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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 7:50 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 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 8:10 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
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:43 pm to TutHillTiger
A personal friend was a pilot of one, but he died in the late 1990s. Never talked missions, but when I asked him about don't ask don't tell in the early 90's he laughed and said, hell they had gay men in the service in WWII and everyone knew it.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 8:49 pm to TutHillTiger
I've shared this page before on here.
401st
It's the 401st bomber group association page, they have done an amazing job with flight records, mission logs and other facts for the bombing group.
This page I shared is my grandpa's, I learned a lot from looking on there.
*Looks like the link won't work for some reason but if you search 401st bombing group on Google it will pop up
401st
It's the 401st bomber group association page, they have done an amazing job with flight records, mission logs and other facts for the bombing group.
This page I shared is my grandpa's, I learned a lot from looking on there.
*Looks like the link won't work for some reason but if you search 401st bombing group on Google it will pop up
This post was edited on 2/16/24 at 8:55 pm
Posted on 2/16/24 at 9:22 pm to TutHillTiger
quote:
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,
FWIW, I bet this dude could fly the absolute shite out of that plane.
This post was edited on 2/16/24 at 9:23 pm
Posted on 2/16/24 at 9:39 pm to TutHillTiger
I had a great uncle who flew heavy bombers in that war. I don't know if he flew B-17s or B-29s or both, but when we asked my grandpa about his service he just kind of scoffed and said his brother had really fought the war. They were both officers in that war.
My great uncle was an ornery man, and I don't doubt that he questioned what he'd had to do every day after he did it. You can't really aim for the other guy's foot if you're dropping heavy bombs.
My great uncle was an ornery man, and I don't doubt that he questioned what he'd had to do every day after he did it. You can't really aim for the other guy's foot if you're dropping heavy bombs.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 9:43 pm to TutHillTiger
My grandfather was a tail gunner on a B17. Survived all 25 of his missions to qualify for an early discharge. He couldn’t fit through the tunnel leading to his station with his parachute on, so he propped it up nearby hoping he could get to it in case he needed it.
8th Air Force
326 Bomb Group
92nd Wing
8th Air Force
326 Bomb Group
92nd Wing
Posted on 2/16/24 at 10:07 pm to TutHillTiger
Knew this man growing up and his sons in Clinton School System.
He was a navigator and POW for 19 months
MIssissippi Wildlife Officer Career
MIlitary
He was a navigator and POW for 19 months
MIssissippi Wildlife Officer Career
MIlitary
Posted on 2/16/24 at 10:19 pm to TutHillTiger
My father flew many different aircraft in WWII. He started flying when he was 14. A cousin took him up in a bi-plane (crop duster) for a ride. After they landed, he said he could do this, and took off for a solo. He did crop dusting in HS.
When WWII started and before America was in the war, he joined the Canadian Airforce which was flying a variety of aircraft to England. Never mentioned a B-17, but he had a lot of B26-B time. Never liked the Lancaster because all of the controls were "backward."
He was up on rotation to fly The Hump, when the base general asked him where he learned to land the B26-B that way and sent him to Tampa as a flight instructor. The whole B26-B program was in danger of being closed because it was hard for new pilots to land thus the nick-name, "the widow-maker." He loved that plane because it was high performance.
Later in life he as in position as an accident investigator and safety director working for the Army that paid him extra to fly helicopters. That was like a kid being paid in a candy store.
When WWII started and before America was in the war, he joined the Canadian Airforce which was flying a variety of aircraft to England. Never mentioned a B-17, but he had a lot of B26-B time. Never liked the Lancaster because all of the controls were "backward."
He was up on rotation to fly The Hump, when the base general asked him where he learned to land the B26-B that way and sent him to Tampa as a flight instructor. The whole B26-B program was in danger of being closed because it was hard for new pilots to land thus the nick-name, "the widow-maker." He loved that plane because it was high performance.
Later in life he as in position as an accident investigator and safety director working for the Army that paid him extra to fly helicopters. That was like a kid being paid in a candy store.
Posted on 2/16/24 at 10:29 pm to TutHillTiger
Great uncle thru marriage was a B-17 pilot. Great guy but passed away about 12 years ago.
Posted on 2/17/24 at 12:11 am to TutHillTiger
My grandpa (not a vet) introduced me to B-17’s and the Army Air Corps with the 1986 film Memphis Belle.
I really gotta get around to watching the new Apple show. Ordered the book today.
I really gotta get around to watching the new Apple show. Ordered the book today.
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