Subject: Is it easier now?
From: Ed Rasimus
Date: 2/27/04 11:50 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: 417v309d5onmk1m7rbjsbsuvhu

Then, I'd
have to say the US leadership was strong and the morale/patriotism of
the ground soldier was what made the military so powerful. It wasn't
blind obedience to incompetent leadership,

First you say the leadership was strong then you talk about incompetent
leadership. I think the leadership in WW II was outstanding, better than in
many wars that followed. When I returned in the F-4, I logged another 150
missions. That was
among a lot of guys on their second or even third combat tours. That's
250 total--how many did you say you got?

I flew 50 missions. 15 short of going home. But as I started in a previous
post, :"An officer never allows himself to be put on the defensive" So I won't
go on the defensive now. And I certainly will not raise the issue of WW II
losses in the air as compared to Nam losses in the air.


Three out of
five who started a tour were shot down and killed or captured.

That is a 60% loss rate. Can you verify that?


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer