Likely Prevalence of LW shooting Parachutist

[Nick Beale]

Every side claimed that the others did this and probably someone on every side occasionally gave in to anger/adrenalin and did it themselves (but wouldn't usually own up to it afterward). I've no doubt also that a lot of parachutists were hit simply because they bailed out into an environment where a lot of bullets were flying around.

[kaki3152]

Nick,

This is true and what I believe is that some percentage of ALL fighter pilots (both sides-10%?) did this. I have heard of specific examples from articles in Flypast and MACR reports of at least two circumstances , a B-26 crew in the MEd and a shot down B-17 crew in France which was witnessed by a evadee Typhoon pilot.

After all, it was War and some people actually like to kill other people. I've read plenty pilot histories where they agonize over the first kill when they realize they've killed someone. While there are others who enjoy the blood sport. Such is the nature of man.

This new book coming out with the recoding of captured German POWs promises to be interesting.

[Don Pearson]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

I've no doubt also that a lot of parachutists were hit simply because they bailed out into an environment where a lot of bullets were flying around.

Along these lines of thought, who is to say that a pilot found dead in his chute on the ground, was not hit before exiting his craft and died of his wounds while descending?

Don