How many missions did ww2 bomber crews fly?

25
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. However, others stayed behind to complete 30 missions to avoid having to return from the states for a second tour of duty.

What was the first bomber to complete 25 missions?

B-17F Hell’s Angels
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.

What happened to the real crew of the Memphis Belle?

Four members of the original crew died in combat as the plane was hit by cannon and machine-gun fire. Although Hanson and the rest of the crew survived unscathed to become early war heroes, they had several close calls.

How many b17 did 25 missions?

The B-17 Hell’s Angels (41-24577) of the 303rd Bomb Group completed 25 combat missions on 13 May 1943, becoming the first to complete the feat, one week before the Memphis Belle.

Can the Memphis Belle still fly?

The Liberty Foundation’s B-17 “Memphis Belle” is one of only 13 B-17’s that still fly today. The B-17, dubbed the “Flying Fortress” as a result of her defensive fire power, saw action in every theater of operation during World War II.

How many US bomber died in ww2?

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. Therefore, a total of 75,446 airmen (60 percent of operational airmen) were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.

Which b17 bomber completed the most combat missions?

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….

Is the film Memphis Belle a true story?

Memphis Belle is a fictionalization of the 1944 documentary Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress by director William Wyler, about the 25th and last mission of an American Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, the Memphis Belle, based in England during World War II.

How accurate was the movie Memphis Belle?

`MEMPHIS BELLE” never quite rings true. 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. Big and slow, the B-17 delivered twice the payload of its predecessor.

What happened to the bomber crews in World War II?

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. There was an similar earlier raid that included Regensburg that cost the same..

How many missions would it take to complete a WWII bomber mission?

Bomber crews needed to complete 25 missions before they were allowed to go home but that number was almost statistically impossible in Europe. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method.

How hard was it to be a bomber in WW2?

Kneeling, ducking, trying to shoot down the bad guys…couldn’t feel that comfortable! Bomber crews needed to complete 25 missions before they were allowed to go home but that number was almost statistically impossible in Europe. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none.

How many Allied airmen died in WW2?

Over 100,000 Allied airmen died during the war. 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.