Im just conveying the facts I uncovered while researching information for a friend who was the bombardier on Hot Stuff. He needs to ensure that ALL of them responded because otherwise it would be a sign that their oxygen mask has frozen. Please let us know. Required fields are marked *. Imagine trying to move around? She is one of the few surviving flyable B-17s, and is the largest aircraft housed at the Lone Star Flight Museum, located in Galveston, Texas. It does not store any personal data. 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. The US War Department would use the bomber and its crew for public relations activities back home, The Daily Courier reports. How many B17 crews actually managed to complete 25 missions during WW2? Well, its not. During the interwar years, American bomber crews were taught aerial gunnery in a generalized way at US Army Air Corps schools. THEN TO JAPAN WHERE WE SUPPLIED ALL THE FAR EAST WITH CARGO GOING AS FAR EAST AS BANGKOK THAILAND, IN COUNTRY NAM, PHILLLIPINES, KOREA AND OTHER POINTS THERE IN. Is there Delhi quota in Lady Hardinge Medical College? We were having some drinks and I was listening to some of his war stories when he told me he had flown 137 missions. Many considered the occupation to be a death sentence. During World War II, workers in factories signed milestone aircraft, such as 1,000th aircraft built, before they were delivered. Robert A. Lewis. They were the only crews in their squadron to see combat with the 20th AF. 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? Many thanks for the message Monty That sounds like a fascinating artifact. Does anyone know if the 330th Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group has such a diary? It completed its 25th mission on February 7, 1943, three and a half months before the B-17 Memphis Belle ." Of the 120,000 who served, 55,573 were killed including over 10,000 Canadians. They did get in a few 1000 . Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. Overcoming the odds, the B-17F Memphis Belle became the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to return to the United States after completing 25 missions in Europe, and was selected by the Army Air Forces to be the symbol of the heavy bomber crews and support personnel who helped win the war against Nazi Germany. For the survivors, there wasn't much time for contemplation of those lost. 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. A highly modern aircraft for its day, it first saw combat operations with the Royal Air Force. After flying 48 combat missions, it returned to the US for a war bond tour, but not until 1944. ten There is some report that 25 missions was a full tour with that group, which would indicate more than three tours. The aircrews of RAF Bomber Command during World War II operated a fleet of bomber aircraft carried strategic bombing operations from September 1939 to May 1945, on behalf of the Allied powers. 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 . I ate 4 eggs and 4 bananas for dinner. The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. It was an airplane named Hells Angels. (more) 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. What are some poorly designed weapons that have be What is the most inappropriate video game you know? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Why won't my daughter let me see my granddaughter? I am returning to your web site for more soon. Memphis Belle was the first B-17 to complete 25 missions and return to the United States. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. Just sayin. How accurate was the movie Memphis Belle? He had to get a waiver to receive his diploma in absence. #13: Bomber crewmen werent trained to jump out of airplanes with parachute. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. It was powered by two 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior engines, but conditions were changing rapidly in 1937, due to events in the Chinese and Spanish wars. Aero Trader performed. 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. Hot Stuff later crashed in Iceland under the command of Captain Robert Shannon in May of the same year. Important factors in that decision were: The physical stress of high altitude flight in poorly heated, unpressurized aircraft . 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". A total of 26,000. World War II - Bombers; World War II - Pursuit . 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. He was also involved in one of the Ploesti fields mission. Your email address will not be published. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Crew Configuration The B-17 could hold a crew of ten. 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. #12: The co-pilot is tasked with contacting other crew members every 15 minutes once they enter enemy territory. 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. I'm a 'scientist'. Bombing operations during the Second World War were one of the most hazardous undertakings Americans had to endure throughout the conflict. Because his leg got tangled up in heavy wreckage, he couldnt move. P. S. Hes here to tell the stories. The unit used B-17s, according to what I read. Martin Maryland. 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. Whistle Stop Rail Trail, Im have no dog in this hunt. 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. That in mind, wed like to try set the record straight, though the waters in this case are especially muddy. How many B17 crews actually managed to complete 25 missions during WW2? Which colour is the best colour in iPhone? 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Damage to the "waist-gunner" area of the bomber accounted 21.6 percent of all the hits the plane took. To promote selling the War Bonds, rallies were held throughout the country with famous celebrities, usually Hollywood film stars, sports personalities, and war heroes such as John Basilone and Audie Murphy. Dick is a long time dead now, but I would like other confirmation. Uber From Kissimmee To Disney, Setting aside all the caveats for the moment, the research performed and documentation provided by Jim Lux seems to conclusively show that the 93rd Bombardment Group, 330th Bombardment Squadrons B-24 Liberator Hot Stuff and her crew flew their 25th mission on February 7, 1943 dropping bombs on Naples, Italy, and went on to fly five additional missions thereafter, before Hot Stuff and her crew were recalled to the United States, where they were scheduled to go on a War Bonds Tour, a home front publicity junket, where combat aircraft and crews of significant accomplishment were sometimes pulled from frontline service and flown back to the United States to serve as the stirring personification of the heroism of Americas military, helping move the paper and boosting public morale. The average age of the crew of a B-17 was less than 25, with four officers and six enlisted Airmen manning the aircraft. View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people. Many surviving examples are painted to represent actual planes that flew in combat. The first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions in the European Theater, May 13th, 1942. Hollywood feature Film Entitled the "Memphis Belle" 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. IX bomber completed 213 missions but this aircraft was destroyed in a crash at Calgary Airport in Canada, two days after V-E Day, see . And yes, I have some unofficial photos of the B-25 aircraft and activities in Italy. He flew 28 missions over Italy and Germany before his 20th birthday, and flew 48 missions by the time the war was over. Can someone hack my PC through online games? The reason for this misinformation seems to have been to obscure the fact that the Supreme Commander was absent the theater. In 1943, an American bomber crewman stood only a one-in-five chance of surviving his tour of duty, twenty-five missions. Hawker Hind. Why are saturated fats solid at room temperature and unsaturated fats liquid at room temperature? Dad flew 37 missions for RAF. The "Belle," named for Col. Morgan's sweetheart went on to complete 25 missions, the last ones were filmed by William Wyler's movie crew. Poem About Jesus Death And Resurrection, ANY WAY I HAD FLIGHT EXPERIENCE ON THE B 26 TOWING TARGETS HERE IN THE GOOD OLD USA. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. If I recall correctly (at least in the 330th) the 25 mission count only included completed primary target missions. That movie "Hearing impairment" is an insult to Deaf people. It was a gradual adjustment over about two weeks. The 25-mission milestone becomes harder to pin down when considering changing crew members due to rotation, death, injury, illness, leave and equipment failures leading to spare planes pressed into service, errant wartime record-keeping, etc. 6 How many missions would it take to complete a WWII bomber mission? Hells Angels was the first B-17/crew to complete 25 missions on May 13, 1943. All Rights Reserved. I was told that 25 missions was the max and they never told you when your next mission was for worry that word would leak out. B-24D Hot Stuff She was originally B-17G-105-VE 44-85718 and is now painted to . Waldock is an air accident investigator and has undertaken many archaeological digs related to aviation. The raid prompted the Japanese to retain four army fighter groups in Japan during 1942 and . 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. ARZBtc.com > > > how many ww2 bomber crews completed 25 missions.