Were They Prepared? Escape and Evasion in Western Europe, 1942-1944: World War II Army Air Force Aircrew Training for Successful Rescue and Survival Behind Enemy Lines by Thousands
Nonfiction, History, Military, Aviation, World War II
| Author: | Progressive Management | ISBN: | 9781370817429 |
| Publisher: | Progressive Management | Publication: | August 27, 2016 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition | Language: | English |
| Author: | Progressive Management |
| ISBN: | 9781370817429 |
| Publisher: | Progressive Management |
| Publication: | August 27, 2016 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition |
| Language: | English |
Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this unique book provides a review of the training and environment for American escape and evasion activity in Western Europe during World War II, with special focus on the period from 1942 to 1944. The study first examines the environment (physical, political, cultural) in which evasion activity took place. It then details the escape/evasion training and equipment provided to US aircrews to prepare them for successful escape and evasion. The author concludes that the training, which lacked comprehensiveness and standardization, was deficient by today's standards. However, it was the first such training ever developed on the subject and, given the circumstances surrounding its development and administration, it was remarkably successful in accomplishing its objectives.
In the summer of 1942, the first units of the United States Army Air Forces arrived in England to take up their position in the Allied air counteroffensive against Nazi Germany. Comprised largely of green crew members with no prior combat experience, these units would soon begin to bear their share of the casualties also. The lists of the missing grew rapidly longer. Soon, many were confirmed as dead or as prisoners of war. But by October 42, others began to reappear in England — successful players in an elaborate game of cat and mouse known as "evasion.
How did they succeed in such a difficult enterprise? What did their government do to prepare them for the grueling hardships they would endure? Was it enough, and what did we learn from our mistakes? This paper attempts to answer those questions, first by examining the factors that helped and hindered evasion activities in Western Europe between 1942 and 1944, and then by detailing and evaluating the escape and evasion training which was common to both the British and American air forces during that period.
Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this unique book provides a review of the training and environment for American escape and evasion activity in Western Europe during World War II, with special focus on the period from 1942 to 1944. The study first examines the environment (physical, political, cultural) in which evasion activity took place. It then details the escape/evasion training and equipment provided to US aircrews to prepare them for successful escape and evasion. The author concludes that the training, which lacked comprehensiveness and standardization, was deficient by today's standards. However, it was the first such training ever developed on the subject and, given the circumstances surrounding its development and administration, it was remarkably successful in accomplishing its objectives.
In the summer of 1942, the first units of the United States Army Air Forces arrived in England to take up their position in the Allied air counteroffensive against Nazi Germany. Comprised largely of green crew members with no prior combat experience, these units would soon begin to bear their share of the casualties also. The lists of the missing grew rapidly longer. Soon, many were confirmed as dead or as prisoners of war. But by October 42, others began to reappear in England — successful players in an elaborate game of cat and mouse known as "evasion.
How did they succeed in such a difficult enterprise? What did their government do to prepare them for the grueling hardships they would endure? Was it enough, and what did we learn from our mistakes? This paper attempts to answer those questions, first by examining the factors that helped and hindered evasion activities in Western Europe between 1942 and 1944, and then by detailing and evaluating the escape and evasion training which was common to both the British and American air forces during that period.
