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If anyone else is a WWII aviation buff like me, today in 1943 the B-17 Memphis Belle completed her 25th mission, becoming the first crew in the 8th Air Force to do so, and without any casualties in the crew! Thanks to all our veterans, past and present.

Tubajug wrote:If anyone else is a WWII aviation buff like me, today in 1943 the B-17 Memphis Belle completed her 25th mission, becoming the first crew in the 8th Air Force to do so, and without any casualties in the crew! Thanks to all our veterans, past and present.

I honor the vets also,----------------------the casualty rate among b17 crews bombing Germany was stagering---------Tubajug, do you happen to know---------I want to say about 40% ???

Rent the movie, it's classic combat camera footage is great.

Brown Mule wrote:

Tubajug wrote:If anyone else is a WWII aviation buff like me, today in 1943 the B-17 Memphis Belle completed her 25th mission, becoming the first crew in the 8th Air Force to do so, and without any casualties in the crew! Thanks to all our veterans, past and present.

I honor the vets also,----------------------the casualty rate among b17 crews bombing Germany was stagering---------Tubajug, do you happen to know---------I want to say about 40% ???

I'd have to look in my stuff, but I'm remembering something around 33%. But I just finished a book about submarines in WWII and according to that book, submariners had the highest mortality rate during the war at 20%. Although casualties rates are those killed or wounded, mortality is just killed. I'll look into it. But yes, bomber crew casualty rates were simply appalling.