Casualty rate of U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command higher than Kamikazes - The Firearms Forum

17thfabn · 07-22-2009, 09:12 PM

According to "History Detective" on P.B.S. the British Bomber Command, and U.S. 8th Air Force had a higher casualty rate than the Kamikazes!

They said many of the Japanese assigned to the Kamikazes survived due to a lack of equipment.

Casualties by their numbers:

British bomber Command 65%

U.S. 8th Air Force 40 to 60%

Kamikaze 53%

Of course virtually all the casualties in the Kamikaze force were fatalities. Many of the casualties in the U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command survived.

The casualty rate of the British and American flyers was stagering!

Suwannee Tim · 07-22-2009, 09:19 PM

I know an old man who flew dozens and dozens of missions in the 8th AF. He seemed rather casual when I asked him about it.

17thfabn · 07-22-2009, 09:21 PM

I think it would depend on what period you were flying with the 8th A.F. during. Early in the war before long range escorts were available the casualty rate was much higher. Towards the end of the war the German Air force was basicly done.

artabr · 07-22-2009, 09:33 PM

If you research the lost rates prior to the interduction of long range escort fighters, you'll find it was probably even higher than that.

A couple of interesting and eye opening sites.

http://www.taphilo.com/history/8thaf/8aflosses.shtml

http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm

Edit: 17th, It looks like we're having the same line of thought.

Art

Teejay9 · 08-07-2009, 09:24 PM

Not hard to figure. When a British bomber went down, it took 10-12 men with it. A Kamikaze just had the one driver. I used to work with a bunch of WWII vets. Airmen would easily relate a hair raising story or two. So would the guys from armored crews. I guess they felt they were fighting machines and not men. Infantry, not too much. Too horrid. TJ

Charlie the sniper · 08-28-2009, 06:48 AM

This is a photo of the US Cemetery in Cambridge England.

http://www.martleshamheath-rollofhon...emorials_.html

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambri...ACemetery.html

TranterUK · 08-28-2009, 06:54 AM

Often there Charlie, representing us.

RJay · 08-28-2009, 04:28 PM

Rem,ember, the British were fighting the Germans long before we got involved.

USMC-03 · 08-28-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJay

Rem,ember, the British were fighting the Germans long before we got involved.

Very inconsiderate if you ask me. Quite unseemly to show up early for a fracas...

07-22-2009, 09:12 PM	#1
17thfabn Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: North bank of the mighty Ohio River Posts: 847	Casualty rate of U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command higher than Kamikazes According to "History Detective" on P.B.S. the British Bomber Command, and U.S. 8th Air Force had a higher casualty rate than the Kamikazes! They said many of the Japanese assigned to the Kamikazes survived due to a lack of equipment. Casualties by their numbers: British bomber Command 65% U.S. 8th Air Force 40 to 60% Kamikaze 53% Of course virtually all the casualties in the Kamikaze force were fatalities. Many of the casualties in the U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command survived. The casualty rate of the British and American flyers was stagering! __________________ "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world!" Albert Einstein "The opportunist thinks of me and today. The statesman thinks of us and tomorrow." Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. President & Five Star General. Rock and Roll forever, rap, hip hop and disco never! -->

07-22-2009, 09:19 PM	#2
Suwannee Tim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,227	Re: Casualty rate of U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command higher than Kamik I know an old man who flew dozens and dozens of missions in the 8th AF. He seemed rather casual when I asked him about it.

07-22-2009, 09:21 PM	#3
17thfabn Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: North bank of the mighty Ohio River Posts: 847	Re: Casualty rate of U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command higher than Kamik I think it would depend on what period you were flying with the 8th A.F. during. Early in the war before long range escorts were available the casualty rate was much higher. Towards the end of the war the German Air force was basicly done. __________________ "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world!" Albert Einstein "The opportunist thinks of me and today. The statesman thinks of us and tomorrow." Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. President & Five Star General. Rock and Roll forever, rap, hip hop and disco never!

07-22-2009, 09:33 PM	#4
artabr Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Iberia, Louisiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: Casualty rate of U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command higher than Kamik If you research the lost rates prior to the interduction of long range escort fighters, you'll find it was probably even higher than that. A couple of interesting and eye opening sites. http://www.taphilo.com/history/8thaf/8aflosses.shtml http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm Edit: 17th, It looks like we're having the same line of thought. Art __________________ God and the soldier we like adore, In times of trouble, not before. When troubles ended and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier is slighted. Francis Quarles 1592 - 1644 __________________ When asked for my race, I answer CauCajun. Hope is not a plan, and not all change is good. The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST! These hands are neither cold nor are they dead!! Last edited by artabr; 07-22-2009 at 09:35 PM..

08-07-2009, 09:24 PM	#5
Teejay9 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Southwest Corner of the US, "Where no stinking fence will stop us!!" Posts: 1,257	Re: Casualty rate of U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command higher than Kamik Not hard to figure. When a British bomber went down, it took 10-12 men with it. A Kamikaze just had the one driver. I used to work with a bunch of WWII vets. Airmen would easily relate a hair raising story or two. So would the guys from armored crews. I guess they felt they were fighting machines and not men. Infantry, not too much. Too horrid. TJ __________________ A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have". Thomas Jefferson

08-28-2009, 06:48 AM	#6
Charlie the sniper Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: England, thats the USN aircraft carrier near europe. Posts: 751	Re: Casualty rate of U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command higher than Kamik This is a photo of the US Cemetery in Cambridge England. http://www.martleshamheath-rollofhon...emorials_.html http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambri...ACemetery.html Attached Images __________________ Never Forget, the price paid for Freedom. Last edited by Charlie the sniper; 08-28-2009 at 06:49 AM..

08-28-2009, 06:54 AM	#7
TranterUK Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 5,103	Re: Casualty rate of U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command higher than Kamik Often there Charlie, representing us. __________________ DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas - Accuracy, Power, Speed. The light at the end of the recession tunnel IS a train coming the other way!

08-28-2009, 04:28 PM	#8
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: Casualty rate of U.S. 8th Air Force, and British Bomber Command higher than Kamik Rem,ember, the British were fighting the Germans long before we got involved. __________________ RonJames