Memorial Day Roll Call

[BroadwayVa]

There is an excellent book from maybe the '70's called "The Mighty Eighth" which details much of it. However your numbers are just wrong. A list of heaviest 8th Air Force mission losses shows 60 planes lost as the highest, which happened twice. On 14 October 1943 when 60 of 222 planes were lost on a mission to Schweinfurt appears to be the worst (percentage wise). Total for the war, 10,600 missions flown and 4,145 planes lost, of course, this doesn't indicate how many planes were on the mission. For my father's group, out of Knettishall, the chart lists 306 missions and 142 bombers lost.

In 1969 we traveled to England with my Dad and some of his fellow vets to see the remains of the old base (not much left, even that long ago) and to visit the American military cemetery at Cambridge, where he led part of a short memorial service.

Your numbers 10,600 missions (doesn't indicate the planes per mission) 4145 lost may be in the Mighty 8th (out of Barksdale, La)
I won't argue with your numbers you may be correct---but my recollection on the numbers at Schweinfurt were closer to what I relayed.
Schweinfurt was a long distance target from England, and prior to P-51 escorts , the losses were horrific--I'd be interested in the total number of aircraft in all the 10k plus missions . The Air Force called a one airplane raid as a mission, a sorte.
Whether I am right or wrong--Your father and all the others of the 8th went thru hell--a terrible thing for 18 to 22 year old kids to have to do. I am honored by his service. Thank him if you still can.

 

[xHunt3r]

US Army 1992 - 2001

Hanau, Germany
Fort Bragg, NC
Wiesbaden, Germany
Fort Lewis, WA

 

[BroadwayVa]

Your numbers 10,600 missions (doesn't indicate the planes per mission) 4145 lost may be in the Mighty 8th (out of Barksdale, La)
I won't argue with your numbers you may be correct---but my recollection on the numbers at Schweinfurt were closer to what I relayed.
Schweinfurt was a long distance target from England, and prior to P-51 escorts , the losses were horrific--I'd be interested in the total number of aircraft in all the 10k plus missions . The Air Force called a one airplane raid as a mission, a sorte.
Whether I am right or wrong--Your father and all the others of the 8th went thru hell--a terrible thing for 18 to 22 year old kids to have to do. I am honored by his service. Thank him

There is an excellent book from maybe the '70's called "The Mighty Eighth" which details much of it. However your numbers are just wrong. A list of heaviest 8th Air Force mission losses shows 60 planes lost as the highest, which happened twice. On 14 October 1943 when 60 of 222 planes were lost on a mission to Schweinfurt appears to be the worst (percentage wise). Total for the war, 10,600 missions flown and 4,145 planes lost, of course, this doesn't indicate how many planes were on the mission. For my father's group, out of Knettishall, the chart lists 306 missions and 142 bombers lost.

In 1969 we traveled to England with my Dad and some of his fellow vets to see the remains of the old base (not much left, even that long ago) and to visit the American military cemetery at Cambridge, where he led part of a short memorial service.

Just checked---you are mostly correct. In Oct 43 222 8th planes made it to Schweinfurt--60 were shot down, 138 damaged. No excuse but possibly my old brain combined damaged and lost as a total number--. but 60 crews (600 guys) plus those wounded or KIA in the damaged A/C were/are too many. The next time you see an 8th patch, or Vet give em a hug.

 

[mrmojack]

Served in the US Navy 1965-1969 during the Viet Nam Conflict
Fleet Weather Facility- Keflavik, Iceland

 

[katiecrum1992]

My grandfather, who just recently passed away, was stationed in Alaska during the Korean War.
Also, my great-uncle was stationed in Colorado Springs during Vietnam.

 

[Bestiarius]

My father-in-law was a B-17 pilot based in England during WWII. He flew many missions but the story he most frequently told goes like this.

One day between missions, he went into an antique shop in London and purchased a silver tea pot as a gift to his wife who was back in Connecticut. He left the pot with the shop owner to have it engraved, tucked the receipt into his jacket and hurried back to the base to make his scheduled mission. Upon returning from the mission, he mistakenly left his jacket on the plane. Another crew was assigned to his plane and unfortunately, the B-17, it's crew and his jacket with the receipt in it were lost over enemy territory.

Five or six years later, in 1950, a friend of my father-in-law told him he was taking a trip to London. My Father-in-law asked the friend if he could stop in to the antique shop to see if they still had the tea pot. Upon inquiring at the shop, the proprietor went into the back and came out with the nicely engraved teapot.

I heard this story many times, most proudly by the person who picked up the pot.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

U.S.Navy 1962-1966.

U.S.S. Shangri-La (CVA-38)
U.S.S. Corry (DD-817)
U.S.S. Shadwell (LSD-15)

 

[arty155]

USMC 1972-2003