Here's an interesting fact about American losses in WW2

The death toll for the 8th air force was greater than the combined total for marines in both theaters. Over 26,000 died taking on the Luftwaffe.

The key to their eventual victory was the introduction of long range P-51 mustangs and a change of strategy involving no longer flying escort for the bombers but using them as bait.

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Heartlander · 80-89, M

Thanks for sharing this.

The sacrifices and losses were staggering in all theaters, all branches. All sides of the war.

In one of my previous lives I had the fortune of flying with many of the then old timers who had been pilots and crew members during the war. Many who had served during the war and survived, and returned to civilian lives, had their lives again disrupted when they were called back into military service for Korea and/or the cold war. With the wars and the add-on service, some were half-way to retirement and chose to hang on until retirement.

They were a part of the greatest generation ever. To listen to their experiences as they pointed out where they almost died, or saw their friends die, or where they had to bail out was a peek into the heart and soul of bigger than life heroes. One still carried a picture of himself standing on a ladder, and through a 4 foot round hole in his wing. As impressive were the stories of the gut wrenching fear of another mission, and another, and another as the odds of survival shrank. A few had bailed and became POWs. One was 85 pounds when he was released, and recounted the experience of watching fellow POWs willing to kill one another over a slice of bread.

God bless them.