Bombing in WW2

Could you imagine a more nerve wracking experience then going on a Flying Fortress on a bombing run in WW2?(Subs probably close 2nd)I swear everytime I think about what those men had to sit through is insane. Just sitting in a tin tube in the sky while every badguy has their sights on you and wanting nothing more than to bring you down. Even if the plane didn't crash there was still a chance of bullets or shrapnel getting you.

I can imagine it. As former aircrew in helicopters, I could have been a target had I had to go to war. At least I could shoot back.

it was certainly one of the more crazy positions to be in for sure...probably why they sent you home or on break after 20-something missions

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it was certainly one of the more crazy positions to be in for sure...probably why they sent you home or on break after 20-something missions

wis3boi

Originally, it was 25 missions before being sent home. By the end of the war, it was up to 50 missions depending on what one was flying.

I'd rather be in a plane than a tank, honestly. I'm seriously considering trying to become a pilot, but I would not want to become a member of a tank crew. The way I see it (which may be totally far from reality), is that like a plane, you're a huge target for pretty much everyone, except that you're sitting in a literal tin can with only one way out. LZ71

In another life I would have joined the army. :(

My grandfather was at Ohmah Beach Normandy in WW2. He couldn't even watch the movie Saving Private Ryan. His best friend drowned jumping off the boat when it landed. He was so short and his gear weighed him down. Also my grandmother worked at the tank munitions plant near Detroit. She built parts that went on the atom bombs that were dropped on Japan.

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SirWander

+1 internet for you kind sir.

Actually, I think it would be fun to be a bomber pilot. I could be hanging out and bombing things with Yossarian.

Just imagine how the infantry felt in WW1. Rushing machine gun positions out in the open field.

Yes, severalactually.

Just imagine how the infantry felt in WW1. Rushing machine gun positions out in the open field.

sonicare

This, this, and this.

General rule of thumb. War sucks. Avoid at all costs.

This, this, and this.

General rule of thumb. War sucks. Avoid at all costs.

Wasdie

awesome clips dude. That WW1 one was interesting

Could you imagine a more nerve wracking experience then going on a Flying Fortress on a bombing run in WW2?(Subs probably close 2nd)I swear everytime I think about what those men had to sit through is insane. Just sitting in a tin tube in the sky while every badguy has their sights on you and wanting nothing more than to bring you down. Even if the plane didn't crash there was still a chance of bullets or shrapnel getting you.

Morphic

There's two sides to that. Don't forget those who were in the path of the bombs they were dropping.

But, yeah. I'd hate to be in a B-17 on a bomb run in europe, especially as a ball gunner. There was a documentary (a while back) in The Military Channel about the short lifespan of a B-17 ball gunner.

What about the civilans in the cities below? That's more nerve wracking to me.

Could you imagine a more nerve wracking experience then going on a Flying Fortress on a bombing run in WW2?(Subs probably close 2nd)I swear everytime I think about what those men had to sit through is insane. Just sitting in a tin tube in the sky while every badguy has their sights on you and wanting nothing more than to bring you down. Even if the plane didn't crash there was still a chance of bullets or shrapnel getting you.

Morphic

Yes, actually being a victim of a flying fortress bombing run would be a far more nerve wracking thought.