, So proud to be Deaf, I have a Ph.D. in it. how many ww2 bomber crews completed 25 missions. This website is about the 50 combat missions my father, Donald Wise, flew in 1944 in the B-17 bomber "PIG CHASER". On the night of 13/14 February 1945, 796 Lancasters took part in a. How long does it take to form a habit of waking up early? Your email address will not be published. I have more rights to her daughter than her husband anyways. did not took place in advance! Interestingly, this raid was the Belles 24th combat mission as the original crew occasionally flew missions on other planes and other crews took the Belle on missions as well. A claim is made that Gene Roddenberry, screen writer for Star Trek, completed 89 missions in the 324th bomb squadron. `MEMPHIS BELLE never quite rings true. I simply wish to offer you a huge thumbs up for your After all the adversity, damage and close calls, no one was ever seriously injured, and her entire crew made it home. Im have no dog in this hunt. Coming it third place was the Memphis Belle, which completed 25 combat missions on May 19, 1943. Hell's Angels B-17 Crew The first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions in the European Theater, May 13th, 1942. Good day! Photographs 3. The reason for this misinformation seems to have been to obscure the fact that the Supreme Commander was absent the theater. Written in pencil on the pouter skin behind the scanners hatch: Pilots are a funny bunch what we call pussy, we call lunch. That wasnt you, was it? He was also involved in one of the Ploesti fields mission. He completed his initial training when he was 17, and was called up to active duty before he graduated from high school. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For those members of the RAAF serving in RAF Bomber Command, more than one in three were killed; amounting to 20 per cent of all Australians combat losses in the Second World War. 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. For nearly four months, he flew out of Foggia, Italy, on 50 missions that usually took between 5 and 8 hours each. A radio operator, he was in the crew of one of two bombers that in which the group leader flew, with radar where the belly gunner would normally be. He was 85. . My brother and I were having a disagreement over how many missions bomber crews had to fly (was this figured by individual? (LOL). It completed its 25th mission on February 7, 1943, three and a half months before the B-17 Memphis Belle ." 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. Both crews are GODS! Upon impact, the aircraft disintegrated except for the tail gunners turret, which remained relatively intact. There was an similar earlier raid that included Regensburg that cost the same.. They took over the aircraft from the original crew of Jerk's Natural, which had completed its 25 missions. Of the 120,000 who served, 55,573 were killed including over 10,000 Canadians. After 25 missions, the crew and the Belle went on a . Just imagine how hard it is to complete tasks in uncomfortable clothing from the mask to the boots. 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. 1917, and 1918, the United States government issued Liberty Bonds to raise money for our involvement in World War I. What are some poorly designed weapons that have be What is the most inappropriate video game you know? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The US War Department would use the bomber and its crew for public relations activities back home, The Daily Courier reports. 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. Here is how this would go (oh yeh, and we are looking at Akatsuki as in Akatsuki not Edo Tensei): But before that lets quickly go over what Naruto has as Hokage: Full Yin-ya Answer: To put this into sobering perspective - the 8th Air Force in Europe lo. Many ground crewmen felt the Libs belonged to them and were only "loaned" to the air crews. After his first B-17 mission over Germany, the young radio operator-gunner was convinced that he could not survive 25 missions . 1 What was the first b17 to complete 25 missions? Daily life The everyday lives of most aircrew, unlike other servicemen, were a unique mixture of danger and normality. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. Doesnt matter who was first. It has since been renamed Joint Base Andrews. Now just imagine 60 B-52 bombers shot down in one day. How accurate was the movie Memphis Belle? It flew most missions unescorted and saw plenty of flack and enemy aircraft. Doubtless, Hot Stuff and her crew deserve to be remembered for their heroic accomplishment, as does the crew of Hells Angels, and all the other pilots and planes who served, regardless of circumstances of their sacrifice. A great resource for some of the 8th AF B-24 groups is TEDS TRAVELLING CIRCUS available at Amazon and elsewhere. Example: Ploest was single credit. They only found out later. 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. #12: The co-pilot is tasked with contacting other crew members every 15 minutes once they enter enemy territory. 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. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Unknown crew of 392.'. Although Hanson and the rest of the crew survived unscathed to become early war heroes, they had several close calls. Kneeling, ducking, trying to shoot down the bad guyscouldnt feel that comfortable! Bombing operations during the Second World War were one of the most hazardous undertakings Americans had to endure throughout the conflict. (MAINTENANCE ON KB-29) THIS PROVED TO BE A WORKING NIGHTMARE, SO I MADE TO FLIGHT ENGINEERS SCHOOL AT CHANUTE AFB, IL. The attrition was so high that the Army capped a crew's tour to 25 missions. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. ouisana belle from England. There were many B-24s in the 8th Air Force that completed 25 to 30 missions long before the first B-17 Hells Angels or Memphis Belle completed their 25th. He had to get a waiver to receive his diploma in absence. Perhaps you would be interested in submitting an article yourself? I was able to find a B-24 named Red Headed Woman Liberator #645 (44-41645) that was part of that exact group and the time frame is correct, but I cannot find anything definitive. 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. He told me (and has since passed away, so I cant verify it, that 37 missions was the cap and he was on his second round. Lux has also been in contact with the National Museum of the United States Air Force, turning over to them debris he recently retrieved from the site of the crash and is negotiating with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for a Hot Stuff display. There were nine crew members on a B-17 bomber. So why did the U.S. Army Air Force promote the Memphis Belle as the first heavy bomber to fly 25 combat missions? These bombers were B-17s and B-24s, both of which had a ten man crew. The most vulnerable body part that a flak can hit include the lower extremities (legs) followed by the upper extremities (arms) and the head. Bomber crews needed to complete 25 missions before they were allowed to go home but that number was almost statistically impossible in Europe. In fact, it is believed that Memphis Belle was the third to complete 25 successful missions. I am returning to your web site for more soon. Hells Angels a B-17F Flying Fortress became the first 8th Air Force B-17 to complete 25 combat missions in June 1943. The crews were men from the United Kingdom, other Commonwealth countries, and occupied Europe, especially Poland, France, Czechoslovakia and Norway, as well as other foreign volunteers. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Why the Stein crew posed in front of War Baby instead of Jerk's Natural is a bit of a mystery. The 91st Bombardment Group, 324th Bombardment Squadrons B-17F Flying Fortress Memphis Belles crew flew their 25th combat mission on May 17, 1943, against the naval yard at Lorient, France. Its just a lot of booze gone to waste. The 381st lost seven of 18 deployed. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. He had to get a waiver to receive his diploma in absence. Bomber Command aircrews suffered a high casualty rate: of a total of 125,000 aircrew, 57,205 were killed (a 46 percent death rate), a further 8,403 were wounded in action and 9,838 became prisoners of war. 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. In the end the significance of specific mission counts are completely arbitrary. Nearly half of all the bombs dropped in World War II came from B-17 airplanes. Well, its not. Those interested in Hot Stuff and/or are looking to support the erection of the Icelandic monument to the brave men who served on her can connect with the organization HERE or the groups Facebook page. B-17E Suzy-Q The Suzy-Q, a 19th BG B-17E, was the first USAAF heavy bomber to complete 25 missions and return to the US. Martin Caidin wrote the definitive book on the plight of the bomber crews in Black Thursday, which chronicled in great detail the 2nd Schweinfurt bombing raid of October 14, 1943, where 60 bombers and their crews were lost. The most authoritative source would seem to be the combat mission reports of the 322nd Bombardment Group (BG), Flak-Bait 's parent organization during its 21 months of combat operations. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Carlo Quintiliani Updated Mon To put this into sobering perspective - the 8th Air Force in Europe lost more men than the entire US Marine Corps did in World War Two - both horrible thoughts to consider.. Read More What is the song 'Norwegian Wood' really about? Five other crewmen were bumped to make room for Andrews and his entourage. , Son of a US Military Historian, wargamer and professional strategist; US Army In How does a person bring a narcissist to their knees? Thank you. Because the Memphis Belle hit that momentous milestone without a crewmans death made her the likely candidate to be first to return home for a War Bond tour. The Memphis Belle was not the first B17 to complete 25 missions. Robert A. Lewis. Famous American artists, including Norman Rockwell, created a series of illustrations that became the centerpiece of war bond advertising. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". WAS TOO YOUNG FOR THE BIG ONE, HOWEVER I MADE IT TO KOREA AND VIET NAM BEFORE RETIRING IN 1969. The second bomber to have completed 25 missions is said to have been the Hells Angels, but it wasnt widely promoted since its name wasnt aesthetically pleasing to the War Department. Top Stories For You. Hot Stuff was being flown home to the US since Captain Shannon had completed his tour of service. He said they would literally strip the plane, but I dont remember if that was before they left Italy or in Cuba. How many B17 crews actually managed to complete 25 missions during WW2? I say it was their 24th. My fathers Bomb Group on Guam, hosted three crews from the 8th Air Force, 346th Bomb Group. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. If Hokage Naruto took on every member of the Akatsuki at once (Minus Madara, if he even counts) would he be able to win? The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. Can I increase my SIP amount in mutual funds Zerodha? THE GREATEST GENERATION OF AMERICANS!!! Suzy-Q nose artthe circled areas highlight combat damage repair. Following the loss of Hot Stuff it wasnt a good idea for the Axis to be aware of the demise of the Supreme Commander. Waldock is an air accident investigator and has undertaken many archaeological digs related to aviation. Wood Tv 8 Weather Forecast, 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. 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. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the bonds became known at War Bonds. The four men by the waist window are using grappling hooks on two rods to lift the bomb onto the dolly, a three-wheeled cart. 41-31173, the twin-engine medium bomber then took its place . After flying 48 combat missions, it returned to the US for a war bond tour, but not until 1944. She and her crew were promptly sent home to the United States to join the War Bond selling tours. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". B-24D Hot Stuff She was originally B-17G-105-VE 44-85718 and is now painted to . Does that sound like a truthful story? Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. I, too flew the C-124, first from Travis, 1956-58, then Hickam 1958-9; and later (college break) Dover, 1963-5, and McChord, 1965-7. What will happen to my Steam games when I die? 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 . 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. The consensus in this discussion is that WWII bomber crews were rotated home after 25 combat missions. I recently found his combat flight records and most interestingly a certificate stipulating the 33 completed combat missions he flew. The wreck, a B-17 "Flying Fortress" bomber, crashed in Lake Bolsena on Jan. 15, 1944. The former Royal Australian Air Force fighter will take part in []. Kneeling, ducking, trying to shoot down the bad guyscouldnt feel that comfortable! The Liberty Foundations B-17 Memphis Belle is one of only 13 B-17s that still fly today. The 'lucky' Lancaster bomber, called EE136, was taken on 109 missions, including 14 raids to Berlin, Germany. Required fields are marked *. Now I dont know what to believe! 5 How accurate was the movie Memphis Belle? I hope my information is correct. That movie "Hearing impairment" is an insult to Deaf people. The B-17 dropped more bombs than any other U.S. aircraft in World War II. So, the answer is YES, if anyone ever asks you if the might 8th AF ever bombed Japan. World War II - Bombers; World War II - Pursuit . FROM TACHIKAWA TO ROBBINS GA. FOR FINAL PROCESSING OUT TO A GREAT RETIREMENT. 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. Based on a true story, the film concerns the famous B-17 bomber Memphis Belle, which delivered 25 successful missions before the plane and its sterling crew retired from the skies. Although the risk for hypoxia, altitude and decompression sickness, and barotrauma was high; bombers were only given oxygen masks. These records show that Flak-Bait was assigned to fly on 216 missions. Average age of air crew member is 19 or 20 years old. Nine-O-Nine was a Boeing B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress heavy bomber, of the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, that completed 140 combat missions during World War II, believed to be the Eighth Air Force record for most missions, without loss to the crews that flew her. por | Jun 3, 2022 | journey to the savage planet moist vestibule | emma chambers face surgery | Jun 3, 2022 | journey to the savage planet moist vestibule | emma chambers face surgery By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Beautiful Swiss German Words, 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. After some time of ineffective high altitude bombing, some of the B-17 bombers adopted skip bombing, a technique usually practiced by medium bombers rather than heavy bombers. The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. 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. I am trying to find information on which B-24 crew he was a member of but I am not having much luck. How many crew members did the b17 have? He said he didn't know of very many pilots who q. His discharge also stated he was to pay child support to one woman in England and one in France. I ate 4 eggs and 4 bananas for dinner. How many B-17 bombers were shot down 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 B-29 Missions From 3 Feb 1945 to 14 Aug 1945, the 6th Bomb Group officially flew 75 missions. Heavy Losses Led to the Abandonment of Unescorted Bomber Raids Deep Into the Third Reich. A high-wing monoplane with a twin tail and tricycle landing gear, it was powered by two 1,700-horsepower Wright radial engines, had a wingspan of 67 feet 7 inches (20.6 metres), was 53 feet 6 inches (16 . The Hot Stuff and her crew were soon forgotten. It was an airplane named Hells Angels. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2 How many crew members did the b17 have? B-24 Liberator Bomber Aircraft. 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. Pilot. Why did the U.S. absolve the Japanese of paying war reperations after WWII? I was completely unaware that Hot Stuff had beaten Hells Angels and Memphis Belle to the 25 mission mark. Therefore, a total of 75,446 airmen (60 percent of operational airmen) were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. 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. Also aboard were Andrews staff and four clergymen. Does anyone know if the 330th Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group has such a diary? Perhaps our paths crossed, as I was in the front seats of that magnificent noise-maker. So whatever Hot Stuff was doing it wasnt going on raids conducted by 8th BC. Which colour is the best colour in iPhone? We would love to see some images from that log book if you feel comfortable scanning and sending them along! However, it is generally agreed that between 50 and 70 Lancaster bombers were lost in World War 2. Although the U.S. Army Air Force sent its individual war heroes to War Bond rallies, it preferred sending 10-man heavy bombers crews. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It completed its 25th mission on February 7, 1943, three and a half months before the B-17 Memphis Belle.. That's almost 50 percent more than the 12,741 B-17s . ok how combat flights did the guys did before beening sent home ..for i know it most crews where 25 mission or 50 misson before beening sent back home to train new crews ..i have read that some people flew 25 misson or 50 misson before going home ..so was it 25 or 50 missions ..along with did they fly once a week or twice a week or every two weeks in a one year tour as a air crew.. How many B-17s were in the Pacific in 1942? Parker's jacket, was the name of a B-17G bomber of the 568th Bomb Squadron. B-17 Sally B was used in the movie Memphis Belle to look like the Famous B-17 and was usedfor scenes requiring pyrotechnics such as smoke and sparks indicating machine gun hits Via. What happened to the real crew of the Memphis Belle? 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. , Retired university lecturer in German. For the USAAF it was heavy bombers crews that successfully reached 25 combat mission in defiance of actuarial norms. A highly modern aircraft for its day, it first saw combat operations with the Royal Air Force. Billy Burke Evangelist Wife, Aero Trader performed. Unlike the 8th, the 9th didnt had a set limit of 25 missions. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. I miss old shakey, but I enjoyed flying Pan Ams B-727 even more (a career with PAA followed, 1967-91). How many Lancaster bombers lost in ww2? In fact, its main practical use is for protecting your neck against the wool material of theuniform which will likely cause blisters. 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. 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. Behind every successful air mission are two things: powerful war birds and skilled crewmen. . A total of 26,000. Following his wife's death in an air crash while returning from a war bonds tour, a devastated Gable decided to enlist. The chance of surviving 30 missions in a heavy bomber without being shot down, killed or captured was 29 percent; for a medium bomber flying the required 50 missions the chance of survival unharmed was 52 percent. To put this into sobering perspective - the 8th Air Force in Europe lost more men than the entire US Marine Corps did in World War Two - both horrible thoughts to consider.. 15' - 8.3mils. Have taught English in Germany. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In October 1943, 20-year-old SSgt. 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. Its basically like doing regular day-to-day tasks with your hands you need both. Approximately 120,000 were air crew members and only one crew in five completed their tour of duty. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 1-5 of 281. More than 8,000 men were killed in training accidents or other non-operational flying during the Second . Im trying to find out how many B17s were operational in the European Theatre of Operations. 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. Years later, they became very close friends. There will always be those who subscribe to particular yardsticks though, so to summarize: Hot Stuff was the first B-24/crew and the first heavy bomber to complete 25 missions on February 7, 1943. Bomber crews needed to complete 25 missions before they were allowed to go home but that number was almost statistically impossible in Europe. In 1942-43 it was statistically impossible for bomber crews to complete a 25-mission tour in Europe . How many missions would it take to complete a WWII bomber mission? What movie plot hole bothers you the most? Your email address will not be published. Big and slow, the B-17 delivered twice the payload of its predecessor. , former Teacher by Profession, Teacher by Soul. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. See object record. The first to complete 25 combat missions was the crew of B-24 Liberator named Hot Stuff dropping bombs on Naples, Italy on February 7, 1943 three-and-a-half months before Memphis Belle flew her 25th mission. Ive always heard that anyone saying they flew more than 25 missions was a liar. To put this into sobering perspective - the 8th Air Force in Europe lost more men than the entire US Marine Corps did in World War Two - both horrible thoughts to consider. For nearly four months, he flew out of Foggia, Italy, on 50 missions that usually took between 5 and 8 hours each. The Air Force changed the 'pursuit' designation to 'fighter' after WW2 which is one reason you may have noticed P-51s being referred to as F-51s in . 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 . Instructing had its dangers, too, as it involved flying with inexperienced recruits in old aircraft. BTW, 9th AF mission credit was 300 combat hours meaning you had to complete the raid. If you don't want to receive these emails in the future, please, Mike, we thought you'd like these 6 standout issues. TogetherWeServed.com Inc. All Rights Reserved | Not a U.S. Government Website. Before reaching that mark, 57 percent of them would be dead or missing. He, the copilot and two other crewmembers were bumped from the flight back to the U.S. by Lt. Gen. Andrews, his staff and three chaplains. It flew about half of its approximately 30 combat missions over Europe, with the remainder being strikes in Africa and patrol missions over the Mediterranean. sorry what we call pussy, they call lunch.. Why? Hi, 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. Damage to the "waist-gunner" area of the bomber accounted 21.6 percent of all the hits the plane took. 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. Turn-arounds, aborts and alternate target missions did not count, even though those flights may have encountered enemy defenses before terminating the mission. Because it was World War II, and the bombing campaign over Europe was a bloody affair. See object record. My uncle, by marriage, was a waist gunner with the 8th, I believe. I asked my 16 year old son what music he was liste Did the British ever fight Japanese soldiers durin What does Professor Oak do with the third Pokemon? Object Number - FRE 5112 - Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951. Did the Battle of Britain cripple the Luftwaffe? upper turret > dia. The B-25 first flew on August 19, 1940, and the U.S. Army Air Corps accepted the first five B-25s in February of 1941. 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). 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. Almost one in five Australian airmen to serve in Britain did not survive the war. I guess the RAF must have had it much easier than the 8th Airforce. The first refueling stop before heading out over the Atlantic was scheduled for Prestwick, Scotland, but the crew decided to fly directly to their second refueling stop at Reykjavik, Iceland. There are so many great answers but hands down, the movie that got the worst shake, a movie that got panned by reviews, and even won a razzie. Hawker Hind.