[stand watie]

don't be too sure. the TAILGUNNER on a 17 was a BAD place to be.

the father one of my best girlfriends in HS days was TSgt Houston Burkhardt, a former B17 tailgunner of the USAAC. he was the ONLY member of his gunnery class to survive the war= one of 188 BRAVE men!

free dixie,sw

[CholeraJoe]

I respect TSgt Burkhardt's brave service.

In 1943, every position on a B-17 was dangerous. The average crewmember mortality was 30%. Ball turret gunners suffered a 60% mortality by contrast.

Link

Say what you will about the courage of Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Coastguardsmen, and Airmen. All performed admirably. None sacrificed more than the 8th Air Force. Not a single bomber formation turned back because of hostile fire.