2 How many crew members did the b17 have? 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By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. From Arthur Hayes' collection. Hot Stuff was being flown home to the US since Captain Shannon had completed his tour of service. Cisco Job Application Status Under Review, The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. How many B17 crews actually managed to complete 25 missions during WW2? Battling flak and enemy fighters over the skies of Europe during World War II, the US Army Air Force Martin B-26 Marauder bomber named Flak-Bait? #13: Bomber crewmen werent trained to jump out of airplanes with parachute. Twenty-four hours later, he was rescued and the bodies recovered. They knew what they needed to know to successfully perform their duties but other than that, they had limited information. On May 17, 1943, the crew of the Memphis Belle, one of a group of American bombers based in Britain, becomes one of the first B-17 crews to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the . Also aboard were Andrews staff and four clergymen. A 1944 documentary film was produced detailing its exploits, and in 1990, a Hollywood feature film entitled the Memphis Belle perpetuated its glory for decades. I'm a 'scientist'. Average age of air crew member is 19 or 20 years old. Of the 15 aboard, 14 died. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Was A German Invasion Of Great Britain Actually Possible? Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated. The B-17 dropped more bombs than any other U.S. aircraft in World War II. In fact, it is believed that Memphis Belle was the third to complete 25 successful missions. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Your email address will not be published. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Memphis Belles crew completed 25 missions May 17, 1943 (without any loss of life). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My brother and I were having a disagreement over how many missions bomber crews had to fly (was this figured by individual? If I recall correctly (at least in the 330th) the 25 mission count only included completed primary target missions. However, others stayed behind to complete 30 missions to avoid having to return from the states for a second tour of duty. P. S. Hes here to tell the stories. The group leader sometimes flew in one, sometimes the other. Are any of the crew of the Memphis Belle still alive? Im just conveying the facts I uncovered while researching information for a friend who was the bombardier on Hot Stuff. how many ww2 bomber crews completed 25 missions 10. That seems awfully high for a pilot, which is what they say he was. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. William Waldock is a professor at ERAU and he says that Hot Stuff flew her final and 25 th mission in February of 1943, which was over three months earlier than the Memphis Belle completed her 25 missions. According to Warbird News, our government was anxious to report uplifting and inspiring stories of the war that would capture the American publics imagination. More than 50,000 Airmen lost their lives in the four years of WWII and the majority of those losses were on bomber missions over Nazi Germany in B-17s and B-24s. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". B-17F Hells Angels However, it is generally agreed that between 50 and 70 Lancaster bombers were lost in World War 2. In fact, the mythic Memphis Belle effect was such that there wasnt a death among those who had served on her for nearly 40 years after her last combat flight, in defiance of actuarial norms, and Americans, for better or worse are conditioned to respond to a happy ending, especially when it goes against all probability. The most famous aerial gunner was probably Clark Gable - MGM's biggest earner when WWII began. According to my brother, it was in the Ploesti raid that their lost all their fuel when anti-aircraft shells went through their wings without exploding. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Hells Angels a B-17F Flying Fortress became the first 8th Air Force B-17 to complete 25 combat missions in June 1943. Both crews are GODS! That because the American public knew heavy bomber crews faced death on every mission with only one in four chance of actually completing their tour of duty; thats an average life expectancy of only eight weeks. These bombers were B-17s and B-24s, both of which had a ten man crew. I live by HAFB museum and visit every Memorial Day. On a recent post here at Warbirds News, we reported on the anniversary of milestones in the history of what is perhaps one of the most famous bombers of all time, the Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress, Memphis Belle. Though they were supposed to refuel at Prestwick, Scotland before heading out over the Atlantic, the crew elected to skip stopping at Prestwick and proceed to their next waypoint, Reykjavik, Iceland. Of the 3,885 crewmen aboard B-17 Flying Fortresses that went down, 2,114 (54.4 \%) did not survive; 866 of the 1,228 on B-24 Liberators (71.3\%) died; 190 of the 236 (80.0\%) fighter pilots who went down perished. Vulcan to the Sky Trust Works to Keep Last Flying Avro Vulcan Aloft, Dornier Do 17 Retrieved From Goodwin Sands Arrives at RAF Museum Cosford. Interesting question. In 1943, having flown over France, Belgium, and Germany, the Memphis Belle crew became one of the first to reach that goal. How many missions would it take to complete a WWII bomber mission? They were simply given instructions. Five other crewmen were bumped to make room for Andrews and his entourage. The average age of the crew of a B-17 was less than 25, with four officers and six enlisted Airmen manning the aircraft. Big and slow, the B-17 delivered twice the payload of its predecessor. 2LT Harold J. Rider. 25 missions On May 17, 1943, the crew of the Memphis Belle, one of a group of American bombers based in Britain, becomes the first B-17 crew to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States. A search link to find all missions flown by each aircraft is available at the top of this page. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". So he promptly retrieved his discharge and it stated he had really flown 137 missions. These records show that Flak-Bait was assigned to fly on 216 missions. Further, this isnt really obvious if you take a cursory look at 8th AF operations, but the B-24 groups didnt start large scale operations until after the P-51B was available. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by Therefore, a total of 75,446 airmen (60 percent of operational airmen) were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. It completed its 25th mission on February 7, 1943, three and a half months before the B-17 Memphis Belle ." Many considered the occupation to be a death sentence. Miraculously the injured tail-gunner, Sgt. I have some 7500 hours at the controls, never for an instant not valuing the knowledge and expertise in that sideways sitting position, behind me. Now just imagine 60 B-52 bombers shot down in one day. Damage to the "waist-gunner" area of the bomber accounted 21.6 percent of all the hits the plane took. It completed its 25th mission on February 7, 1943, three and a half months before the B-17 Memphis Belle.. General Andrews, considered to be the father of the modern USAF, was replaced by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. . According to decades of World War II aviation history, the crew of the " Memphis Belle " became the first B-17F Flying Fortress crew to complete 25 missions following a strike against Kiel, Germany. Hells Angels was the first B-17/crew to complete 25 missions on May 13, 1943. (Photo is a jubilant Memphis Belle crew following their 25-mission). 2 What happened to the real crew of the Memphis Belle? Im just now gathering all these materials from a box of memorabilia We have. How do you identify neurotypical disorders? How many B17 crews actually managed to complete 25 missions during WW2? We would love to see some images from that log book if you feel comfortable scanning and sending them along! Before reaching that mark, 57 percent of them would be dead or missing. Imagine trying to move around? By 1944 and 1945 the luftwaffe was decimated and losses were much lower. WHAT A GOOD FLYING, FORGIVING AIRCRAFT WITH PLENTY OF POWER WITH 4 R-4360 PRATT WHITNEY ENGINES.PLENTY OF FLYING EUROPE FROM HOT WEATHER IN SOUTHERN ITALY TO THE COLD OF ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I say it was their 24th. What had to be done, had to be done quickly, swiftly, and efficiently. I guess flying a P-47 doesnt count, only B-17 & B-24 when it comes when it comes to keeping records. How many missions would it take to complete a WWII bomber mission? They did get in a few 1000 . Almost one in five Australian airmen to serve in Britain did not survive the war. Doolittle Raid, (April 18, 1942), during World War II, U.S. Army Air Forces bombing raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Jewish Organizations To Donate Furniture, , former Teacher by Profession, Teacher by Soul. 25 missions On May 17, 1943, the crew of the Memphis Belle, one of a group of American bombers based in Britain, becomes the first B-17 crew to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States. The limit was based on other factors, like degree of difficulty and the places they were operating from. Following his wife's death in an air crash while returning from a war bonds tour, a devastated Gable decided to enlist. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Because it was World War II, and the bombing campaign over Europe was a bloody affair. 8 How many B-17s were in the Pacific in 1942? By . My father like most of the true heroes of that war rarely spoke of the action he saw in the war except to say that few of his friends came home with him. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station . He was in the 389th bomb group, 567th squadron. The B-17 Hells Angels (41-24577) of the 303rd Bomb Group completed 25 combat missions on 13 May 1943, becoming the first to complete the feat, one week before the Memphis Belle. Hawker Hind. Col. James H. Doolittle led 16 B-25 bombers from the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Hornet in a spectacular surprise attack that caused little damage but boosted Allied morale. As far as I can work out, 3086 were lost but have no figure to work with to find a percentage. FROM TACHIKAWA TO ROBBINS GA. FOR FINAL PROCESSING OUT TO A GREAT RETIREMENT. 41-31173, the twin-engine medium bomber then took its place . The Memphis Belle was supposed to be the first B-17 bomber to fly 25 bombing missions and return back to base safely each time. Copyright 2017 - Warbirds News. No Built - 18,188. After flying 48 combat missions, it returned to the US for a war bond tour, but not until 1944. ten 23' - 12.6 mils. That the Memphis Belle and her crew had a more storybook quality to their military careers that better fit with the narrative that the government desired for home-front consumption is obvious. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There was an similar earlier raid that included Regensburg that cost the same.. Of every 100 airmen who joined Bomber Command, 45 were killed, 6 were seriously wounded, 8 became Prisoners of War, and only 41 escaped unscathed (at least physically). Andrews, an experienced, instrument-rated pilot, bumped the normal co-pilot off the plane and flew in his place. ouisana belle from England. (LOL). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Your email address will not be published. The raid prompted the Japanese to retain four army fighter groups in Japan during 1942 and . How many B17 crews actually managed to complete 25 missions during WW2? He said they would literally strip the plane, but I dont remember if that was before they left Italy or in Cuba. During World War II, workers in factories signed milestone aircraft, such as 1,000th aircraft built, before they were delivered. In the article comments, we were contacted by Air Force veteran Jim Lux who stated The first heavy bomber in the 8th Air Force to complete 25 mission in World War II was the B-24 Liberator Hot Stuff. 25 Although crew members were required to fly a minimum of 25 combat missions before returning to the United States, some were called back to duty for another 25. Brittany Williams Lite Brite Height, Unlike the 8th, the 9th didnt had a set limit of 25 missions. The Hot Stuff and her crew were soon forgotten. Ellen: Waldock says that because Hot Stuff crashed and never made it home it never became as well-known as Memphis Belle. After flying 48 combat missions, it returned to the US for a war bond tour, but not until 1944. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. How many Lancaster bombers lost in ww2? 7 How many missions would it take to complete a WWII bomber mission? I have amended the B-24s loss on the Wikipedia article List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (194044) to reflect this. What happened to the real crew of the Memphis Belle? For the survivors, there wasn't much time for contemplation of those lost. Many thanks for the message Monty That sounds like a fascinating artifact. You didnt know if you would be headed back out on another mission in 24 hours or 5 days. Pilots need to take flash photographs after dropping the bombs otherwise, it might not be included in the required number of missions for a single tour. While the article on Memphis Belle had included the qualifier first B-17 United States Army Air Force heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions with her crew intact, which on a factual basis at least made the article correct insofar as it specified that it was the first to 25 missions with her crew intact, but the truth is, while were reasonably knowledgable about WWII lore here, the name Hot Stuff didnt spark any particular recollection in us or among the several other warbird enthusiasts we asked about it, though one fellow we spoke to did remember it as the plane General Andrews lost his life in, but generally there wasnt much recognition. Tags: "Hell's Angels", Audie Murphy, B-17F, John Basilone, Liberty Bonds, Memphis Belle, Norman Rockwell, Pearl Harbor, U.S. Army Air Force, United States, USAAF, War Bonds, War Bonds Tour, World War I, World War II. Last month, through his fundraising efforts, Lux returned to Iceland for a 70th anniversary memorial service attended by some of the descendants of the crew of Hot Stuff and a plaque was installed telling the story of Andrews, Hot Stuff and her last, ill-fated flight with a granite monument planned to be installed at a future date. What movie plot hole bothers you the most? Read the complete story. Source: www.b17alliance.com How many B-17 survived 25 missions? Instructing had its dangers, too, as it involved flying with inexperienced recruits in old aircraft. Different sources give varying numbers of Australians killed while serving in Bomber . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. I am returning to your web site for more soon. At the end of their tour, the crew of Hells Angels signed on for a second tour and continued to fly, going on to fly 48 missions, without ever turning back from their assigned target.