Ed Rasimus wrote in message . ..
On 5 Feb 2004 10:01:30 -0800, (Michael) wrote:

Ed Rasimus wrote in message . ..

Statistically the most dangerous missions on a 100 mission tour were
the first ten and the last ten. The first because you were scared and
inexperienced, the last because there was a tendency to get
over-aggressive and feel a bit immortal. Many guys were trying to win
the war on their last couple before they completed and went home.

That's suprising to hear. I think most (unexperienced) people just
assume that close to the end of a tour a man will start to get jumpy.
I've read multiple times that heavy bomber guys in the ETO started to
get more nervous the closer they got to the end of the tours. Do you
think there was maybe a completely different mindset for a fighter
pilot (from any war) than there would have been for a heavy bomber
crew?

Lemme read that again slowly. You're asking a tactical aviator if
there "may be a completely different mindset for a fighter pilot...."

That's the very essence of the profession!!!!

Sorry, should have said do you think fighter and bomber pilots (in
general) have a completely diffferent mindset in regard to the final
missions of a tour? I know they're different breeds to begin with,
but I'm wondering if that carries over into their outlook on the end
of a tour. Does one tend to view it as "I've got this in the bag" and
the other think "The numbers are aginst me, I'm dead"? Or does it
wind up being each individual is different and you can't judge a
group?

~Michael