Approx 13,000 Airmen Were Killed during WWII in training accidents in the USA

[Skyhawk]

This is really sad and very hard to believe! I heard this fact recently in a WWII accident investigation show that I will post in "Books & Films" later.

 

[Jennison]

Hi: In fact, the number was closer to 15,500. As one would expect, many of the fatalities occurred in Primary and Basic flight training. It is particularly sad to note however, that a very significant number of fatalities happened among those who went all the way through flight training, earning their commissions and wings. Apparently there were some 40,000 mishaps (from bent props to deaths) in 1944 alone. The main reason was the 50,000 pilot program instituted in 1943, which created a stateside surplus of pilots. These pilots had to stay current (and keep boredom at bay) while waiting to be assigned and they did all sorts of dangerous flying to do so. They engaged in things like buzzing, mock dogfights and aerobatics. Mid-air collisions and low-level stalls were primary contributors to the death toll.

Jennison