No that is correct in the context of the discussion. In the daylight bombing campaign missions mentioned in the thread nobody flew at such extreme altitudes. The altitudes and percentage times for bomber missions flown by the 8th USAAF during WWII are already posted. Would like the USAAF documentation on it?
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As for the B-17 and B-24, the main reason that they didn't go higher was the bomb loads they were carrying.
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No the main reason was human physiology. I would be happy to provide you not only with the study conducted by USAAF but the FAA AC which touches on the some of the issues and has a list of resources to get further acquainted with the subject.
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/e04e9b9732ba93fd86256caa005ca97e/$FILE/AC61-107A.pdf
The Junkers 86 belonged to a family of very specialized high altitude aircraft. Only a handful were built and operated for a short period of time. Most importantly, it was a pressurized aircraft.
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/sto...ere-24790.html
Operating at such altitude was very risky and only a handful of flights were conducted. The Spitfires that intercepted them were specialized for the task,
they did not dogfight at all at high altitude, in fact they barely flew at all. The high altitude environment is as much an enemy as any combatant. Most importantly, they were equipped with a pressurized breathing system for the pilot.
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As had been previously pointed out by von Schrotter (vice supra) and Haldane [41] altitude exposure in excess of 33,000 ft. resulted in falling arterial Oxygen saturation, even with the use of 100% Oxygen.
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http://www.pilotfriend.com/aeromed/m...ng_hypoxia.htm