WWII Aviation Facts

[fx77]

This stuff just amazes me and I want to share it
So brave were these WWII Aviators

35,946 personnel died in non battle situations..mostly accidental crashes
Even in combat AF personnel were more likely to die from accidents than direct combat.
AAF Surgeon General noted: Nov 43-May 45- 70%of men listed as KIA died in operational aircraft accidents.

Causes were too many hrs flying and maintenance, new technology,weather,brake faliures, short runways
Ref: In the Fifteenth AF : Mae Mill Link and Hubert A. Coleman, : Medical Support of Army Air Force in WWII, :Office of the Surgeon General, USAF Washington DC 1955 p 516.


These pilots were mostly Mid 20's. they had to fly 30 missions later increased to 50
Reminds me of mY Favorite WWII Novel by Joseph Heller: <span style="text-decoration: underline">Catch</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline">22</span>

 

[mstennes]

Re: WWII Aviation Facts

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fx77</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This stuff just amazes me and I want to share it
So brave were these WWII Aviators

35,946 personnel died in non battle situations..mostly accidental crashes
Even in combat AF personnel were more likely to die from accidents than direct combat.
AAF Surgeon General noted: Nov 43-May 45- 70%of men listed as KIA died in operational aircraft accidents.

Causes were too many hrs flying and maintenance, new technology,weather,brake faliures, short runways
Ref: In the Fifteenth AF : Mae Mill Link and Hubert A. Coleman, : Medical Support of Army Air Force in WWII, :Office of the Surgeon General, USAF Washington DC 1955 p 516.


These pilots were mostly Mid 20's. they had to fly 30 missions later increased to 50
Reminds me of mY Favorite WWII Novel by Joseph Heller: <span style="text-decoration: underline">Catch</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline">22</span> </div></div>
You also have to remember, the pilots were on accelerated training, which put them into very high performance aircraft, much quicker than the norm, allot of fighter pilots were killed on takeoff, from torque roll,and with their inexperiance they couldnt or didnt compenstate quick enough.