• ODT Gun Show & Swap Meet - May 4, 2024! - Click here for info

The Harsh Reality of Bomber Life in WWII

In his book Combat Crew, John Comer tells about their new arrival at the Ridgewell Airdrome in Aug 1943. Ridgewell Airdrome was located near Essex and was home of the 381st Bomber Group.

“The major welcomed them saying they were urgently needed.
When asked on the losses they had, the major answered: See that chart ? That's the combat roster. We've been here sixty days and so far we've lost one hundred and one percent of our combat personnel."


That was the welcome.


View attachment 1108293
“B-17 Silver Bullet”
B-17G 42-37781 “Silver Bullet” was lost after bombs away when bombs from a higher flying group hit this aircraft, knocking the tail section completely off . The aircraft dived straight down into a spin with all four engines going, crashing in Berlin, Germany. March 9th, 1944. No Survivors.






View attachment 1108300
“A20 Havoc”
A Douglas A-20J-10-DO (S/N 43-10129) of the 409th or 416th Bomber Group after being hit by flak over Germany. It burst into flames and crashed a mile west of the target; two chutes were seen from the plane. Its crew was 1st Lt Robert E. Stockwell, pilot, 2d Lt Albert Jedinak, bombardier-navigator, S/Sgt Hollis A. Foster and S/Sgt Egon W. Rust, gunners.





View attachment 1108303
“B-24 Little Warrior”
B-24H Liberator 42-94812 “Little Warrior” of the 493rd Bomber Group, 861st Bomber Squadron, hit by flak over Quakenbrück Germany, June 29, 1944. One crewman managed to bail out safely but was killed by civilians on the ground.





View attachment 1108305
“B-26 Marauder”
A U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26G-11-MA Marauder (s/n 43-34565) from the 497th Bomber Squadron, 344th Bomber Group, 9th Air Force. It is enveloped in flames and hurtling earthward after enemy flak scored a direct hit on the left engine while aircraft was attacking front line enemy communications center at Erkelenz, Germany.


This is WHY they are considered The "GREATEST GENERATION"!!!! Did, it for GOD and COUNTRY!!!
 
In his book Combat Crew, John Comer tells about their new arrival at the Ridgewell Airdrome in Aug 1943. Ridgewell Airdrome was located near Essex and was home of the 381st Bomber Group.

“The major welcomed them saying they were urgently needed.
When asked on the losses they had, the major answered: See that chart ? That's the combat roster. We've been here sixty days and so far we've lost one hundred and one percent of our combat personnel."


That was the welcome.


View attachment 1108293
“B-17 Silver Bullet”
B-17G 42-37781 “Silver Bullet” was lost after bombs away when bombs from a higher flying group hit this aircraft, knocking the tail section completely off . The aircraft dived straight down into a spin with all four engines going, crashing in Berlin, Germany. March 9th, 1944. No Survivors.






View attachment 1108300
“A20 Havoc”
A Douglas A-20J-10-DO (S/N 43-10129) of the 409th or 416th Bomber Group after being hit by flak over Germany. It burst into flames and crashed a mile west of the target; two chutes were seen from the plane. Its crew was 1st Lt Robert E. Stockwell, pilot, 2d Lt Albert Jedinak, bombardier-navigator, S/Sgt Hollis A. Foster and S/Sgt Egon W. Rust, gunners.





View attachment 1108303
“B-24 Little Warrior”
B-24H Liberator 42-94812 “Little Warrior” of the 493rd Bomber Group, 861st Bomber Squadron, hit by flak over Quakenbrück Germany, June 29, 1944. One crewman managed to bail out safely but was killed by civilians on the ground.





View attachment 1108305
“B-26 Marauder”
A U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26G-11-MA Marauder (s/n 43-34565) from the 497th Bomber Squadron, 344th Bomber Group, 9th Air Force. It is enveloped in flames and hurtling earthward after enemy flak scored a direct hit on the left engine while aircraft was attacking front line enemy communications center at Erkelenz, Germany.


My Dad was in the Army Air Corps and flew 17's and 25's during the war in the Pacific from '42 to '46 -- yes I know the war ended in '45 -- he stayed on for a while and flew supplies into Japan. As a youngster he told me that the B-17 was one of the sturdiest planes ever built. You could see his eyes get misty when he talked about them. They could take a beating and still make it back home. They were the world's greatest generation...........
 
P40poster.jpg
 
The astounding thing about most of these gentlemen is they treated it like a job, no whining. And then the ones that came home, went to work. Just like that. My first professional bosses were all WWII men. Just wonderful people.
 
Back
Top Bottom