B-17 Bomber Formation - Cold Hell Over Europe

More men died flying with the Eighth Air Force than died serving in the US Marine Corps during WWII. The casualties suffered by the Eighth Air Force were about half of the U.S. Army Air Force's casualties (47,483 out of 115,332), including more than 26,000 dead.⁣⁣
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Bomber crews fought and died in one of the most extreme environments imaginable, operating over five miles up in open unpressurized aircraft. Temperatures regularly plummeted to as low as -50 degrees. To prevent frostbite they were bundled up in electric heated flying suits with thick insulated coats and gloves. They were outfitted with oxygen masks to breath at altitudes above 10,000 feet, but had to be mindful of clearing their masks of blockages as built up condensation was prone to freezing, and they would pass out. ⁣⁣
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Fighting and surviving exposure to the elements was only half the battle. They also had to worry about enemy fighters and Flak. German 88mm high explosive shells were responsible for close to one-third of all losses sustained by the Eighth Air Force. Flak also had a psychological effect on bomber crews because they could only see them after it exploded, and they never knew where the next one would detonate. ⁣⁣
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I’ve often thought about what B-17 position had the highest casualty rate, and rightfully guessed the exposed waist gunners. They suffered just over a 20% casualties. (It was the only 2 man role position, so this increased the chance of one being WIA or KIA) Surprisingly, the second highest casualty rate was the Bombardier, with almost 18% casualties. German fighters quickly discovered the vulnerable B-17 nose section (prior to B-17G with chin turret) and would attack head on firing directly into the bombardier. ⁣⁣
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I edited this footage from the documentary “The Cold Blue” and Luftwaffe gun camera footage. The original soundtrack was provided by my friend Vonnboyd.

https://vonnboyd.bandcamp.com/
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