Eighth Air Force Losses during World War II

Replacement Boeing B-17G Flying Fortresses lined up on an English airfield to replace squadron losses for the U.S. Eighth Air Force.

The 8th Air Force’s success during World War II came at a high price. Its losses – of both men and machine – were by far the most significant of any branch of the military at that time. The drawback of precision bombing was that it was necessary to bomb by day. Without night vision goggles, or radar technology, sunlight and clear skies were needed to find the targets. Unfortunately, if the bombers could see the targets, then the enemy could see the bombers. Initially the 8th Air Force took staggering losses – up to 86% of fliers were killed, MIA or POW. Although the Flying Fortress had twelve machine guns to defend itself, heavy attacks by German fighters and anti-aircraft ground cannons soon proved that a single squadron was too small of a combat unit. In fact, the Bombardment Group, with the combined force of four squadrons, was also too small. In total, the 8th Air Force lost over 26,000 men. An additional 28,000 men became prisoners of war. Aircraft losses were also grim: 10, 561 planes of varying types were shot down, 4754 of those were B-17 heavy bombers. The 390th Bomb Group lost 176 of its 275 assigned aircrafts.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration, 342-C-K-2418
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://390th.org/learn-about-390th/wwii-air-war-over-europe/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936