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Started By
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Anyone related to any B-17s pilots or survivors on here?
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:33 pm
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:33 pm
My uncle flew one, and wasn’t a great pilot was supposed to be a copilot but when he got there he ended up being the pilot. He told his crew he wasn’t a good pilot, would do the best he could and anyone that wanted too can transfer no harm no foul. (He said he made bounce landings)
Anyway after 12 missions or so he was shot down, which was apparently common. He said it was best landing he ever made. They thought they were in Holland as the people had wooden shoes. He woke up with a Luger in his face and a German SS officer on the other side.
He spent rest of the war in a prison of war camp. Incredibly, all his crew survived the war and hey used to hold reunions ever few years. Apparently that’s a lot rarer than I thought.
Watching masters of air on apple, and their survival rate was around 50%. It kinda looks like they were “cannon fodder” in daylight raids.
Holy frick just found this.
What was the survival rate of the bomber crew?
24%
The most dangerous were the first and last five trips. During the whole war, 51% of aircrew were killed on operations, 12% were killed or wounded in non-operational accidents and 13% became prisoners of war or evaders. Only 24% survived the war unscathed.
Anyway after 12 missions or so he was shot down, which was apparently common. He said it was best landing he ever made. They thought they were in Holland as the people had wooden shoes. He woke up with a Luger in his face and a German SS officer on the other side.
He spent rest of the war in a prison of war camp. Incredibly, all his crew survived the war and hey used to hold reunions ever few years. Apparently that’s a lot rarer than I thought.
Watching masters of air on apple, and their survival rate was around 50%. It kinda looks like they were “cannon fodder” in daylight raids.
Holy frick just found this.
What was the survival rate of the bomber crew?
24%
The most dangerous were the first and last five trips. During the whole war, 51% of aircrew were killed on operations, 12% were killed or wounded in non-operational accidents and 13% became prisoners of war or evaders. Only 24% survived the war unscathed.
This post was edited on 2/16/24 at 8:03 pm
29
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:35 pm to TutHillTiger
The judge years ago in my town was a crewman along with his brother (different planes). They were both shot down and spent the rest of the war in the same camp.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:36 pm to TutHillTiger
That's a cool story. Your uncle is a rare breed.
I'm glad he was captured by the Nazis and not the Japanese.
I'm glad he was captured by the Nazis and not the Japanese.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:37 pm to TutHillTiger
I don't think any centenarians post here
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:38 pm to TutHillTiger
I doubt that there are WWII pilots on TD. They'd be aroud 100 years old.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:40 pm to rundmcrun
quote:
I don't think any centenarians post here
A WWII veteran used to post here. I haven't seen any of his posts in a year or more so I sadly assume he's no longer with us.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:43 pm to Epaminondas
Maybe just relatives now. I built him a b-17 model one year as a gift. (Like Vader but not quite as good)
My other uncle was a volunteer pilot with RAF and fought in battle of London in a Hawker Hurricane.
He was lucky he was in a Prussian military prison. He said never saw them do a kind act but they weren’t ever cruel either, but by the book and convention
My other uncle was a volunteer pilot with RAF and fought in battle of London in a Hawker Hurricane.
He was lucky he was in a Prussian military prison. He said never saw them do a kind act but they weren’t ever cruel either, but by the book and convention
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:44 pm to TutHillTiger
I think about half his crew escaped rest got caught
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:47 pm to TutHillTiger
I remember them thinking the B-17 could fly missions without any fighter support. (That was a disaster)
They were very good bombers.
They were very good bombers.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:50 pm to TutHillTiger
My great-uncle was a B-17 pilot with the 549th Squadron, 385th Bomb Group. Flew his 35 missions then rotated back to the U.S. to train pilots. Stayed in the Air Force for 25 years and flew B-29’s, B-36’s, and B-52’s for SAC. He told me a bunch of stories. Some bad, some good and pretty damn funny.
If you are interested, I would suggest the book “The Wring Stuff” by Truman Smith. It’s a really good read. Smith was a pilot in the same BG as my great-uncle, and flew on some of the same missions.
If you are interested, I would suggest the book “The Wring Stuff” by Truman Smith. It’s a really good read. Smith was a pilot in the same BG as my great-uncle, and flew on some of the same missions.
This post was edited on 2/16/24 at 7:51 pm
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:55 pm to TheFonz
Thanks. My uncle never talked about it. One year he wrote a long letter explaining everything. We all thought it was trauma of being in prison, but I think now it probably the trauma of seeing his friends killed on raids
Posted on 2/16/24 at 7:56 pm to TutHillTiger
quote:Close. None of our fighters had enough range at first. They needed to bomb so they decided it was worth the expected losses.
I remember them thinking the B-17 could fly missions without any fighter support.
My uncle was crew chief on a B-17.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:01 pm to Redbone
Jesus look at these numbers.
What was the survival rate of the B-17 bomber crew?
24%
The most dangerous were the first and last five trips. During the whole war, 51% of aircrew were killed on operations, 12% were killed or wounded in non-operational accidents and 13% became prisoners of war or evaders. Only 24% survived the war unscathed.
frick those poor bastards
What was the survival rate of the B-17 bomber crew?
24%
The most dangerous were the first and last five trips. During the whole war, 51% of aircrew were killed on operations, 12% were killed or wounded in non-operational accidents and 13% became prisoners of war or evaders. Only 24% survived the war unscathed.
frick those poor bastards
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:02 pm to TutHillTiger
The 8th Air Force lost more men in WWII than the entire US Marine Corps did.
This post was edited on 2/16/24 at 8:03 pm
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:04 pm to TutHillTiger
My grandfather was a navigator as a tech sergeant.
ETA: My grandfather's service record is crazy. He started as Army. He was assigned to the platoon that protected the "Monuments Men" in WW2. I have seen pictures of my grandfather in text books. He switched to Air Force towards the tail end of WW2 and for Korea and Vietnam because promotion was easier, and then, promotions were frozen. He was offered a position on Air Force one right before he retired, but that would have taken him away 300 days a year. So, he declined.
ETA: My grandfather's service record is crazy. He started as Army. He was assigned to the platoon that protected the "Monuments Men" in WW2. I have seen pictures of my grandfather in text books. He switched to Air Force towards the tail end of WW2 and for Korea and Vietnam because promotion was easier, and then, promotions were frozen. He was offered a position on Air Force one right before he retired, but that would have taken him away 300 days a year. So, he declined.
This post was edited on 2/16/24 at 8:19 pm
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:07 pm to Jim Rockford
Not B-17, but SBD Dauntless
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:10 pm to TutHillTiger
quote:
What was the survival rate of the bomber crew?
24%
The most dangerous were the first and last five trips. During the whole war, 51% of aircrew were killed on operations, 12% were killed or wounded in non-operational accidents and 13% became prisoners of war or evaders. Only 24% survived the war unscathed.
My grandfather was a crew member on a bomber during WWII. His plane was shot down and he had to through a fire to jump out of the plane which blinded him for several months. He was captured by the Germans and held for the rest of the war in a POW camp. I've got the letter they sent to my grandmother saying that he was shot down and was most likely dead.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:14 pm to TutHillTiger
quote:
Watching masters of air on apple
If you haven’t so, read the book on which the series is based. Fantastic read.
Another great read
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:14 pm to TutHillTiger
Grandfather was a tail gunner. They were shot down and he become a POW at Stalag 17. He never talked about it much but can’t really fault him for that.
401st Bomb Group. Battlin Betty
401st Bomb Group. Battlin Betty
This post was edited on 2/16/24 at 8:20 pm
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:16 pm to TutHillTiger
My grandfather was a b-24 bombardier in the 44th BG 8th AF.
One of his first few missions was on dday
One of his first few missions was on dday
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