It's a miracle he survived.

That bunch had the highest mortality rates of any unit (except maybe some of the Japanese units, who were basically suicidal), during the war.

He survived at least three plane crashes. He crashed on takeoff in a B-17. Two of his crew were killed. He later survived a crash as a passenger. He crashed again as a commercial pilot.

The 8th Air Force suffered heavy losses over Europe but I don't believe Roddenberry served there. He was in the Pacific and after his B-17 crash stayed in the mainland US.