Beautiful Swiss German Words, We would love to see some images from that log book if you feel comfortable scanning and sending them along! 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. For the USAAF it was heavy bombers crews that successfully reached 25 combat mission in defiance of actuarial norms. So whatever Hot Stuff was doing it wasnt going on raids conducted by 8th BC. Memphis Belles crew completed 25 missions May 17, 1943 (without any loss of life). Five other crewmen were bumped to make room for Andrews and his entourage. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Just sayin. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. More information on Hellss Angels is available HERE. Juni 2022. So he promptly retrieved his discharge and it stated he had really flown 137 missions. His ob states he flew 125 combat mission over Europe in his P-47 bomber and received 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 24 Silver Stars. My dad was a waste gunner on a B 24 in ww2. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The NASM B-26B-25-MA nicknamed "Flak-Bait" (AAF serial number 41-31773) survived 206 operational missions over Europe, more than any other American aircraft during World War II (A de Havilland Mosquito B. Mk. Many considered the occupation to be a death sentence. 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. Following the loss of Hot Stuff it wasnt a good idea for the Axis to be aware of the demise of the Supreme Commander. He was lost on his 25th mission, the low-level raid on Ploesti, August 1, 1943. The second bomber to have completed 25 missions is said to have been the Hell's Angels, but it wasn't widely promoted since its name wasn't aesthetically pleasing to the War Department. Have taught English in Germany. Closing in of Reykjavik, they ran into snow squalls, low clouds, and rain. He got a certificate for The Lucky Bastards Club for flying at least 30 missions and includes a list of all his missions. Flak-Bait 's crew poses with the bomber after its 200th mission on April 17, 1945. by Richard Mallory Allnutt (Chief Editor) Kermit Weeks Douglas A-26B Invader (41-39401) made its first successful post-restoration flight on February 20th, 2023, making a thirty-minute hop from Chino Airport in Chino, California. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I live by HAFB museum and visit every Memorial Day. The most famous aerial gunner was probably Clark Gable - MGM's biggest earner when WWII began. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by I was completely unaware that Hot Stuff had beaten Hells Angels and Memphis Belle to the 25 mission mark. Copyright 2003-2021. Read the complete story. I am trying to find information on my uncle, Joseph Farese, who was a bombardier/navigator and flight officer in the 5th BG, 72nd BS, 13th AF and was in the Pacific Theater, Philippines, etc. The man at the back of the trailer is attaching the tail fin, which is secured by a ring collar screwed onto the threads on the bomb itself. They were simply given instructions. But the B-17s stayed on unwaivering courses to their targets . Double credit missions were more about long/latitude vs how hazardous the target was. Im have no dog in this hunt. It does not store any personal data. We were having some drinks and I was listening to some of his war stories when he told me he had flown 137 missions. WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN FLYING AND THE GREAT MACHINES.SO MUCH SO THAT I ENLISTED IN AIRFORCE AT 18 AND 1/2 YEARS OF AGE.FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO GO TO 3 TECH SCHOOLS PLUS FLIGHT ENGINEERING SCHOOL.JUST MISSED FLYING STATUS IN KOREA AS I WAS CLEARED FOR FLIGHT IN KOREA JUST AFTER I MADE THE LIST FOR ROTATION BACK TO US IN 3 MONTHSI BELEIVED IN LONGEVITY SO DEEPLY THAT I QUICKLY CHANGED OUR MINDS ABOUT FLYING STATUS IN THE WAR ZONE. The reason for this misinformation seems to have been to obscure the fact that the Supreme Commander was absent the theater. My Dad flew 25 missions in a B-24 and B-29 with the 8th AF /466th bomb group. Is there Delhi quota in Lady Hardinge Medical College? Hot Stuff was in the 8th Air Force 2nd Air Division, 93rd Bombardment Group, 330th Bomb Squadron. And, although air and ground crews rarely mingled, there was a special bond between crew chief and pilot. 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. Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Uber From Kissimmee To Disney, sorry what we call pussy, they call lunch.. When WW2 ended, a total of 12,700 B-17 bombers were built. The plane and her crew was on the return flight to the states for a War Bonds publicity and morale-boosting tour on May 3, 1943, and Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews, Commander of the European Theater of Operations needed to get back the the states as he had been summoned to Washington DC by the General of the Army, George Marshall. Unlike the 8th, the 9th didnt had a set limit of 25 missions. There is no definitive answer to this question as it is impossible to know for certain. #13: Bomber crewmen werent trained to jump out of airplanes with parachute. It was tough out there. I simply wish to offer you a huge thumbs up for your My brother and I were having a disagreement over how many missions bomber crews had to fly (was this figured by individual? The bumped crewmembers were told that they were to remain in England to train new crews. The B-29 Missions From 3 Feb 1945 to 14 Aug 1945, the 6th Bomb Group officially flew 75 missions. The 303rd Bombardment Group 358th Bombardment Squadron, B-17F Flying Fortress Hells Angels, after which the Group later named itself, completed its 25th mission on May 13, 1943. Robert A. Lewis. Turn-arounds, aborts and alternate target missions did not count, even though those flights may have encountered enemy defenses before terminating the mission. Their 26th mission was to fly back to the United States for a heroes welcome, Bond Tours, etc.. 578th crew chief T/Sgt Lowell D. Hale paints bombs showing missions completed on #42-7624, Flying 8 Ball. B-24 Liberator Bomber Aircraft. On March 24, 1945, the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force departed from its base in Italy to escort B-17 heavy bombers on a 1,600-mile round trip flight to the German capital. Five bomber groups of the US 5th Air Force operated B-17 bombers in the Pacific Theater, with a peak of 168 bombers in Sep 1942. But flying it proved deadly. Eyewitnesses and early documents tell a different story: Hot Stuff was the first B-24 crew and the first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions on February 7, 1943. GOOD PART OF THIS IS THAT THE WING H Q WAS AT HICKAM FIELD HAWAIIALWAYS A PLEASURE THERE FOR THE ANNUAL FLIGHT SIMULATOR AND CURRENT GROUND TRAINING EDUCATION. Before the introduction of the B-29 Superfortress in 1944, the only war birds with pressurized cabins were the experimental ones. So dangerous was flying heavy bomber combat missions, the USAAF had a policy that when an aircrew wrapped up 25 missions, it was deemed to have completed their tour of duty. The War Department would then bring the bomber and its crew home to conduct nationwide promotional tours to sell war bonds to help fund the war effort. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. John Comer kept a journal of the 25 missions he flew in 1943 when the casualty rate on his base was close to 80%. The first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions in the European Theater, May 13th, 1942. The 328th. And I understand the desire behind it perfectly. According to my dad (deceased January 1, 1991 in an automobile accident), they would occasionally fly to Cuba, sell or trade whatever equipment they could, buy as much alcohol as they could and fly that back to Italy. This in no way denigrates the contribution of the B-24 crews. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG . Cisco Job Application Status Under Review, Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is one of America's most prolific heavy bombers of WWII and the backbone of allied strategic bombing missions before the introduction of B-17 and B-29 WW2 bombers. 2LT Harold J. Rider. What was the first b17 to complete 25 missions? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Yes, in 1943 the USAAF in Europe determined that heavy bomber crews would be rotated home after 25 missions over enemy territory after first trying a one-year tour or a tour consisting of a pre-determined number of flight hours. 31. The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. How do I know this for sure? The unit used B-17s, according to what I read. After his first B-17 mission over Germany, the young radio operator-gunner was convinced that he could not survive 25 missions . Who flew the most combat missions in ww2? This one is easy! A total of 350,000 men served in the Mighty Eighth during World War II. Besides Boeing, Douglas and Lockheed (via subsidiary Vega) also contributed to that total. Hot Stuff and her crew went on to fly five additional missions before she and her crew were recalled to the United States, where they were scheduled to go on a War Bonds Tour. To be the first to complete 25 missions was significant because once completed the bomber and its crew could return home. chin turret > dia. For the survivors, there wasn't much time for contemplation of those lost. View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people. , Son of a US Military Historian, wargamer and professional strategist; US Army In How does a person bring a narcissist to their knees? Wrinkled end sheet in this copy. TogetherWeServed.com Inc. All Rights Reserved | Not a U.S. Government Website. During a Memphis Belle mission, the 91st Bomb Group unknowingly blew up an entire cellar of cognac. I guess the RAF must have had it much easier than the 8th Airforce. My fathers had an additional 3 missions typed into the margin. 1 How many missions did ww2 bomber crews fly? Over the years he has been studying the history behind bomber aircraft activity during the war. , Retired university lecturer in German. After flying 48 combat missions, it returned to the US for a war bond tour, but not until 1944. Identified as B-26B-25 MA Bureau No. My brother said it was their 49th mission. He was also involved in one of the Ploesti fields mission. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Approximately 120,000 were air crew members and only one crew in five completed their tour of duty. As the son of one of the Hot Stuff crewmen bumped from the ill fated final flight, I was unaware of the fate of Gen Andrews, his entourage, and remaining crew. Miraculously the injured tail-gunner, Sgt. 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. 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. Since 1943 Word War II aviation history considered the Memphis Belle as the first heavy bomber to reach the 25-mission mark. Damage to the "waist-gunner" area of the bomber accounted 21.6 percent of all the hits the plane took. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Their chance of survival was less than 50 percent. #15: The flak vest developed in 1943 weighs 32 pounds! My fathers Bomb Group on Guam, hosted three crews from the 8th Air Force, 346th Bomb Group. This in mind, the US Army Air Force decided that 25 missions while serving in a heavy bomber of the 8th Army Air Force would constitute a completed tour of duty because of the physical and mental strain on the crew. While the 25 Mission edict was a tall order when it was made, it was a number crews could believe in, and provided some hope of a light at the end of the tunnel, particularly necessary with the grim statistics bomber crews faced early-on, before long-range fighter escorts significantly improved mission survivability when they arrived later on in the course of the conflict. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. On May 13, 1943, the 303rd BG B-17F Hell's Angels became the first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions over Europe, four days before the Memphis Belle's crew. Hollywood feature Film Entitled the "Memphis Belle" But Mighty Eighth War Diary shows no raid on 2/7/43. God bless all of our heroes in WW2. It was the B-17 going toe to toe without fighter escort with the GAF that is at the heart of the story of the 8th AF. I bookmarked it. Just imagine how hard it is to complete tasks in uncomfortable clothing from the mask to the boots. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Memphis Belle is the nickname of a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress during the Second World War that inspired the making of two motion pictures: a 1944 documentary film, Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress, and a 1990 Hollywood feature film, Memphis Belle. There was an similar earlier raid that included Regensburg that cost the same.. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. Why is this significant? Perhaps you would be interested in submitting an article yourself? how many ww2 bomber crews completed 25 missions. From Arthur Hayes' collection. So on July 5, 1945 the 8th AF landed on Guam . However, it is generally agreed that between 50 and 70 Lancaster bombers were lost in World War 2. 07 June 1944 Crews - 9 Crewmen One of the two Waist Gunners removed from crews. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". How many missions did ww2 bomber crews fly? After 25 missions, the crew and the Belle went on a . This may may account for individuals citing very high mission counts as they may have counted flights that did not include successful strikes on primaries. 6 How many missions would it take to complete a WWII bomber mission? Dad flew 37 missions for RAF. They arrived to find the weather at their destination quite dicey with snow squalls, low clouds and rain. In early May 1943 as the crew prepared for their flight to the States for their War Bonds publicity tour, they got a call from the office of Lt. General Frank M. Andrews, Commander of the European Theater of Operations, asking if he could hitch a ride back to the States. 8 How many B-17s were in the Pacific in 1942? Bombing operations during the Second World War were one of the most hazardous undertakings Americans had to endure throughout the conflict. how many ww2 bomber crews completed 25 missions 10. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The problem was, the Memphis Belle was not the first heavy bomber to survive 25 combat missions. Employees of the Glenn L. Martin Company rolled the B-26B Marauder that would soon be dubbed Flak-Bait off the Baltimore production line on April 26, 1943. On 23 Dec 1943, the Memphis Belle, having completed its combat assignment with the Eighth Air Force (8 AF), 91st Bombardment Group (91 BG) in Europe, and its subsequent stateside war bond drive, was assigned to MacDill Field, Florida. After all the adversity, damage and close calls, no one was ever seriously injured, and her entire crew made it home. In 1943, having flown over France, Belgium, and Germany, the Memphis Belle crew became one of the first to reach that goal. After completing 25 missions, Hell's Angels remained in theater until 1944 and flew a total of 48 missions without any injured crewmen or abort. He was in the 389th bomb group, 567th squadron. The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. The old saw goes the first casualty of war is truth, and it is entirely likely that there were other planes and/or crews between Hot Stuff and Memphis Belle that completed the vaunted 25 missions that constituted a completed tour of duty, a bar that was moved at various times to 25, 30, and 35 missions, depending on the overall loss rates, the degree of mission difficulty, as well as the conditions that they were operating in. The 'lucky' Lancaster bomber, called EE136, was taken on 109 missions, including 14 raids to Berlin, Germany. Top Stories For You. Very broadly, a typical fighter pilot might rack up 250 - 500 combat missions from 1941 to 1945; a bomber pilot, perhaps 50 - 100 if they survived (considering Bomber Command losses were averaging 5% at times, completing one tour, let alone more, was statistically unlikely). What Is The New Name Of Dixie State University, Alphabetical List Of Names On The Vietnam Wall, Cisco Job Application Status Under Review, What Is The New Name Of Dixie State University. On May 13, 1943, the 303rd BG B-17F Hells Angels became the first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions over Europe, four days before the Memphis Belles crew. After returning to the States in June 1943, the bomber and many of its . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. 4 How accurate is the movie Memphis Belle? In the end the significance of specific mission counts are completely arbitrary. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Then, the bomb shackle is attached and the dolly moved under the bomb bay. How many missions did B-17 crews fly? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The B-17 and B-24 were both great airplanes. Daily life The everyday lives of most aircrew, unlike other servicemen, were a unique mixture of danger and normality. The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. That the Memphis Belle story, though abetted by a government anxious to report uplifting and inspiring stories of the war to its people at home, captured the publics imagination, doesnt make the story any less inspiring and does not and should not be perceived as taking something away from the countless others who made sacrifices for their country, just as the recognizing the achievements of the crews of Hot Stuff and Hells Angels dont diminish the sacrifices made by those unfortunate souls who went down in flames whether on their first, fourth or 24th mission in service to their country. . George Eisel survived the crash. On the night of 13/14 February 1945, 796 Lancasters took part in a. 2 How many crew members did the b17 have? Martin Maryland. The crew of Hot Stuff didnt land at their scheduled stop on their way to Iceland, which if they had of stopped they would have found out about the incoming bad weather conditions, and may have waited until it passed and was safe to fly. The pilot, co-pilot, bombardier and navigator, as commissioned officers, were seated at the front of the plane, with the navigator positioned at a desk below the cockpit.