USAAF Study of bomber casualties.

[RichardS]

Interesting read of how the military medical department did surveys on how casualties occurred. Included in this chapter is review of the most dangerous position and most safe position on a bomber.

http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksd...s/chapter9.htm

[Gencallan]

Great research, I worked in surgery for 30 years. All of the metal plates and rods we used were developed by the Germans.

My eye opener about flying in bombers was my ride in a B-17. I sat in the radio room, watched the main spar flex back and forth. Felt the 'skin' from the inside, their shirts were thicker, I have a new 'respect' for anyone that flew B-17s & B-24s. Believe me they didn't need medals to show their bravery, everyone of them were very brave to get in those planes and fly into 20mm & 30mm guns of German fighters.

[iron]

Too bad that they didn't conduct this survey during a different three month period: August-October 1943.

The numbers during this period would be far more indicative than what is presented in the period covered (by the linked study); by this point(June-August 1944), the Luftwaffe had devolved to a mere shadow of itself. In truth, most of it's remaining premium day fighter assets were fighting for their lives against 2ATAF and 9th AF in Normandy, not so much opposing the efforts of the USAAF heavy bomber units.

Interesting nonetheless.

Selectively sanitized for public consumption?

The choice of the period for the study would certainly suggest so.

The Autumn of 1943 was a "gong show" in comparison.

Cheers, Ron

[McMax]

And there it is in black&white, waist gunner,tail gunner and bombardier were the most dangerous posts while ball turret gunner was the safest.

[Carl Schwamberg]

I wonder if a similar study was generated for other periods or for other Air Forces like USAAF 9th AF?

[sebfrench76]

Terrible to see for me for the first time,pics of fatal wounds caused by flack schrapnels and bullets.
Poor young guys,i can hardly imagine the nightmare they lived up there for our freedom...