The Survival Rate of Ditching a B-17 Bomber According to Expert

During World War II, many bomber crews found themselves facing life-or-death situations over the English Channel and the North Sea. The U.S. Army Air Force’s Eighth Air Force, operating out of Great Britain, often had to deal with the reality of ditching—a controlled water landing—when aircraft were no longer capable of making it back to base. B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, in particular, were often involved in these incidents. The following looks at the chances of survival for crews who ditched their B-17s, according to data and historical reports.

Reasons for Ditching

The most common reasons for a bomber to ditch were combat damage, engine failure, or running out of fuel. Combined, these factors accounted for over 80 percent of all ditching events. Combat damage was often unavoidable during bombing runs deep into enemy territory. Mechanical failures and fuel exhaustion were also frequent problems, especially during long missions. The risk of having to ditch over water was a constant threat. In fact, for each mission or sortie, the chances of having to ditch or bail out over the English Channel or North Sea were roughly 1 in 600. This doesn’t sound like a high number, but for crews flying many missions, the risk added up.

Ditching Versus Bailing Out

One of the critical decisions crews had to make was whether to ditch or bail out of the aircraft. Experts and data from World War II show that ditching was usually the safer option when flying a bomber like the B-17. This was because the bomber carried emergency equipment like life rafts and other survival gear that could be deployed once the aircraft was down in the water. In contrast, bailing out often left crew members scattered over large areas of the sea, making it hard for them to regroup and assist one another.

A study done in August 1943 looked into this and concluded that 58 percent of crew members who ditched were rescued, compared to only 16 percent of those who bailed out. This stark difference in survival rates made ditching the preferred method whenever possible. The B-17, with its design, was also relatively more suited for ditching compared to other bombers, which is why the odds of survival were better for its crews.

Communication Before Ditching

Before ditching, if possible, the pilot would try to gain altitude and send out a distress signal. The higher the altitude, the further the signal could travel, reaching rescue teams more effectively. A plane flying at 1,000 feet could send a distress signal over a 30-mile radius, while a plane at 20,000 feet could cover 180 miles. This was important for coordinating air-sea rescues. Along with distress signals, the plane’s radio operator would relay important details like their location, speed, and the time they expected to ditch. This gave rescue teams a chance to prepare and locate the downed crew quickly.

Rescue Operations

Once the distress call was sent, multiple coastal stations would pick up the signal and work to triangulate the plane’s position. This information was then passed on to air-sea rescue units. These units consisted of spotter planes and rescue boats that would be dispatched to the ditching site. Over the course of the war, this process became more refined, improving the chances of rescuing bomber crews. Air-sea rescue boats, for example, were equipped to navigate rough waters, and spotter planes were deployed to mark the location with smoke bombs or drop additional life-saving gear.

Preparing for Impact

When the decision to ditch was made, the pilot would alert the crew, giving them a rough estimate of how much time remained before impact. Crew members had specific duties to carry out during these final moments. They would remove heavy gear like flak vests and parachutes, as these could hinder escape from the aircraft after it hit the water. Gunners were tasked with jettisoning their ammunition and weapons to make the plane as light as possible for the water landing.

The goal was to make the impact as smooth as possible, but even with the best efforts, ditching could be dangerous. Crew members had to brace for impact in designated positions, and the evacuation of the aircraft had to be quick. In most cases, the crew had less than a minute to get out before the bomber would start to sink.

Post-Ditching Survival

Once the plane was down and the crew had evacuated, survival was now a matter of getting into the life rafts and staying safe until rescue arrived. Life rafts were designed to be deployed by pulling handles inside the aircraft, and the rafts were often tied together to keep the crew united. Provisions in the rafts included food, water, and emergency radios like the “Gibson Girl,” which could send distress signals using a balloon-deployed antenna.

These radios were crucial for guiding rescue teams to the crew’s location. The radios could transmit signals over a range of 300 miles, improving the chances of being found. Crews who survived ditching and rescue operations could even apply to join the “Goldfish Club,” an exclusive group for those who had been rescued from the sea.

B-17 Versus B-24 Ditching

The survival rate for ditching varied depending on the type of bomber. The B-17, with its low-slung, large-wing design, was considered better suited for ditching. Studies showed that over 50 percent of B-17s remained afloat for at least five minutes after landing in water, giving crews valuable time to evacuate. On the other hand, the B-24 Liberator, which had a high-wing design, often broke apart during ditching. In many cases, the B-24’s fuselage would collapse on impact, leading to higher fatality rates. About 35 percent of B-24 crew members were killed either on impact or because they couldn’t escape the sinking bomber.

Survival Statistics

From January 1943 to May 1945, the overall survival rate for B-17 crews who ditched or bailed out was 37.9 percent. This was significantly higher than the survival rate for B-24 crews, which stood at 26.5 percent. These statistics highlight the importance of ditching technique, aircraft design, and rescue coordination in determining the fate of bomber crews during World War II.