[tanknetter]

The 8th USAAF ( for which the B-17 was the main bomber) lost 26,000 men over Europe. That number is GREATER than the total USMC KIA in all of WW II. Of the Marine deaths, almost 8,000 occured taking Iwo Jima.

Been watching "WWII in HD" on History Channel too?

;-)

[ken5050]

Yup..it was great program. My dad was in the 8th..he flew C-47s..got shot down twice over France, made it back both times..I spent 4 years in the Marines, and remember the long discussions at Quantico over whether Iwo was worth it..that's when I first learned about the aircrews that were saved.

What I really enjoyed about the History Channel program was that for the first time, it explored in depth the strategy of "sacrificing the bombers" to get the German fighters..it's long been one of those thngs best left unsaid..