RAF Fighter Pilots Wounded/Injured Compared to US Pilots

[MIflyer]

Without having any data at hand, it seems to me that I have read of a great many more cases of RAF fighter pilots being wounded or injured in combat than I have read of US fighter pilots being wounded or injured in combat. By this I mean injuries that occurred in combat in flight and not injuries sustained as a result of the ground rising up to smite the aircraft.

About the only case of a US pilot being wounded in air combat that I can think of is when Robert S. Johnson ran that FW-190 out of ammo and still made it home.

Does this reflect US fighter aircraft being tougher than RAF fighter aircraft? Certainly the P-40, P-38, P-47, F4F. F4U, F6F and even the P-39 seemed to have greater reputation for toughness than the Hurricane or Spitfire. Or does it reflect that US pilots were more likely to be much further from home and thus less able to sustain wounds and still make it back?

 

[GrauGeist]

Here's a few:
Lt. Curdes, who was one of the few Aces to have shot down enemies from three Axis nations (Italian, German and Japanese), suffered injuries to his shoulder and back while in a dogfight against several Bf109s over Salerno.

Lt Alexander was wounded and his P-47 was crippled during a fight over Austria. He was captured five days later.

 

[SaparotRob]

Here's a few:
Lt. Curdes, who was one of the few Aces to have shot down enemies from three Axis nations (Italian, German and Japanese)...

Was this the same pilot who shot his future wife down and got an American flag on his kill tally?

 

[GrauGeist]

Was this the same pilot who shot his future wife down and got an American flag on his kill tally?

Yep, his official tally was (7) Bf109s, (1) M.C202, (1) KI-46 and (1) C-47.

 

[tyrodtom]

The British were at war for 15 months longer than the USA.
Even if all other factors were even, they would of course have more wounded pilots.

They were also in it from the almost beginning of WW2, so pilot survival , armor, self sealing fuel tanks, etc. were not as developed as they were by the time the USA entered the war.

Then too there's the factor that early war Luftwaffe bombers, were almost all armed with rifle caliber guns, and the fighters too were mostly armed with rifle caliber cowl guns, so that gave you a little better odds you might survive being wounded.
But by midwar most Luftwaffe fighters had switched to heavier cowl guns, and like the original poster stated the missions were of much longer duration for the USAAF.

 

[Snautzer01]

Yep, his official tally was (7) Bf109s, (1) M.C202, (1) KI-46 and (1) C-47.

 

[SaparotRob]

View attachment 789723

This is my all-time favorite kill score board.

 

[special ed]

There was a French ace with German, British, and American victories on his board.

 

[SaparotRob]

There was a French ace with German, British, and American victories on his board.

Are there any pictures of it? That'd be pretty cool.

 

[BiffF15]

There was a French ace with German, British, and American victories on his board.

Well, that's the French…

 

[GregP]

Yeah, French ...

If it isn't good, put some sauce or gravy on it.

 

[SaparotRob]

Butter.

 

[Frog]

You all forgot garlic.

 

[buffnut453]

All good food items, IMHO!!!

Don't forget French pastries, croissants, French stick loaves etc etc.

 

[special ed]

Well, that's the French…

What my faded memory says, he flew against the Germans in France , then as Vichy against the British and the US in North Africa.

 

[SaparotRob]

You all forgot garlic.

I was really hoping someone would have replied
"Parkay".

 

[Snautzer01]

What my faded memory says, he flew against the Germans in France , then as Vichy against the British and the US in North Africa.

And the better part of what you descibed, in very much outdated planes.
Although it is fun to pick on the French, they were very well trained.
A lot of them fought for the Allies. RAF Soviets. With noticible succes.
Just saying .

 

[eagledad]

I believe you are talking about this gentleman:

Pierre Le Gloan - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I have never seen a picture of his aircraft that displayed any victory credits. IIRC because he fought for both sides, he was rather quiet about talking about his combats.

Eagledad

 

[GregP]

I was really hoping someone would have replied
"Parkay".

Parkay ...

 

[Shortround6]

covering your plane with butter may have helped speed but it made it skid in the corners.


I'll get my coat.................