- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
August 17, 1943. Schweinfurt-Regensburg
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:02 pm
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:02 pm
60 US bombers lost, 60-100 damaged, some beyond repair.
Almost 600 airmen killed, wounded or POWs.
Almost 600 airmen killed, wounded or POWs.
13
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:03 pm to FightinTigersDammit
That was just the first raid..
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:05 pm to FightinTigersDammit
The Germans were hell bent on defending those damned ball-bearings.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:07 pm to FightinTigersDammit
Respect.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:10 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
The Germans were hell bent on defending those damned ball-bearings.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:13 pm to Darth_Vader
They were hell-bent on showing that the bomber would not always get through.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:18 pm to FightinTigersDammit
God bless those guys who gave their lives in the air war of attrition.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:21 pm to FightinTigersDammit
God Bless all the men that served in the 8th Air Force during WWII, and a special blessing on those that gave all.
quote:
The 8th Air Force in World War II suffered a staggering number of casualties, with over 26,000 killed in action and an additional 28,000 becoming prisoners of war. This equates to roughly half of the total U.S. Army Air Forces casualties during the war. The high fatality rate, coupled with the risks of capture and injury, meant that a significant portion of the airmen serving in the 8th Air Force did not return home.
This post was edited on 8/17/25 at 7:23 pm
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:22 pm to sledgehammer
quote:
God bless those guys who gave their lives in the air war of attrition.
Being on a bomber crew in the 8th Air Force during WWII was no joke. The 8th had a higher casualty rate than any infantry division, including the Marines, during the war. I think only submariners had a higher casualty rate than that of the bomber crews in the 8th Air Force.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:27 pm to Darth_Vader
Those missions before fighters could escort the bombers to any target in Europe must have had those crews shitting bricks.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:29 pm to Darth_Vader
8th Air Force Museum outside Savannah, GA off of I95 is amazing. Definitely worth a stop if passing by that way.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:32 pm to FightinTigersDammit
quote:
Those missions before fighters could escort the bombers to any target in Europe must have had those crews shitting bricks.
The P-51 Mustang is what made the difference. One thing I’ve always wondered though, is why were P-38s not used more in bomber escort?
There were P-38 squadrons in Europe, not as many as in the Pacific. They could have at leased helped some until the P-51s came online.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:36 pm to Darth_Vader
The early P-38s had a lot of problems in the colder European weather that didn't occur in the Pacific. Lots of engine failures.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:39 pm to FightinTigersDammit
This was a major part of Malcolm Gladwell's book The Bomber Mafia. It basically shaped Curtis LeMay's views on strategy. People that knew LeMay said that the loss of those crews haunted him the rest of his life.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:41 pm to duckblind56
My dad flew in the 8th Air Force. Completed all of his missions making him a member of The Lucky Bastards Club.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:42 pm to DesScorp
We were also stupidly committed to day light raids while Sir. Arthur Harris and the Brits switched to nighttime raids.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:45 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
The Germans were hell bent on defending those damned ball-bearings.
The pre-war theory at the Air Corps tactical school stated that if you could take out 5 or 6 sectors of industry from the air... like ball bearings... boom, war is over. But like many theories getting smacked in the face by reality, that one died a fiery death in the actual test of war. The Germans just rebuilt them underground or in fortifications that had so much concrete and rebar that they were basically bomb proof. The war dragged on for years. No matter how accurate our weapons get, we always have to re-learn the hard way that air strikes alone aren't going to win wars. The vital factories in Eastern Germany weren't shut down until the Red Army overran them on the ground.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:47 pm to FightinTigersDammit
The German tactics in this raid were superb. They used the ME-109s and the FW-190s. The Focke-Wulfs were a bust as fighter-bombers but were perfect for disrupting the allied bomber formations.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:50 pm to FightinTigersDammit
But how many were trans you bigot!?!?
Posted on 8/17/25 at 7:51 pm to Coach Yo
I would have loved to have met your dad and shook his hand and tell him how much I admire his bravery.
Had an uncle in the 101st...enough said.
My dad joined in June 1941, served in the Pacific until August of 1945. He had three more brothers serve in WWII and another in the Korean conflict....all came home. Damn I wish I would have written down some of their conversations.
Again. Your dad had to be one of the bravest and I'm sure would do it aall gain....just because.
Had an uncle in the 101st...enough said.
My dad joined in June 1941, served in the Pacific until August of 1945. He had three more brothers serve in WWII and another in the Korean conflict....all came home. Damn I wish I would have written down some of their conversations.
Again. Your dad had to be one of the bravest and I'm sure would do it aall gain....just because.
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News