BILL,
     In a message dated 03-26-98 you wrote ...
> Saw a program last night on WINGS about the B-17 in WWII.  Most crew
> members were happy to go home when they made Lucky B*****d list after
> surving 25 missions.  How come you stayed on?
   This was a sore spot with the 12th and 15th Air Forces in
 the Mediterrean area.  We had to fly 50 missions for a "tour."
 where as the 8th AF "Glory Boys" only flew 25.  Someone behind
 a desk said our missions were "easier" than those of the 8th.
   It was later balanced to 35 for all. Five of my 30 1/2 were
 to a place called Ploesti.. You only hear of the one great
 screwed mission there and little of the other 20 missions
 flown by the 15th Air Force. A total of 223 aircraft were
 lost on those 20 missions.
   The news media liked to live in the comfort of London and
 vacinity and detested the tents and rough life of Africa and
 Italy so the 8th got most of the publicity.... Another gripe
 was the "aces".  Our tail gunner got five confirmed "Kills"
 four the day he was killed and all they gave him was four
 more air medals.... He was not an ACE... stupid...
   Two of my crew left beside myself. Radio and co-pilot.
 We lost two this year.. Co-pilot did not go down with us.
 He had been "bumped" for the milk run. His replacement died
 some time ago...
'nuff for now...
   -=*  Jim Sanders  *=-
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