was the same as on the first, combined, Schweinfurt/Regensburg raid. If you combine those "damaged", it's over a 67% casualty rate, not even adjusting for those planes aborting before the raid carried on. Of course, I suspect some of those may have been minorly, or moderately damaged to, by flak and fighters. Still, amazing they continued on after such losses. The air crews were brave men indeed. |
| Wackmole9 | 14 Oct 2018 4:01 p.m. PST |
Little Know fact the 15th air force also hit the area and suffered little looses. They were never given credit as they weren't part of the " Mighty 8th " |
| wrgmr1 | 14 Oct 2018 6:35 p.m. PST |
60 B-17's shot down. That's 600 aircrew lost in one day. Not including killed and wounded in returning aircraft. |
| jdginaz | 14 Oct 2018 6:39 p.m. PST |
I think it was less that they weren't part of the 8th and more that the tragedy of the 8th's losses tends to naturally draw all the attention. |
Marc33594  | 15 Oct 2018 4:18 a.m. PST |
The three deadliest military "jobs" for the US in WW II, in order: Bomber Crew
Merchant Marine
Submariner |
| Thresher01 | 15 Oct 2018 2:32 p.m. PST |
Surprised tanks crews aren't in that mix. |
| Marc33594 | 16 Oct 2018 4:23 a.m. PST |
The casualty rate was higher for US infantry in WW II than for tank crew members. |
| jdginaz | 17 Oct 2018 11:13 p.m. PST |
US Armor casualty rate in WWII was very low. |
| Mark 1 | 19 Oct 2018 6:23 p.m. PST |
No no no! Shermans were death traps. Ronsons! They all burned and everyone died. Haven't you read all the other internet forums? -Mark
(aka: Mk 1) |
| Marc33594 | 20 Oct 2018 12:07 p.m. PST |
We should make a pact here on TMP. If anyone resorts to Belton Cooper they automatically lose the argument. :) |
wonders: Can Fernando do 1/285th?
