When the 8th Air Force went back to Schweinfurt in October, they lost another 60 bombers. They lost more than that over Berlin in March 1944. Losses of 30-40 plus on one day were not uncommon until the escort fighters won control of the skies. That’s 3-400 men who didn’t come back after every mission, not counting casualties on the planes that made it back. Even spread out over hundreds of bombers, casualties like that had to have a bad effect on morale. Just flying one unescorted mission took a lot of courage. A full tour of 25+ missions knowing most crews didn’t make it that long took courage on a level unfathomable by people today.
I remember a journalist recollection (may have been Andy Rooney) who said a Staff Sergeant crew member told him he would gladly trade jobs with any Army Infantryman Private in a second.