|
08-19-2008, 03:17 PM
| #1 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montrose, Colorado
Posts: 3,271
| dangerous mission Which group of pilots and crew,(if there was a crew,) had to fly the most daunting and dangerous single mission or sortie of all the missions flown in WW2? This, of course, includes every country that had combatants in the war. |
|         |
|
08-19-2008, 03:58 PM
| #2 |
| Older Than Dirt   Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Posts: 7,309
| I think some of the more dangerous missions were flown by the recon P-38's. They went in alone, low and fast. Some didn't make it. Wasn't there a famous Frenchman who went MIA on one of those flights ?? Charles
__________________  I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either.... |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 04:37 PM
| #3 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 3,233
| The torpedo planes and crews at the battle of Midway. Of the 51 aircraft (45 TBDs and 6 TBFs) launched from the the three American carriers and Midway Island, only nine returned. Although they didn't score a single hit, their bravery made victory possible. Operation "Tidal Wave". The Dambusters The Regensburg/Schweinfurt mission. And many more. TO
__________________  “Let's get Enterprise and Hornet turned into the wind." |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 04:47 PM
| #4 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls
Posts: 5,588
| I'll opt for the Master Bomber in the Pathfinders guys like Fauquier and Gibson for there perserverance in marking the target correctly flying over a target numerous times example 17 times for Fauquier over Peenemunde |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 04:47 PM
| #5 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Helsinki
Posts: 1,361
| I would say Japanese who attacked US carrier task forces in 1944-45, losses usually really prohibitiving. Juha |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:02 PM
| #6 | |
| Older Than Dirt Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Posts: 7,309
| Quote:
Charles
__________________ I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either.... | |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:28 PM
| #7 |
| the old Sage  Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 10,775
| I think the average Joe LW fighter pilot flying day missions against P-51s and the bombers from late 44 till wars end. every day was suicide, but then again the US heavy bomber pilots striking deep over the Reich further and further and although late war the losses decreased the pain did not. September 11, 1944 through November 27, 1944 air battles may have been the grimmest over Germany during the whole war in the shortest time span possible for the days mission/engagement...........
__________________ Rip it up ! |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:29 PM
| #8 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 3,233
| Quote:
Was just testing you Charles.  TO
__________________ “Let's get Enterprise and Hornet turned into the wind." | |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:30 PM
| #9 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 651
| I think bomber missions were especially daunting... Having to fly in nearly straight lines and not being able to take to much evasive action with fighters and flak swarming about... Had to take nerves of steel That said the Regensburg/Sweinfurt missions or the Ploesti Raid has my vote |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:31 PM
| #10 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dordrecht
Posts: 3,834
| Military pilots of Poland, Norway, The Netherland and Belgium in 1939-1940
__________________  " The knack of flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:33 PM
| #11 |
| the old Sage Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 10,775
| ah but which Ploesti mission as there are many ? Schweinfurt is one of several days of 60 plus lost by the US just for information purposes. look into January 11, 1944 most likely worse overall for both sides that the August or October 43 battles
__________________ Rip it up ! |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:37 PM
| #12 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 3,233
| How could I forget (with my siggy).... The Doolittle Raid. Casualties were light, but the mission was certainly dangerous and unprecedented. TO
__________________ “Let's get Enterprise and Hornet turned into the wind." |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:51 PM
| #13 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 3,233
| Quote:
Ploesti was one of the most heavily defended targets in Europe: over 200 88mm guns, hundreds and thousands of smaller caliber weapons and at least 300 fighters flown by some of the best pilots in the Luftwaffe. Because of navigational errors, the element of surprise was lost and the Liberators came toward Ploesti from the southeast, the most heavily defended approach. Of the 178 aircraft out, 163 made it over target. Of these 41 were lost in action, 8 landed in Turkey, and 5 were lost due to miscellaneous causes. Three hundred aircrew were killed, 140 captured, and of the crew returning, over 440 were wounded. Only 35 bombers were in flyable condition once the mission was complete. Five MOH awarded, the most for any single mission in WW II. TO
__________________ “Let's get Enterprise and Hornet turned into the wind." | |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:53 PM
| #14 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 2,412
| |
|
| |
|
08-19-2008, 05:59 PM
| #15 |
| the old Sage Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 10,775
| the last mention of the Sonder is a joke, no offense kitty but it was in it's whole entirety TO there were not even 200 fighters capable of the LW to deal with the B-24's just so you are aware that portion about 300 is myth, actually what there was of JG 4 at the time in their Bf 109G's was the unit to attack the B-24's along with some Hungarian 109's a very small force |
|
| |
 |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
| |
Linear Mode
