The average life expectancy of a combat infantry officer in the u. He wrote about that experience in his book if you survive, which is now. Prior to 1944 your chances of surviving all missions was about 1 in 4. Recently, we spoke with a world war ii fighter pilot who was kind enough to share some of his gripping stories. The aircrews of raf bomber command during world war ii operated a fleet of bomber aircraft.
Bill, a resident of kendal on hudson, told us about his time during the war and what a day in the life of a fighter pilot was like during those turbulent times. Yet with an average life expectancy shorter than that of soldiers on the western. The air warfare of world war ii was a major component in all theaters and, together with. The following list contains some of the most notable planes or pilots. Fighter aces in world war ii had tremendously varying kill scores, affected as they were by many factors. This oversize album of 665 photographs taken from the archives of life magazine and other collections begins with the years 1919 to 1939, the two decades leading up to world war ii. German factories continued to produce many new planes, and inexperienced new pilots did report for duty. For some, their life expectancy probably increased after graduating from training school. Samuel hynes, a selfdescribed midwestern yokel who soared as a heroic fighter pilot in world war ii and returned, sobered by combat, to flourish as a. The true story of one world war ii pilots covert mission to. He survived six months before being severely wounded. From normandy to the battle of the bulge to the end.
Raf pilots consisted of british volunteers who were an average age of 20. So promised george wilsons world war ii commanding officer in the. What was the average wwii pilots life expectancy upon. Life and death as a world war two fighter pilot shown in an incredible new set of colourised photos. In fighter boys patrick bishop brought to life the pilots who flew spitfires and. Saving britain 1940 by patrick bishop, arise to conquer. When germany and the soviet union invaded poland at the outbreak of world war ii, the polish air force was quickly defeated. Editor stolley then proceeds to chronicle the war, year by year through 1945, and ends with what he calls the war s aftermath, 1946 to 2001.
Race of aces, john brunings actionfueled world war ii narrative, follows the elite fighter pilots who competed to shoot down the most enemy planes. The exiled polish pilots who flew against the nazis. Before i read this book i would never have saluted a german ww2 veteran, but. Commission certificate issued to pilot officer john henry searby, 1940. Life and death as a world war two fighter pilot shown in. Raf bomber command aircrew of world war ii wikipedia. World war ii veteran jerry yellin talked about his book the last fighter pilot, in which he recalls his bombing missions over japan from april to august of 1945. Samuel hynes, professor whose books taught lessons of war. In his book bomber offensive, published in 1947, marshal of the royal air.
World war ii pilots may 20, 2012 just for the heck of it, a good thought for my late friend jim morehead who battled the japanese over darwin australia against all odds in april 1942. The average age of a uk battle of britain pilot was 20 yearsold. First world war flyers risked shortened lifespan but have extended legacy. Many pilots received a break after 25 missions, but others pilots flew more.
The heartstopping, nerveshredding race to be americas. Pilot a qualified pilot flew the aircraft and in the royal air force was usually the. An american tank gunner, his enemy, and a collision of lives in. I bought this book for my mum who lost her bomber boy brother during ww2.
An exhausted young canadian pilot after returning from an operation over germany, 1942. What was the life expectancy of a b17 crewman flying over. The intense fighting of world war ii produced many missions. Between march 1943 and the early summer of 1944 the life expectancy for. The worst life expectancy rate ive read of was with the royal flying corp pilots during the spring of 1917 when, according to some sources, it was approximately 10 15 days. First world war flyers risked shortened lifespan but have. Life and death aboard a b17, 1944 eyewitness to history. For other people with similar names, see william bishop.
Fussell was an infantryman in western europe, where the average life expectancy on the line was 17 days. Life and death aboard a b17, 1944 printer friendly version a merica joined britains strategic air campaign designed to destroy nazi germanys industrial capacity soon after her entrance into world war two. He was officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top canadian and british empire ace of the war. Life as a raf navigator in raf bomber command in ww2.