Watching series with family, who were quite upset at the fatality rate of the American forts —flying daytime bombing missions — and unsurprisingly, being greeted by German anti air flak and German fighters as they approach the coast.
Absolutely brutal. Yet we know why these brave American lads were indeed “the greatest generation.” The bravery, courage, and loyalty of these airmen is remarkable.
But Jesus! Maybe clear skies is not the safest platform to deliver bombs to target? Maybe not let the enemy see you coming? Maybe the British officers have a point that night missions provide more cover?
It might be due to the limited number of episodes.
My wife says: "Memphis Belle meets Top Gun" -- addressing the "fraternity house" culture.
It's good TV. And of course, a wonderful reminder of the what the Greatest Generation did for us.
Right about the Greatest Generation. People forget, that generation also gave us Medicare, Social Security, the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Right's act.
has been following the series and are likewise amazed by what those young 20 yr olds went through...mission...after mission, knowing what was awaiting them each time. Joe's attitude was to go on as many missions as he could, as quickly as possible in order to complete his tour, which finished with another crew. My Dad (Pilot) never really spoke much about his experiences, until he sent me a page out of his diary from that year. He flew 32 missions (officially) and this is his diary account of the last one (italics), plus some comments in a family book put together decades later in normal text.
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Up at 0345 this morning for T.O. at 0700. Target - Merseberg - again. Weather screwed up our assembly, but we got off OK over the North Sea. Pick up Eu. fighters just after we crossed the enemy coast. They got two ships out of the wing ahead. Gee but I get a sick feeling when I see a ship going down in flames. Only saw one chute come out. Caught flak at several places on the way in and that started all our troubles. One piece severed an oil line on #1 and it started smoking and throwing oil. It ran away and started to vibrate violently at the IP and we couldn't feather it. We salvoed our bombs and tried to stay in formation, but then it caught on fire. We dove 12,000' before we could put it out. By that time it blew the nose section off and pieces of engine and cowling came flying off. The vibrations were so violent that 3 of the 4 mounts broke off and the wing buckled and the left aileron counter-balance broke off and tore the wing to hell. We caught a lot of flak on the way out and the best we could do was 135. The navigator did a damn good job. We came all the way out alone and just made the English coast. We landed at Rockheath where the prop came off and we lost #2. #1 was barely hanging on by one mount. Stayed at Rockheath overnight.
We were coming in on fumes on that one. The navigator did a damn good job on that one - avoiding enemy flak and anti-aircraft guns. We had one good engine left when we landed (out of 4 engines).
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The next day, Dad's squadron commander back at his home base told him he was through...ended up just a few missions short of 35, but got a DFC for that last one. After getting home, he got a job with a major U.S. Airline and retired as a Boeing 747 Captain...said he was "Blessed". Dad also had a great sense of humor...when asked by someone about how scared he was during those missions...he replied..."Only the lady who did my laundry knew" ;-).
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talked with a local who was a kid back when all this was going on...he became the 'curator' of a little museum in the attic of his home. During our conversation, he mentioned that a woman from the village left a bouquet of flowers at the end of the main runway...every week...for the rest of her life...still brings a tear to my eye.
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produced for family members. My wife worked with my Dad to put it together and she's looking at getting a few more made for G-Kids and friends...but that's about it.
Don't want the history of these men to disappear.
or two with us.
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As Iggle pointed out below, the odds of surviving multiple missions was close to zero. The lads were fully aware that each mission was a probable fatal one, yet they bravely carried on.
32 missions by your dad! Truly heroic.
for the good words...I'll be passing them along to Joe, shortly.
Meant you only had a 35% chance of getting through your 20 missions.
I'm surprised the survival rate was that high.
My grandfather served in a B-17. He called them over-sized coffins.
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The claim of Flying Fortress was redunkulous.