2007-01-13 15:25:20 · 5 answers · asked by dawnrich96 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
No. There were very high losses in B-17s, as the majority of the aircraft used in precision daylight bombing raids over Germany between 1942 and 1945 were B-17s and losses were high, especially during '42 and '43; however, there were also large numbers of B-24s used in the same role, again suffering high loss rates. B-17s had a crew of 9, B-24s had crews of similar size. Also, there were losses to medium bombers (B-25, B-26, etc.) and fighters. It is possible that B-17s had the highest losses in terms of numbers of airmen (I'm not positive of that, but it is likely), but that number was not greater than all the other aircraft types combined.
2007-01-13 18:48:31 · answer #1 · answered by 310Pilot 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. But the casualty RATE was higher. For example:
18,482 B-24 Liberators were built with a battle casualty rate of 1.26 per 1,000 man-combat missions.
12,731 B-17 Flying Fortresses were built with a battle casualty rate of 2.10 per 1,000 man-combat missions.
Thus, the risk of becoming a battle casualty was approximately two-thirds (67 percent) greater to B-17 personnel than it was to B-24 aircrew personnel.
2007-01-14 06:46:20 · answer #2 · answered by 4999_Basque 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that to be correct. Especially in the lower ball turret, since that hung out on the bottom of the aircraft
2007-01-13 23:39:32 · answer #3 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds realistic. Like a 100 B-17's were down in WWII so they had a fairly large crew from 6-10. So i believe so.
2007-01-13 23:40:28 · answer #4 · answered by armenharoutunian 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"Than all other aircraft " NO.
2007-01-14 00:57:02 · answer #5 · answered by solara 437 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋