Sea Venom escorts the Mighty 8th

Sea Venom escorts the Mighty 8th.

Young Americans came in the name of freedom and liberty and to defend the free. In 1942, and 1943, these young heroes often climbed aboard their planes knowing the mission survival rates were 0.5 missions.

The Eighth suffered about half of the U.S. Army Air Force's casualties (47,483 out of 115,332), including more than 26,000 dead. The Eighth's brave men earned 17 Medals of Honour, 220 Distinguished Service Crosses, and 442,000 Air Medals. The Eighth's combat record also shows 566 aces (261 fighter pilots with 31 having 15 or more victories and 305 enlisted gunners), over 440,000 bomber sorties to drop 697,000 tons of bombs, and over 5,100 aircraft losses and 11,200 aerial victories.

In memory of the men of the mighty 8, and their valour and sacrifices and unpayable debt we owe for their efforts.