There are just as many stories of honorable actions in the skies as their are merciless ones. Same for the battles on the ground.
I swore I wouldn't get back into this fray, BUT this post really beckons. While there are
some "honorable stories" and the key word is
some, you can bet the Farm on the fact that the
honorable stories are infinitesimally small compared to those that are not honorable..ie, there is NOTHING honorable about war. So, to further illustrate: Scenario: Pilot in a FW 190, positioning his aircraft for a "run" on a formation of B17's...he targets the "tail gun and the Ball turret and squeeze the trigger.
Do you actually think the pilot in the 190 thought about the fact that his guns were gonna reduce the airmen in those positions to soup? Same principal apply s to all combat pilots...
kill or be killed pure and simple.
Do you think the B17 pilots hesitated dropping their ords because there were people in the factories/cities? Sure they may have had misgivings, but, they did what they were trained to do...
Kill or be killed!
Side note: Normally most of AckAck's posts really are somewhat abrasive, however this time he's got it "nailed" (Whew!! that was a really difficult admission)
*Opinions are like armpits, occasionally they stink..my above opinion/analogy may stink, but remember this: if you think it does, you own the problem.

BAck to reality..
*POOF*