Aircrew sidearms

[Nonkers]

Which WW2 aircrews were issued with sidearms? German bomber and fighter crews are often depicted with Lugers and Walthers. Was it only officers who carried them? Or is this a myth? Weren't Krieger Drillings issued?

British aircrew seem never to carry pistols. Any reason for this? Only the pilots on US B29s seemed to be carrying Colt 45s. "Pearl Harbour" depicted the Doolittle Raid crews making good use of their Colts, another Hollywood myth?

[drgondog]

Many but not all fighter pilots were armed - usually with .45's. It was personal choice for crews and I am unaware of any regulations prohibiting American pilots or crews from arming themselves... but believe percentage wise that bomber crews were more prone to not carry weapons in ETO.

Sometimes the choice was fatal or near fatal. In the 355th FG, Jack Beckman was shot and killed with his own .45 when he surrendered to German citizens in March 1945 and Bill Cullerton was shot in the stomach by an SS officer when he surrendered on 8 April 1945. German priest rescued him and took him to hospital where he recovered.

[SMF144]

Nonkers,

What gives you the impression that Commonwealth aircrew were not issued with sidearms?

Stephen

[Nonkers]

These Condor crews seem liberally equipped with pistols. Were RAF bomber crews issued Webleys and Enfields (not withstanding Spitfire pilot Richard Burton in "The Longest Day"!)?

[George Hopp]

As drgondog said in his note, I think it was up to the individual bomber crews as to whether or not they carried weapons. I remember talking about this to a wartime Bomber Command pilot who said he ordered his crew not to carry weapons on the theory that if someone carried a gun, on getting shot down, he might just want to use it, and get himself killed.

Regarding the accuracy of these things, an infantry friend noted that pretty well the only way to hit the enemy with your pistol was to throw it at him. He said that that was why on ops he always carried a carbine, or something similar.

[Jon]

British Aircrew carried a revolver.
Also wasn't Hauptmann Ernist Tietzen of JG51 found drifting in his dingy during the Battle of Britain with a single bullet hole in his head and his sidearm on his lap. He had shot himself rather than have a slow death in a dingy, even though a Luftwaffe rescue plane found him soon after he was shot down?
I am lead to believe that the carrying of sidearms by Luftwaffe personel was banned after this for a short period?

Other than keeping civillians away a pistol is of limited use.

[wmyowell]

My brother was a P-47 pilot in the 325th Fighter Group. (KIA) He wrote that they were required to carry their Colt .45s on missions.

On the other hand, Tom Glenn in P-47 Pilots: The Fighter Bomber Boys, wrote of a downed pilot who, first thing, threw his .45 as far away from him as he could.

Bill Yowell