I knew a Gentleman who was a gunner in the 9th and flew it, he was the one who told me you could walk across all the lead the Germans were throwing up.
I just finished reading accounts of Guadalcanal and Tarawa. The more I read about those that preceded us, the more I am in awe of them.
Yes the flew low, really low the entire way to avoid German radar and fighters..The Gentleman told me least for his squadron fighters were not that bad till the outbound leg, Flak was bad in and out he said. he told me the squadron leader when down before the IP, then the 2nd in command moved up and then he got hit and fell out, a Sr member of the squadron moved up, made it over the oil refineries, dropped his load and took a direct hit in the bomb bay, blew up and then it was every man for himself. Said everyone on his plane was wounded some how. Got back on 3 engines and 100 gal of gas.