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Archie to SAM: A Short Operational History of Ground-Based Air ...

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ANTIAIRCRAFT DEFENSE THROUGH WORLD WAR II<br />

Figure 26. Falling B-24. During World War II, ground fire downed more<br />

American aircraft than did enemy fighters. In the European theater <strong>of</strong><br />

operations, AAA downed 5,400 American aircraft, while enemy aircraft<br />

destroyed 4,300. (Reprinted from USAF.)<br />

missed only 3 percent; but against flak, the bombers destroyed<br />

only 2 percent and completely missed 28 percent. 74<br />

Allied Countermeasures<br />

Allied <strong>Air</strong>men used a number <strong>of</strong> measures <strong>to</strong> reduce the effectiveness<br />

<strong>of</strong> enemy flak. Planners picked routes around known<br />

flak positions, used higher bombing altitudes, employed saturation<br />

tactics, and devised tighter formations. 75 Two other<br />

measures deserve detailed treatment.<br />

42

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