Historical heavy vs medium bomber MIA /KIA rates

[bklooste]

The historical rates chance of crew MIA or KIA. for European theater

Medium bombers (50 missions 48%
Heavy bombers (30 missions) 71%

Looks like you were better of in a B25 then a B17 ! ...

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: bklooste

The historical rates chance of crew MIA or KIA. for European theater

Medium bombers (50 missions 48%
Heavy bombers (30 missions) 71%

Looks like you were better of in a B25 then a B17 ! ...

What happens when you drop the heavy bomber massacres in 1943?

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: bklooste

The historical rates chance of crew MIA or KIA. for European theater

Medium bombers (50 missions 48%
Heavy bombers (30 missions) 71%

Looks like you were better of in a B25 then a B17 ! ...

probably also depends on the targets you attack. Going deep into Germany with a heavy bomber was probably a couple of times more dangerous than bombing a railway station in France with a medium bomber.

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: bklooste

The historical rates chance of crew MIA or KIA. for European theater

Medium bombers (50 missions 48%
Heavy bombers (30 missions) 71%

Looks like you were better of in a B25 then a B17 ! ...

probably also depends on the targets you attack. Going deep into Germany with a heavy bomber was probably a couple of times more dangerous than bombing a railway station in France with a medium bomber.

More friendly fighter cover to targets in France as well as shorter distances to get home if you're damaged. Assuming you landed away from your target I'd say the civilian population of the occupied countries would be more kindly disposed towards an Allied airman than their German counterparts.

[John Lansford]

Not only what Herwin said, but the heavies flew in nearly all kinds of weather, and operational losses were often 5-10% of the total mission # of planes.

[d0mbo]

Hi Bklooste, where have you found those numbers?
 
Just curious,
 
d0mbo.
 

[jomni]

Japanese don't have planes with enough armament to easily kill B-17s.

[topeverest]

At those rates I would have taken my chances in the Big Red 1

[morganbj]

We used to say that if you have to be one, be a big red one.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: bklooste

The historical rates chance of crew MIA or KIA. for European theater

Medium bombers (50 missions 48%
Heavy bombers (30 missions) 71%

Looks like you were better of in a B25 then a B17 ! ...

Well, in Europe that meant mostly B26s which was a difficult airplane to fly but very fast for a bomber. Speed will sometimes save you. Also, shorter ranged mediums were in range of fighter escort whereas until the mustang came along the bombers flew without. And last, the further you fly, the more space you have to cover to get home if you are damaged. It all makes sense to me.

I find Allied mediums to be very vulnerable in AE and all but useless without total air superiorty. (a rare event) Sort of the reverse and making no sense at all.

[Nikademus]

2E casualties balooned in Europe if they were opposed by serious air/AA resistance. The difference was that Mediums largely supported Operational/Tactical missions where the Allied air forces held sway so this did not often occur, hence the statistical difference. The Strategic bombers faced the bulk of Luftwaffe fighter defenses and traversed the massive flak belts defending German cities. As the European air war wound down, Nighttime 4E casualties exploded due to German technical developments. Being "nighttime", the Allies could not protect the bombers with fighters so by the end of the war, BC's casualty rates well exceeded 8AF's daytime 4E casualties.

Fun with statistics!

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: crsutton


... until the mustang came along the bombers flew without.....

Minor point, but I believe the first LR Escort was the P-47 Thunderbolt ... by about 6 months or so.