My late father at age 19 preparing for another mission as a turret gunner on a B-24 over Europe. He flew 35 missions with 56 sorties (bomb runs). His notes say "23 touogh ones with heavy flak and fighter attacks."
I was watching the Military Channel last night, WWII in HD "The Air War". I did not realize the scope of the Air War in Europe in terms of casualties. The 8th Air Force alone, (Dad was in the 15th AF flying out of Italy) lost 26,000 men, more than the USMC lost in all of WWII.
Thanks Dad.