Pilot/Aircraft Mission counts

Thumpalumpacus said:

I sure didn't mean to imply it would be easy. Of course crews and planes are interchanged, which is why logs for both aircraft and crew need to be cross-checked. It's a lot of work. I look at stuff like Parshall and Jim Sawruk have done re: IJN records and shake my head in amazement.

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I didn't mean to imply that you implied that it was easy. I just wish it was easy as count 'em up.
I have a feeling a few trips to AFHRA and NARA are going to be happening soon (she's ain't gonna be happy about that)
Help me out and ignore my ignorance: What is Parshall and Jim Sawruk?

cwebster4 said:

Help me out and ignore my ignorance: What is Parshall and Jim Sawruk?

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Jon Parshall is a noted historian who, using info collated by Jim Sawruk, was able to place specific pilots on the decks of specific Japanese carriers at specific times during the Battle of Midway. And that took one hell of a lot of work, mostly by Sawruk going through deck logs for those carriers.

My point being that that is the sort of work you're looking at trying to slice and dice 8th AF ops, except it's a lot bigger. Tighten your chin-strap. Not just hundreds of aviators, but tens of thousands.

cwebster4 said:

I'm in Jacksonville, so that's a two-hour drive for me. Certainly worth the trip.

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Just make sure to call them first, which I'm sure you would anyway. I'd hate for you to make that drive only to be turned away because you didn't have an appointment. But honestly, it's such a great museum that I'd say it's worth the trip regardless!