Anybody else watching? While it is no Band of Brothers it is still pretty good.
I believe climbing into a B-17 bomber or B-24, B-25 took more courage than almost any other job in the US Armed Forces during the Second World War.
Sure, you didn't have to sit in a foxhole and go without hot food or a shower for days at a time like Army soldiers or Marines....but......
Imagine getting into a plane loaded with fuel, ammunition and bombs. The plane could crash at takeoff, collide with another plane while trying to get into formation, or get lost in the fog/clouds.
Once planes got into formation; they were usually about 5 miles up in the air. Temperatures were -50F (frostbite could happen at seconds) and you needed to be on oxygen at those levels. So, not only did you have to deal with the elements, you had to deal with anti-aircraft fire that shot shrapnel into the sky in every direction.
The planes had to sit there and take it unless they would be off course.
If the elements and flak didn't kill you, the hundreds of German fighters coming at you would. More Heavy bombers were shot out of the sky by enemy fighters.
Even if your plane was hit and you safely parachuted to the ground; you risked getting killed by an angry German mob who had to endure 24 hours of constant bombing raids. (The Brits bombed at night and the Americans during the day)
Read about the Russelsheim massacre.
Ever since I accidentally saw the movie Memphis Belle by accident in the movie theater at aged 13 in 1990; I have always had a keen interest in the battles that raged over the skies of Europe in World War II.
What brave men indeed!
I believe climbing into a B-17 bomber or B-24, B-25 took more courage than almost any other job in the US Armed Forces during the Second World War.
Sure, you didn't have to sit in a foxhole and go without hot food or a shower for days at a time like Army soldiers or Marines....but......
Imagine getting into a plane loaded with fuel, ammunition and bombs. The plane could crash at takeoff, collide with another plane while trying to get into formation, or get lost in the fog/clouds.
Once planes got into formation; they were usually about 5 miles up in the air. Temperatures were -50F (frostbite could happen at seconds) and you needed to be on oxygen at those levels. So, not only did you have to deal with the elements, you had to deal with anti-aircraft fire that shot shrapnel into the sky in every direction.
The planes had to sit there and take it unless they would be off course.
If the elements and flak didn't kill you, the hundreds of German fighters coming at you would. More Heavy bombers were shot out of the sky by enemy fighters.
Even if your plane was hit and you safely parachuted to the ground; you risked getting killed by an angry German mob who had to endure 24 hours of constant bombing raids. (The Brits bombed at night and the Americans during the day)
Read about the Russelsheim massacre.
Ever since I accidentally saw the movie Memphis Belle by accident in the movie theater at aged 13 in 1990; I have always had a keen interest in the battles that raged over the skies of Europe in World War II.
What brave men indeed!
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