The point of my remark is for B-17 crews, each pull is less risky, because they learned how to avoid getting shot down. For example, at the end of each mission, the crews were required to clean the guns. Some crews on the way back over the channel, would take their guns apart and clean them to save time.
One day, my dad said a Junkers was lurking near the airfield, and got behind the crews lined up for landing. Brrp! Brrp! Brrp! and down they went, without firing a shot in return. He said he never dismantled his gun before they were safely on the ground.
Crews who successfully survived 30+ missions were often rotated back to the states to train the next crews in how to survive.
The point of my remark is for B-17 crews, each pull is less risky, because they learned how to avoid getting shot down. For example, at the end of each mission, the crews were required to clean the guns. Some crews on the way back over the channel, would take their guns apart and clean them to save time.
One day, my dad said a Junkers was lurking near the airfield, and got behind the crews lined up for landing. Brrp! Brrp! Brrp! and down they went, without firing a shot in return. He said he never dismantled his gun before they were safely on the ground.
Crews who successfully survived 30+ missions were often rotated back to the states to train the next crews in how to survive.