They lost almost 150 of them during the course of the war, along with more than a few of their pilots.
And this is why it always bothers me to hear a soldier/sailor/airman/marine ridicule another for not having been "In combat", or measuring their combat experience against another's based on how bad historians, etc. said it was, etc., etc.
Being in the military can be dangerous. Being around fuel, live ammunition and standing watch in adverse conditions can be deadly. Unlike civilians, you are under orders and cannot say no and walk away because it's dangerous or deadly.
I think the National Guard used to have slogan that said, "He serves, who also stands and waits."