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Old 28th Apr 2005, 11:23
  #16 (permalink)  
LowNSlow
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Just South of the last ice sheet
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Plus the impact on morale when the aircraft don't return. When my dad joined his squadron they had lost 50% of their aircraft in the previous two raids (note: raids - Missionaries and the USAAF did missions). The survivors didn't really care whether or not those lost had been shot down before or after bombing, just the fact that they weren't sitting in the mess the following day.
Don't forget, RAF Bomber COmmand had the highest percentage losses of any force in the Uk & Empire, USA and Germany/Italy with the sole exception of the U-Boat fleet. It was in excess of 60%. That's dead by the way, not including injuries, POW's etc. It does include crashes in the UK and training losses though.
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