As I mentioned, the observers were considered especially valuable personnel. Also, there was some resistance in both the high command and among pilots themselves over parachutes. The former worried that if given parachutes pilots would bail out too readily, while some pilots scorned them as a badge of cowardness. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, however, thought that it was negligent of the US Army Air Service to refrain from issuing parachutes to pilots and aerial observers.
Only in the last few weeks of the war were German aircrew were issued with parachutes.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. Still, I would have thought that both pilots and observers were valuable enough to be worth trying to save. Guess it proves that I don't have insight into the military mind.
You know, Luke could shoot down the Chinese balloon even in his biplane.
Good story. Do you know the reason for issuing parachutes to balloon observers but not to pilots?
As I mentioned, the observers were considered especially valuable personnel. Also, there was some resistance in both the high command and among pilots themselves over parachutes. The former worried that if given parachutes pilots would bail out too readily, while some pilots scorned them as a badge of cowardness. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, however, thought that it was negligent of the US Army Air Service to refrain from issuing parachutes to pilots and aerial observers.
Only in the last few weeks of the war were German aircrew were issued with parachutes.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. Still, I would have thought that both pilots and observers were valuable enough to be worth trying to save. Guess it proves that I don't have insight into the military mind.