The bomber crewmen are not carrying pistols. U.S. Army Air Forces bomber crews were issued M1911 .45-caliber semiautomatic pistols because they might have to bail out over enemy territory.
After a wounded crewman dies in the woods near the landing site, the pilot yanks off one of the dead man's dog tags, causing the chain to break very easily, and the pilot takes the tag with him. This is a prevalent and erroneous Hollywood invention. Both dog tags always remain with a body until removed by Graves Registration personnel just before the body is buried. Otherwise, there is a risk of a body not being identified correctly.
A crewman cuts the parachute harness off of another crewman instead of just unhooking the harness from the risers, which would be much faster and easier.
A bomber crewman is carrying a trench knife. Trench knives were issued to ground troops. Bomber crews carried a Cattaraugus belt knife.
The bomber crew that bailed out landed only a hundred yards or so from where their plane crashed. Consolidated's B-24 Liberator could get up to 278 miles per hour at an altitude of 25,000 feet. This means that after it, or any other bomber, was incapacitated, it would travel dozens of miles before it crashed.
Jack Findlay wear the rank bars of a Flight Lieutenant, yet the badge on his forage cap is an Other Ranks RAF Crest.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
