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WWII Aircraft Facts
Absolutely amazing (American) World War 2 statistics and photos. I have always known that aircrew had the highest fatality rate but the loss rate (and cost of war) detailed below is absolutely horrific. (pippaettore.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Good Bless our service men
and service women
Excellent point and WWII would not have been won without the WASPs, women who ferried aircraft to the combat zones, most of the time without navigation but following a "mother" like ducklings across the Atlantic. Just over 1000 of them were so employed for this task. Only in the past few years have then been recognized.
http://www.npr.org/2010/03/09/123773525/female-wwii-pilots-the-original-fly-girls
http://www.npr.org/2010/03/09/123773525/female-wwii-pilots-the-original-fly-girls
Not to mention
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/20th-century-pictures/ss/rosie-the-riveter-and-her-sisters.htm#step2
and a certain royal diesel mechanic.
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/20th-century-pictures/ss/rosie-the-riveter-and-her-sisters.htm#step2
and a certain royal diesel mechanic.
Sir Douglas Bader's biography provides an interesting insight into the man's determination, his refusal to suffer fools gladly and his arrogance to reject whatever disagrees with his thinking.. The book is " Reach for the Sky " by Paul Brickhill. It's probably out of print at the moment but there will be plenty of used copies aroud. It is worth the effort to find a copy.
The book and the movie based on it are both available on Amazon.
War has been sanitized since WWII. The mortality rate for pilots in the Northern European Theater was huge. Early bomber crews could expect to live no longer than three missions over Germany until the P-51 arrived with its longer range to escort the bombers all the way to the targets. Daylight raids (mostly by US forces) had to be abandoned as the losses were unsustainable (hence sending out pilots with one hour or less on type).
Today loss of a few aircraft brings demands for Congressional investigations and widespread condemnation in the press.
Today loss of a few aircraft brings demands for Congressional investigations and widespread condemnation in the press.